Colorado Business Formation Lawyer

Successful Entrepreneurs Trust Our Colorado Business Formation Lawyer

When starting a new business venture, don’t neglect the importance of proper business entity formation. First-time business owners may not realize that the differences in legal business formation structures (LLC, PLC, corporation, S-Corp, or nonprofit) greatly impact the venture’s tax obligations, ownership limitations, and overall operations.

It’s not just the legal steps of forming your business that are critical to its success. Your contracts, including employment contracts, vendor agreements, and partnership agreements, also play a large role. We draft contractor agreements for your business and review those you’re presented with. Our Colorado business formation lawyer oversees all the legal matters necessary to open your doors. Contact us today for a professional complimentary discovery call.

Comprehensive Business Legal Services

Colorado businesses have strict regulations for operation, financial reporting, and taxation. The nature of your enterprise and your goals (would you like to remain small, or do you have expansion plans, for example) affect which type of business formation structure is right for you. Our firm prepares the right business formation documents, acquires any permits and other supporting documentation, and registers it with the Colorado Secretary of State.

The type of business formation you choose can affect your ability to expand and take on new partnerships. If you want to keep your business privately owned, an LLC may be your best option, protecting your personal assets from being seized by creditors. However, if you are considering taking the business public, then a corporation form may work best. We work with you to develop your business goals, to form the business in the manner that’s best to achieve them.

Finally, we ensure that your business complies with industry-specific regulations. Certain industries, like electrical work or food and beverage service, have specific regulations. All businesses must also comply with state and federal employment laws. Part of our business formation services includes advising you on employment law compliance and risk assessment.

You can effectively leave your business’s legal interests to us and concentrate on what you do best—running your business.

Legal Protection So Your Business Can Thrive

One bad business deal, one hotly contested business dispute, or one premises liability lawsuit can derail your business or even cause you to shutter. We provide legal protection, including risk assessment and analysis. We alert you to areas where your business could be exposed, like employment violations or hazardous conditions that could cause workplace or guest injury. Then, we present an actionable plan to get your business compliant and address the risks.

If you face a contract dispute, including a breach of contract, we can represent your interests in arbitration, mediation, and Colorado civil court. A breach of contract can affect your supply chain, threaten your reputation, and cost a lot of money. We address the nature of the breach and attempt to negotiate a resolution according to the contract’s terms. However, if we cannot resolve this with the breaching party, we initiate legal action on your behalf.

At Volpe Law LLC, we take your business goals seriously, starting with the enterprise’s legal formation. Please contact us today for a personalized complimentary discovery call with our Colorado business formation lawyer.

Skilled Legal Assistance Properly Establishing Your New Business Venture

Properly setting your business up at the outset prevents many serious legal problems down the road. From submitting the correct formation documents and registering the entity with the Colorado Secretary of State to negotiating favorable contracts, our Colorado business formation lawyer protects your new enterprise.

Types of Business Formation Matters We Handle

• Entity Formation: We explain the differences in business structures (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.) and how each type could help you accomplish your vision for your new business. We also complete and file all necessary paperwork with the proper government agencies.
• Drafting Legal Documents: We draft corporate bylaws, LLC operating agreements, partnership agreements, and other essential documents, including the founder’s statements.
• Compliance: Our attorneys ensure that your business is compliant with state and federal regulations related to its formation and operation. We also ensure that your enterprise complies with industry-specific regulations, like OSHA regulations, and conduct regular risk assessments.
• Governing Documents: We draft government documents to minimize disputes, clearly outline roles and responsibilities, protect the interests of partners, investors, and stakeholders, and negotiate favorable terms for your entity.
• Business Agreements: Our attorneys draft, negotiate, and review commercial leases, sales agreements, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, intellectual property use, franchise agreements, and employment contracts.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: We handle the legal aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including negotiating favorable terms for each deal, completing due diligence, and executing all necessary legal documents to complete the process.
• Business Dissolution: When it’s time to close the doors, we guide you through the process of dissolving or ending a business.
• Intellectual Property: We protect your business’s intellectual property, including filing for the appropriate legal protections and preserving your brand integrity. We also initiate legal action in cases of IP misuse or appropriation.
• Start-up Advice: We offer guidance for businesses in their early stages, including general counsel services.

Why Experience Matters in Colorado Business Formation

Understanding the legal requirements for forming a business is essential. Any errors or omissions in your business formation documents or oversights when drafting contracts can cost your company millions. Instead, turn to experienced attorneys who pay close attention to detail, strictly comply with state and federal regulations, and are committed to your business success.

• Ben Volpe, founder of VLope Law, was selected by Super Lawyers® as one of its Rising Stars, Colorado, for three years in a row. This distinction is awarded to only the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
• Volpe Law was recognized by Martindale-Hubbell® for the Gold Level Client Champion Award in 2022
• We received an A rating by Martindale-Hubbell®’s AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, which has been used to recognize lawyers for their legal ability and ethical standards for over 100 years.
• Volpe Law holds a perfect 10.0 rating on Justia, the nation’s preeminent source of free legal information and resources, including a comprehensive database of legal cases.

Your business success starts with the right business formation. Volpe Law, LLC, can help you get started on the right foot with comprehensive business start-up advice. Contact us today for a personalized complimentary discovery call.

4 Common Contract Mistakes Made By Colorado Entrepreneurs

Contracts are the foundation of business relationships; without well-executed binding agreements defining the business relationship between two parties, the flow of commerce would grind to a halt. One often-overlooked aspect of starting a new business is drafting strong contracts with all parties you partner with, from investors to suppliers, and (if you’re a brick-and-mortar establishment) your commercial lease.

An enforceable contract makes resolving business disputes easier and ensures all parties understand expectations and fiduciary obligations. A poorly written contract, on the other hand, may do more harm than good. Our business formation lawyers serving Colorado have seen plenty of mistakes that come back to bite signatories, leading to costly disputes:

1. Relying on Verbal Agreements

Oral contracts can be just as valid as written ones as long as the verbal agreement has the required elements of a contract: offer, acceptance, consideration, mutual assent, capacity, and legality. However, handshake deals are harder to enforce and often give rise to more confusion or conflict; few people have a perfect memory of the exact nature of a conversation.

Written contracts clarify the exact obligations each party has. Even if you initially have an informal agreement, it’s best to follow up with a written contract affirming the terms.

2. Failing to Define Key Terms Clearly

Contract ambiguity often leads to disputes; if one party interprets vague language one way and the other signatory interprets it in another way, then disputes can occur. Clear language for deadlines, terms of payment, and a clear outline for dispute resolution can preserve your business relationship or give you a clear direction should one party clearly fail to fulfill their obligations. For example, saying “service to be completed soon” can mean very different things to different people. Instead, set firm dates for completion and exact terms for payment ( and the accepted forms of payment) to prevent misunderstandings. Performance standards should also be defined; one party may accept a “B+” level of performance when you, as the business owner, need a “straight A” performance. And, make sure that you set specific terms to measure success.

3. Not Including a Dispute Resolution Clause

Even with the tightest, most detailed contract, business disputes can still occur. Sometimes, the dispute may have nothing to do with the structure of the contract but rather between individuals, such as a conflict over the direction the business will take. Without clear direction for resolving differences of opinion between partners or between business operators and shareholders, the dispute could end up in court, costing both sides a considerable amount of money and possibly impacting normal business operations.

Ensure that each contract, even simple ones with a short fulfillment duration, includes a dispute resolution clause (such as binding arbitration) that outlines the governing laws for resolution.

4. Overlooking Termination Provisions

Does the contract have a clear need? While some business agreements may exist in perpetuity, this is unusual. Your contact should have a date for conclusion, with an option to renew the agreement (such as a vendor agreement or a commercial lease) and options to renegotiate terms.

What happens if one party wants out of the contract? If there is a clear termination clause, you could be locked into the agreement or end up in court for breach or an improper exit from the agreement. Instead, ensure that your contracts include provisions for termination and what, if any, fees or penalties will be assessed for early termination.

Professional Business Formation Service in Colorado

Starting a business means drafting and negotiating many contracts, from where you will operate to your new employees, preserving your trade secrets, and reviewing investor agreements. Having proper contracts in place before you open your doors can prevent legal trouble down the line, when a dispute could impact your cash flow and business operations. Our business formation lawyers serving Colorado can draft your start-up contracts, renegotiate your agreements when they conclude, and review each contract presented to you to ensure it’s clear and the terms are favorable. Please contact Volpe Law LLC today for a complimentary discovery call.

FEES

A $5,000 retainer is required for all pre-litigation dispute cases, while active litigation matters have a minimum retainer of $10,000. As of 1/1/2025, attorney rates vary between $275 – $400/hour. These hourly rates are paid by the retainer account. Fees and retainers for contract reviews and smaller projects vary, with some cases best suited for a 1-2 hour paid complimentary discovery call at $350 per hour or $700 for two hours. All retainers are evergreen and refundable. Please call to inquire for further details.

DISCLAIMER

The information contained on this website is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be construed as providing legal advice on any subject matter. Laws frequently change and therefore this content is not necessarily up to date, nor comprehensive. Contact us or another attorney with any legal questions specific to your matter. You may contact us by completing our complimentary discovery call.