Choose a solicitor for your business

There are a range of key areas where you may find it useful to take professional legal advice:

• Company structure - whether to trade as self-employed, a partnership or a limited company, and to make sure the proper legal agreements are drawn up - see legal structures: the basics.
• Business premises - negotiating and making sure you understand the terms of your lease - see buying business property and renting commercial property.
• Contract terms and service levels - you should be sure of your legal responsibilities to customers and suppliers. See how to negotiate the right deal with suppliers and ensure customers pay you on time.
• Protecting your business ideas and confirming ownership - making sure any intellectual property rights to your product or service are protected and that you're not infringing the rights of other businesses - see protecting intellectual property.
• Finance - the legal implications of raising finance - for example on your home - and agreeing terms with the lender - see business financing options: an overview.
• Debt control - protecting you against bad debts and advice on debt collecting - see how to recover debt through court.
• Franchising - anyone going into franchising needs to check all the small print with a specialist lawyer - see buy a franchise.
• Employment law - ensure you are following all employment law matters in your business - see taking on staff.