Livingston Business Formation Lawyer

Livingston Business Formation Attorney

It takes a lot of work to form a business from scratch or expand your current company. Business structure decisions, permits and licenses, financing, agreements, tax responsibilities, and many other legal requirements have to be met. By working with a Livingston business formation lawyer, you can approach these aspects of business formation with confidence. You can focus on running your business while your attorney protects its future.

Find the Right Livingston Business Formation Attorney

Your business needs to be handled with skill, care, and integrity. Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC, has more than 40 years of legal experience. We offer dedicated and transparent legal support you can rely on. Our firm understands that different businesses have unique priorities. We work to support your goals with tailored legal representation.

Carl S. Goode has significant legal experience, is diligent in his guidance through your business’s legal needs, and is board-certified in tax law. He offers exceptional support as you form and plan your new business. You can count on prompt and consistent communication with him. By having strong legal support from the start, you can begin your business on the right foot.

What Legal Services Do We Offer?

When we help you form your business, we can help with several aspects of the planning and creation process, such as:

• Helping you select the right business structure to protect your personal liability, meet your tax goals, and outline the daily operation of the business
• Filing the right information and paperwork for permits, licensure, and anything else Livingston requires of a business
• Assessing potential areas of risk in business operations and creating a plan to limit this risk
• Drafting important business documents, such as incorporation articles, employment contracts, partnership agreements, operating agreements, buy-sell agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and regulatory compliance guidelines
• Creating plans for addressing potential disagreements or disputes involving employees, shareholders, partners, and others in the company

An attorney helps you protect the immediate and long-term interests of your business, no matter the size or type of company.

Understanding New Business Structures in Livingston

Nearly 13,200 new businesses were started in Louisiana from 2022 to 2023. Livingston is an ideal location to begin your business for many reasons, including the traffic passing through on US 190 and I-12

In Livingston, there is a labor force of about 71,000, and 4.6% of these employees were self-employed in their own incorporated business. If you are an entrepreneur in Livingston, it’s important that you understand the types of business structures available, such as:

• Partnerships. There are different types of partnerships, including limited partnerships, general partnerships, and limited liability partnerships (LLP). Each includes different expectations for partners. An LLP requires partners to share limited personal liability, while a limited partnership means there is also a general partner who runs the business.
• Limited liability company (LLC). An LLC offers personal liability protection to business owners like a corporation does, but it offers similar tax regulation to that of a partnership. The members, or business owners, each own a percentage of the business, which is determined in an operating agreement. The LLC form of taxation allows this structure various benefits, such as opting out of certain taxes.
• Corporation. A corporate business structure offers personal liability protection in nearly all cases. They are also considered a separate business entity, required to file and pay corporate taxes. Corporations also must create bylaws to follow, which is a more in-depth process compared to agreements in other structures.

There are other types of business structures, including sole proprietorships and nonprofits. The structure is one of the first and most important steps as you form a business, because it affects the agreements you must make, the taxes you have to pay, and the regulations you have to follow.

FAQs

How Can a Livingston Business Formation Lawyer Help Me Choose Between an LLC, Corporation, or Partnership?

A Livingston business formation lawyer can help you choose between an LLC, a corporation, or a partnership by reviewing your business’s unique short-term and long-term goals and determining which structure is right for you. Each structure has different levels of personal liability and protection. The right structure may also rely on the size of your business. An attorney helps you assess these options and create a strong foundation for your business.

What State and Local Permits or Licenses Are Needed to Start a Business in Livingston, LA?

The state and local permits or licenses needed to start a business in Livingston, LA, will depend on the structure, size, and industry of your business.

When you hire a business formation lawyer, they can assess the legal permits and licenses that your type of business requires, such as zoning permits, liquor licenses, general business licenses, and other requirements necessary to conduct your business. Louisiana makes this process easier with the state’s geauxBIZ portal for businesses.

What Liability Protections Does a Louisiana LLC or Corporation Provide for Business Owners?

A Louisiana LLC or corporation offers protection for business owners by preventing them from personal liability in most situations. Without this protection, your personal assets could be affected if your business is found liable, such as in a premises liability or product liability claim against a company, or if the business files for bankruptcy. In an LLC or corporation, your business assets are held by a separate business entity, rather than being owned by you.

Can a Livingston Business Formation Lawyer Assist With Ongoing Legal Needs After the Business Is Formed?

There are several ongoing legal needs that a Livingston business formation lawyer can help you with after business formation, such as business transactions, drafting legal documents, business compliance, and creating plans for dealing with disputes outside of litigation.

By remaining compliant from the beginning, you can limit your risk in the future. This includes the risk of fines, penalties for noncompliance, and litigation or other serious disputes.

Hire a Business Formation Lawyer at Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC

Our firm can help you navigate the many complexities of forming a business and mitigating your risk. Contact us today to speak with a Livingston business formation lawyer.