Entrepreneurs tend to be do-it-yourselfers by nature. They’re not afraid to jump in with both feet and do whatever needs doing, especially early on when they’re starting out. This tenacious spirit serves business owners well most of the time, but think twice before taking the DIY approach to your business’ legal affairs. DIY law websites promise big savings but can lead to costly mistakes.
Boilerplate Forms
DIY online legal services serve a wide variety of people in an equally wide variety of situations. As such, the documents they offer are broad and basic in their language. These fill-in-the-blank forms may skip the specifics your company may need, which can lead to problems. A standard fill-in-the-blank partnership agreement, however, may outline a different process or fail to address the issue at all.
Issues
When conducting business, you’re required to follow both federal and local laws. A DIY law site in Los Angeles, however, may not know all the rules that you have to follow in Baltimore. Just as your location may require you to follow certain rules, so might your industry. Unfortunately, getting these compliance details wrong in a contract may negate the entire thing. A local lawyer can help you avoid compliance pitfalls that both you and a DIY legal site’s webmaster are unaware of.
An Ongoing Relationship
If you’re starting a business, you probably expect to see your accountant a lot over the next few years as your business grows and changes. Apply this same logic to your lawyer. An attorney can do a lot more for you than file the paperwork you need to start your business. He or she can also help you as your business grows and your legal needs change and expand. The more familiar your attorney is with you and your business, the better advice he or she can give you. Online DIY law services may get you some basic forms and generic advice, but this service simply isn’t an adequate substitute for a person who knows you and your needs.