You should consider: how big your want to grow, the nature of the business, and whether you are going to have “partners.” These factors will help dictate the form of business entity you choose.

At the outset, the purpose of a corporation is to insulate a person from personal liability for the conduct of their business. The only difference between a C corporation and a S corporation is how the corporations are taxed.

A C corporation is taxed separately as a corporation.

An S corporation allows the income (or loss) to “pass through” to the individual shareholders. Beware, there are many restrictions for an S corporation. For example, S corporations are limited to only 100 shareholders, their fiscal year must end December 31, shareholders must be “natural persons,” and US citizens.

An LLC protects an individual from personal liability. It is extremely flexible and can be taxed as a partnership, corporation, or a sole proprietorship. The sharing of profits and losses can be extraordinarily flexible in order to address the needs of the owners (typically called members) and allows for limited liability (of a corporation).

A joint venture is a type of a partnership. It is usually when two companies determine to work together on a specified project. It is not unusual for the two companies to form a new company for the joint venture.

A not-for-profit company usually is designed not to make any profit. Usually it is set up in conjunction with a charitable or educational purpose and qualifies for special tax-exempt status under section 501 C 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Perhaps the most important thing parties can do when setting up a corporation (or a limited liability company), is defines what happens if someone wants to leave the company, or others want to force that person out of the company. This is perhaps one of the most time consuming aspects of an attorney’s representation of a new company: getting the members to honestly assess their contributions to a company and define their expectations.

A merger is when two companies combine to create one company. There are technical legal requirements.

To start a small business, for example knitting in your house … no.

Even a larger business with several employees can be started without a lawyer.

The benefit of a lawyer is adding business insight and identifying issues that could become an insurmountable problem later.

“No one plans to fail – they failed to plan.”

Business plans are helpful even in a one-person business because it allows you to identify the goals, the path, the strengths, the problems, etc. Sometimes business plans are required if you are seeking a loan or investor.

It does not have to be the most complex business plan–it can be very simple and straightforward–but yes, you should have business plan.

It depends on your business. Many industries — financial, food, or pharmaceuticals — have many licenses and registrations to comply with.

And many have no particular registration requirements.

If you are selling to the public you absolutely need insurance. Forge a relationship with an honest insurance broker who can advise you. The biggest risk is that someone will get hurt from something you sell or from being in your place of business.

Corporations, sole proprietorships, and Limited Liability Corporations all have their pros and cons. If you plan on raising real money from outside investors, investors are usually comfortable with a C corporation. If you have a real estate business, a LLC provides maximum flexibility and tax advantages.

The industry of your venture will help determine what type of business to form.

Here’s what NOT to do: Ignore it.

What you SHOULD do is call your insurance broker and see if there is coverage. If not, consult with a lawyer.

Call your insurance broker and have him or her raise hell. If that does not work, call a lawyer.

Most lawsuits are for personal injury, such as someone being run over by a car. In a business litigation — breach of contract, theft of ideas, partnership disputes — the litigation has the earmarks of a business deal. With luck it can be resolved in a business setting and out of the courtroom.

These arise in a litigation context. They are both forms of alternative dispute resolution — proceeding outside of court. A mediation involves having a mediator, who is neutral, listen to each party, identify issues, ask questions, and move the parties towards a consensual settlement.

A mediator does not decide anything — he or she just helps the parties resolve the dispute.

By contrast, an arbitration is fast track private litigation. It is not public. Depending on the rules applied, each side will present their position and the arbitrator acts as a judge and decides the dispute.

At the risk of sounding like a dictionary, a contract is a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.  Lawyers don’t like oral contracts.

When a party fails to honor his or her duties under a contract.