Abogado Aly identifies five tips for legally protecting your small business. If you're interested in learning more. Please visit abogadoalybusiness.com.
2. With all the crazed laws in existence, did you know
that there are substantive laws that could
adversely affect you and/or your small business?
Explore the following tips, which could legally
protect you, and keep your business running
smoothly in the face of outdated, unpracticed,
and/or stringent laws.
3. First impressions can be the lasting
impression.This particularly applies to businesses.
Employees, owners, and business images are
vulnerable to scrutiny and demonization, which is
why business owners should refrain from making
public announcements or engaging in business
dealings considered to be questionable or dodgy.
Libelous and slanderous statements carry
consequences, so steer clear of them.
Mind Your Mouth & Your Behavior
4. Likewise, steer clear of unresearched partnership,
and demonstrate good judgment and ethics by
limiting conflicts of interests. In the case of fallout,
You’re guaranteed to be culpable if you’re linked to
shady individuals. Let integrity guide you, and you
will shuck threats of legal action.
5. When launching a business, immediately interview
attorneys. Employing a competent lawyer will mean
that you’ll be prepared when it’s time for you to
draft legal contracts or in the case that you’ll need
to defend yourself against legislative action. This
attorney will be able to advise you and offer you
detailed legal insight.
Employ Knowledgeable Legal Representation
6. Find a lawyer who’s well-versed in local law and
customs, as well as one who’s confident when
discussing your particular area of expertise. Your
lawyer should be steeped in legal understanding
around your niche. If you find that it’s difficult to
identify a lawyer, cold call attractive listings you
find online, keep your ear out for suggestions from
professional organizations, and inquire about
lawyers who act as representation for friendly
competitors.
7. Your business may feel like your offspring,
particularly if you own and operate as a sole
proprietor. However, the challenge with a sole
proprietorship is that in the event your business
face lawsuit, all of your individual assets could be
subject to attack, or it could be attached in the
court of law. Instead of legally aligning yourself
with your business, elect a trust to own the
business. This will limit the likelihood that your
assets will be vulnerable as a target of a lawsuit.
Stand Independent of Your Business
8. Trusts are legal entities that can file their own tax
returns and they’re able to own property and
securities, businesses, and a host of other assets.
In most cases, if an established trust is sued by a
third party, the only assets that can be addressed
or attached to a court of law are those belonging to
the trust. If you had a trust, your home, and your
personal wealth would remain your own if you were
to lose your business. However, incorporating a
trust can be complicated due to affiliated taxes,
laws, and reports that the government demand
from businesses.
9. Liability insurance and similar types of insurance
are essential for all businesses. Coverage can
mean that you’re relinquished of responsibility for
an accusation or a grievance. Frequently, insurance
agents, consultants, and other professionals
obtain errors and omissions coverage. What this
does is it insulates a business and its directors,
protecting assets if there are lawsuits against the
company.
Safeguard Your Business With Insurance
10. Yes, purchase insurance, but more than that you
should use language within your contracts that
will insure you against liability. If you’re worried
that uncontrollable acts or unforeseen
consequences could keep you from fulfilling the
terms of your contract with your clients, then you
should be sure to pencil into the contract that
you’re aren’t liable for incomplete work due to said
factors. Legal phrasing and clauses should be
discussed with your lawyer ahead of time.
11. Exercise all efforts to ensure that your files are safe.
Emphasize safety requirements and secure your
files by updating your antivirus software. By doing
this, you’ll avert system failure and certify your
ability to complete contracted work. More than that,
you need to guard important vital sensitive
information, so that you don’t compromise your
clients’ privacy. Today, tragedy can arrive in the
form of technological breakdown, therefore it’s
crucial to demonstrate preparedness, to backup
important files, and to secure alternative worksites.
Secure Your Business Files
12. The aforementioned steps will enable you to satisfy
your legal/financial agreements, and they will help
your company absorb any curveballs. These efforts
support the idea that business owners should not
only protect themselves, their personal assets, and
their companies in the event of a lawsuit but
ensures that a legal understanding of business
demonstrates a level of competency and confidence
that’s attractive to clients and potential investors.