Indianapolis Startup Attorneys & Lawyers

Why Hire a Startup Lawyer?

Hiring a startup attorney is crucial to your business's success. No matter the nature of your startup, you will need to establish bylaws, hold board meetings, secure the necessary visas, file tax forms, license software, and patent your products or services. All this can be a headache, but with a startup lawyer, you can be sure you have the professional representation you need to protect your business from the start.

Business lawyers focus their legal practice on issues related to businesses, such as intellectual property, taxation, and establishing startups. As such, top startup attorneys in Indianapolis, Indiana, can help you get on the right track.

The best startup attorney will accomplish the following:

• Explain the pros and cons of starting your business as a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company.
• Assist you with leasing business space.
• Help you get the capital you need to operate the business.
• Provide a range of consulting services.
• Help you fill out business contracts, client and vendor agreements, and other important documents.
• Help you navigate complex compliance codes in Indianapolis.

Attorneys often specialize in certain legal matters to help better organize and protect your startup. These specialized skills include the following:

• Real estate. These attorneys are experienced in leasing commercial spaces, negotiating lease contracts, and adding tenants' addendums that benefit you, the person leasing the space, instead of the landlord.
• Contracts. The right lawyer will quickly understand your startup and prepare the standard contract forms you will need for clients, customers, and suppliers.
• Intellectual property. If you're starting a design, media, or other creative business, you will need to register for copyright protection and federal trademarks. Most small business lawyers either specialize in intellectual property or they work with intellectual property specialists.
• Licenses and taxes. The best startup lawyers know how to register startups for state and federal tax identification numbers. They also understand the tax consequences that small businesses face.
• Business organizations. Your startup lawyer can help you decide whether forming a limited liability company (LLC) is the best way to go for your business. He or she will then prepare the necessary paperwork to properly organize the startup.

How to Find the Best Startup Lawyer in Indianapolis

Begin your Indianapolis attorney search by looking for one who is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association or the Indiana State Bar Association. Any startup attorney offering legal counsel in Indianapolis must be licensed to work in the area.

Lawyers practicing in Indianapolis must pass the Indiana State Bar Exam, even if they're licensed to practice in another state. Some lawyers may also have a legal specialty certification. Always ask about a lawyer's credentials during the first communication, or even better, see if the lawyer is listed on the Indiana State Bar Association's website.

Before hiring a startup lawyer, make sure to consider the following:

• Avoid relying on advertisements to find a lawyer. While ads are a useful way to discover the names of lawyers, you should be careful about solely counting on what the advertisement claims. Some ads might quote a price range or fee for handling simple cases, but this is rarely a guarantee.
• Ask around for recommendations. One of the best ways to find a highly-recommended lawyer is to ask a trusted relative, friend, or business associate. This is especially true for someone who has used the lawyer in question for small business matters.
• See which lawyers communicate well. You don't want a startup attorney who responds to your questions with simple "yes" or "no" answers. Top startup lawyers will always go into detail about your options and let you know what similar businesses would do in your situation. You should also make sure the lawyer responds in a timely manner to your emails, phone calls, and other forms of communication.
• Make sure the lawyer's offices are conveniently located. Since you will be visiting your lawyer's office frequently, especially during your startup's first few years in business, you want to hire a lawyer who is close to home. Otherwise, you'll be spending wasted hours driving to and from the office every time you need legal advice or need to sign documents. If you're torn between two or three highly-qualified attorneys, go with the one closest to you.

Questions for a Startup Lawyer

• Are you well-connected in your area of law?
• Have you had other startup clients? Do you represent any of my possible competitors?
• Are you flexible with billing and payment options?
• How long have you specialized in business law?
• What percentage of your practice is dedicated to startups?
• How do you plan to communicate with me about what's happening with the legal aspects of my startup?
• Have you ever been sanctioned for or accused of attorney misconduct? If so, why? And what was the outcome?
• Do you feel you have any conflicts of interest that would prevent you from representing my startup?