Small Business Services

Practice Areas

Choosing the proper legal structure for your business is crucial, and it’s essential to find a structure that aligns with your goals and priorities. At our law firm, we work closely with business owners to develop legal strategies that support the business’s success.

Our flat fee services make it easy and affordable for small business owners to establish and maintain a solid legal foundation. Let us help you choose the right legal structure for your business and give you the support you need to succeed.

How we help our Small Business Clients :

Business Organization

Business Organization
We provide legal advice on the potential consequences and compliance requirements of choosing a business structure to help you make the best decision for your long-term goals.
Our team will file all necessary applications and documents to organize your business with the state regulator.
Compliance with Annual Reporting
Avoiding unnecessary fines and penalties helps small businesses avoid disruptions and embarrassment. Our clients never worry about missing annual fees because we log and manage the process for you.

Compliance with Annual Reporting

Avoiding unnecessary fines and penalties helps small businesses avoid disruptions and embarrassment. Our clients never worry about missing annual fees because we log and manage the process for you.

Registered Agent Service

Every entrepreneur and business owner should hire experienced attorneys to serve as registered agents to avoid default judgments for failure to respond to notice of lawsuits delivered to a home or business address. Our service includes free 15-minute consultations for 12 months after engagement.

Business Document Drafting & Review

Template Partnership, Operating Agreements Articles of Organization never sufficiently contemplate what happens when things don’t work out with the business. You need an experienced lawyer like Melia Arnett-Archie, Esq. who will listen to your goals and strategy, anticipate potential hurdles and draft effective agreements that adequately cover where you’re going.

Review and file County and City Business License Documents

Filing business organization documents with the state is the first step in organizing your business. However, most cities and counties have a myriad of requirements to legally operate a business as well. Let our team manage and maintain what can be time-consuming and tedious administrative work for busy business owners.

Provide State Board Licensure Compliance Services

We serve Barbers, Hairstylists, Architects, Contractors, and others who have State Board Licensure requirements. Understanding how to navigate the application, renewal, and compliance requirements is critical to staying in business and something we can guide you through.
We also provide support for administrative hearings on disciplinary actions and other matters.

Small Business Law FAQ

How many business structures are available?

There are four business organization structures available to choose.

LLC
Corporation
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership

How do I know which is best for my business?

Determining which structure is best will depend on the goals and objectives of the business. There are major tax and legal questions that are fact specific and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Which structure protects me personally if something goes wrong with the business?

The only two structures that separate the business and the owner are the LLC and Corporation. The law looks at these two types of organizations as independent entities separate from its owner. In cases where the business is organized as a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership the business owner(s) is personally responsible for everything the business is does.

How do I formally organize my business once I’ve selected the structure that works for me?

The filing requirements differ depending on the structure you choose. However, in almost every case you will be required to file documents with the state and in some cases with the Internal Revenue Service. Some structures require that you have other supporting documentation on file that demonstrates on the company is being operated and will act in certain circumstances like if two partners decide to close the business.

Is there anything else I have to worry about after selecting my structure and filing the required paperwork with the government?

Most states have require regular fees and recertification of the business filing to ensure nothing material has changed. For example, Florida has an annual filing requirement which requires the payment of a fee and that certain information about the business be updated if different from what was filed in the proceeding year.

I’m ready to formalize my business. How do I get started?

Most states have a self-help portal on their business organization website which allows individuals to file the required documents without the help or assistance of an attorney. For example, you can visit http://www.sunbiz.org to file the required documents for a Florida business. However, we strongly suggest you seek the advice of and assistance of an attorney before proceeding. The organization of your business is one of the most important decisions you will make when founding your business. This foundational decision is the basis for the long-term health of your business and a seasoned business attorney can ensure you get off to the right start.

General Counsel Services

We help small and midsized businesses identify legal gaps and provide a plan to close those gaps. As business owners, we understand the importance of identifying and addressing any potential legal issues before they become major problems. We are here to help you with just that.

Our business audit service is designed to comprehensively review your current legal structure, business model, and strategy to identify any potential risks or gaps in your legal compliance. Some of the areas we typically examine include contracts, employment law, intellectual property, privacy and cybersecurity, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.

Once we have identified the legal gaps in your business, we offer two types of services to help you address them. The first is our outside general counsel subscription plan, which provides ongoing legal support and guidance to small and mid-sized businesses. This service is ideal for those who want regular legal counsel but may not have the resources for an in-house legal team.

The second type of service we offer is hourly fee services, where we provide specific legal advice or assistance on an as-needed basis. This service is ideal for those who need help with a specific legal issue or project, such as drafting contracts, reviewing lease agreements, or handling litigation matters.

At our law firm, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide personalized legal solutions tailored to each of our clients’ unique needs. Our team has the expertise to help you navigate the complex legal landscape and ensure your business is well-positioned for success.

So if you’re looking for a trusted legal partner to help you identify and address any legal gaps in your business, look no further than our business audit service. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you achieve your business goals.

General Counsel Subscription Services

Package Name: Basic

Services Included:

5 hours of attorney consultation per month
Trademark and copyright registration for up to 2 trademarks and 2 copyrights per year
Drafting and review of up to 5 contracts per month
Formation and registration of a single legal entity per year
Preparation of an operating agreement or bylaws for the registered entity
Review and drafting of an employee handbook and policies
Compliance with state and federal employment laws
Preparation of a privacy policy and basic cybersecurity review
Assistance with routine legal issues

Package Name: Premium

Services Included:

10 hours of attorney consultation per month
Trademark and copyright registration for up to 4 trademarks and 4 copyrights per year
Drafting and review of up to 10 contracts per month
Formation and registration of up to 2 legal entities per year
Preparation of operating agreements or bylaws for the registered entities
Review and drafting of an employee handbook and policies
Compliance with state and federal employment laws
Preparation of a privacy policy and cybersecurity risk assessment
Assistance with more complex legal issues

Package Name: Platinum

Services Included:

15 hours of attorney consultation per month
Trademark and copyright registration for up to 6 trademarks and 6 copyrights per year
Trademark monitoring (includes defense of any mark registered by our firm)
Drafting and review of up to 15 contracts per month
Formation and registration of up to 3 legal entities per year
Preparation of operating agreements or bylaws for the registered entities
Review and drafting of an employee handbook and policies
Compliance with state and federal employment laws
Preparation of a privacy policy and comprehensive cybersecurity review and planning
Assistance with complex legal issues, including litigation and transactions

Practice Areas

Entertainment and Digital Media Law

Trademark and Brand Protection Services

Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Technology

Trademark Flat Fee Services

Trademark Conflict Search

(Three Search Levels to Choose From)

Services Included:
FEDERAL TRADEMARK CONFLICT SEARCH

Search of federal data base to determine if the mark you want is available for registration.

Your Value:

Save you time and expense of filing an application for a mark that has already be registered
Help you make early strategic decisions about your business and brand
Avoid accidental infringement which may lead to costly litigation

Our Process is simple:

Provide us with information about your mark
We’ll run a search and prepare a report
You will review the results along with our recommendations and decide on the next steps

Services Included:
COMMON LAW CONFLICT SEARCH

Search of federal data base plus:

Your Value:

Corporate names
Search of state registered trademarks
Search of common law trademarks being used online and on social media networks
Internet domain names

Services Included:
PLUS INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT SEARCH

Search federal, state, common law, and international databases (including Canada, UK, EU, and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Trademark Registration

Now through January 31, 2023

Services Included:
Federal application to register your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Your Value:

Maintain ownership of your brand names, slogans, and logos
Guard your brand from copycats and thieves
Build your legal case of ownership in case it ever needs to be proven in court

Our Process is simple:

Give us background on your business/brand and the mark you want to register
We will conduct a legal assessment and report back to you
We will prepare and file your application with the USPTO. (Applicants should expect a decision within 3 to 6 months of filing)

Trademark Monitoring

Now through January 31, 2023

Services Included:
We actively monitor applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and notify you if a filing infringes upon your mark

Benefits to Monitoring Your Mark:

To protect the value of the trademark: Trademarks are valuable assets that can help to differentiate your products or services from those of its competitors. By monitoring for infringing uses of the trademark, you can take action to stop infringing uses and protect the value of your mark.
To prevent consumer confusion: Infringing uses of a trademark can cause confusion among consumers, who may mistakenly believe that the infringing product or service is affiliated with your brand. By monitoring for infringing uses, a you can take action to prevent consumer confusion and protect your brand.
To maintain the trademark’s legal protections: In order to maintain the legal protections afforded to a trademark, the owner must take steps to police and enforce their rights in the trademark. This includes monitoring for infringing uses and taking appropriate action to stop infringing uses.
To identify potential licensing or partnership opportunities: By monitoring for infringing uses of your trademark, you may also identify potential licensing or partnership opportunities. For example, if a business identifies an infringing use of its trademark on a product or service that it does not offer, it may be able to negotiate a licensing agreement or partnership with the infringing party.

Our Process is simple:

Complete our trademark monitoring questionnaire
Our team customizes your monthly monitoring query
We become your brands watchdog! You begin receiving a monthly trademark monitoring report one month after registration.

Our monthly trademark monitoring report includes:

A summary of the monitoring activities conducted during the month including, a list of the sources that were reviewed.
A list of all potentially infringing uses of the mark that were identified during the month, along with details about each use, such as the source and the nature of the infringing use.
A summary of any action taken in response to infringing uses. Our firm will always consult with you before pursuing a course of action such as sending a cease-and-desist letter or initiating legal action.
A summary of any relevant legal developments that may be relevant to your mark, such as changes to trademark laws or decisions in related legal cases.
Recommendations for future action, such as additional searches or legal action to be taken in response to identified infringing uses.

Our report provides a comprehensive overview of the monitoring activities conducted during the month. This is a proactive approach to brand protection allowing you to set your business’ offense in confidence.

Templates and Forms

We provide a library of templates and forms to help our small business owners, influencers and creators work independently.

All of our templates are available at a flat rate of $175.

Review and customization are available for an additional fee.

Let's Get Started

We make working with us EASY!

If you are a Modern Creator who knows what you need, please select from our list of services, and let’s get to work!
Please book a *$25 15-minute consultation if you’d like to discuss your needs and learn more about how we can help you meet your goals.

*This fee is deducted from your bill when you formally engage us for legal services.

Let's Get Started

At our law firm, we strive to make working with us as easy as possible. If you know what you need, you can select from our list of services, and let’s get started.

If you want to discuss your needs and learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals, book a 30-minute consultation for just $30. This fee will be deducted from your bill when you formally engage us for legal services. We look forward to working with you and helping you succeed as a modern creator.