Business Formation

It is hard enough to start a business today without having to deal with crises or unexpected costs resulting from inadequate planning. Many start-up businesses find themselves in trouble within the first few months or years of operation. This is due to many things, including:

• Failure to properly set up the business to avoid paperwork problems
• Tax planning issues
• Inattention to commercial lease terms and customer contracts
• Insufficient agreements and systems for payroll, employee contracts, employee manuals, worker’s compensation insurance, and other legal requirements
• Inadequate attention to patent, copyright and trademark issues

In addition, two or more owners going into business together should address shareholder/partner issues at the outset rather than facing bigger problems when one partner leaves the business later without adequate planning.

Underhill & Underhill, P. C. works with its clients to ensure that the businesses we help form are properly advised regarding these key operating requirements so that the business is built upon a solid legal foundation.

Areas of Expertise:

• Selection of the appropriate legal form (corporation, LLC, partnership, etc.) and creation of necessary formation documents
• Consulting on formation issues and new business tax and financial issues
• Shareholder, buy/sell and operating agreements
• Key employment contracts, manuals and policies
• Issues with landlords, investors, partners, suppliers and employees