When you own or run a small business, you need lots of legal information. Fortunately, as an intelligent business person, there are a number of efficient ways you can acquire on your own a good working knowledge of the legal principles and procedures necessary to start and run a small business.
Lawyers do more than dispense legal information.
They also offer strategic advice and apply sophisticated technical skills. How frequently you'll need professional help is hard to say. It depends on the nature of your business, the number of employees you hire, how many locations you have and the kinds of problems you run into with customers, suppliers, landlords, contractors, the government, the media, insurance companies and a host of other people and entities. Your challenge isn't to avoid lawyers altogether but rather to use them on a cost-effective basis. Ideally, you should find a lawyer who's willing to serve as a legal coach and help you educate yourself.