3 Signs That You Should Hire A Small Business Lawyer

When it comes to running your small business, you probably try to handle things on your own as much as possible. Hiring outside services can get expensive, and extra money is one thing that your small business does not have. Even though there are plenty of things that you can do for your business without hiring a lawyer, there are some situations in which it isn't very smart to go without legal representation. These are a few signs that your small business should hire a lawyer immediately.

1. You Think You're Going to Be Sued

A lawsuit isn't something that should be played around with -- in certain situations, it can be enough to cripple your business financially. If you think there is a chance that you are going to be sued, such as if an employee has been threatening a lawsuit for some sort of discrimination or if a customer got hurt on your property -- then it's best to be proactive and hire a lawyer.

2. An Environmental Issue Has Arised

Environmental issues are taken very seriously nowadays. If your company has been involved in any type of pollution or other environmental issue, even if your business isn't actually responsible for it, then you should hire a lawyer. Otherwise, you could face very hefty fines.

3. You're Thinking About Selling Your Business

If you have found yourself in a situation in which selling your business seems like a good idea, you probably want to get the deal over with as quickly as possible. However, there are a lot of legal issues that could arise in the process of selling a business. You have to ensure that you are protected and that your best interests are being looked out for, and it can be difficult to do that yourself when you are dealing with confusing legal contracts. Luckily, a good business lawyer can help write up these contracts and can read over them and explain them to you to help ensure that you know what you are getting yourself into.

It's understandable that you don't want to keep a lawyer on retainer when you are a small business owner who is on a tight budget. Even though you might be able to do a lot of things on your own, however, there are some situations that are best handled by a lawyer. Therefore, if you find yourself in any of these three situations, you shouldn't wait to seek legal representation.