About Jonas M. Grant, Esq. Expertise Licensed California attorney with a solo practice focusing on self-employed individuals and small business clients. I can help with contract and business entity (S and C corp, LLCs) questions, as well as copyright and trademark questions.
Experience I am an attorney licensed in California and Illinois, with a law practice devoted to serving entrepreneurs, small businesses, creative professionals, and the Internet and entertainment industries.
Bar Admissions California - Active Member in Good Standing; No Record of Discipline
Illinois - Active Member in Good Standing; No Record of Discipline
Education JD/MBA, Indiana University School of Law / Kelley Graduate School of Business, Bloomington, Indiana; BA, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Partial List of Legal Services Offered S corporation counseling and formation nationwide C corporation counseling and formation nationwide LLC (Limited Liability Company) counseling and formation nationwide
LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) counseling and formation nationwide
Corporation, LLC, and LLP dissolution and winding up nationwide
State & federal trademark and service mark filings and advice
Internet domain name disputes Copyright filings and advice
Custom-drafted contracts and reusable templates
NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreements) and other employment agreements
Contract/deal negotiation and dispute resolution
Website privacy policies, user agreements, legal notices Entertainment law services
I would like to start a SMALL computer consulting side business, where I go to customer's homes and setup their computers for them.
What are some cheap and simple ways I can use to protect my personal assets (home, car, etc) from lawsuits resulting from my business?
Answer Ray --
There are basically 3 things you can do, the ideal situation being all 3 together:
(1) Obtain business insurance to cover large claims. To find out how cheap this is in your area, talk to some insurance agents.
and/or
(2) Operate your business as a S or C corporation or LLC (which is better for you depends on a host of factors; consult an attorney for help) instead of a sole proprietorship. Incorporating can also have additional benefits, including reduced risk of IRS audit, possible tax savings, a more professional image for clients and vendors (if any), easier to bring on additional shareholders / sell a part of the business, etc. For more information on incorporating in any state, see my website at http://www.incorporatecalifornia.com
and/or
(3) Have customers sign a contract which is drafted by an attorney to limit your liability to customers. Probably the cheapest, though ultimately least effective, of the three options presented here; my one-time flat fee to draft such a contract would be around $300, for example.
Of course, there are costs involved with all 3 of these; however, (A) you must weigh that cost against the risk of exposure to your home, stocks, car, etc., (B) these expenses are tax deductible business expenses, and (C) if you can't afford any of these right now, then you may want to consider starting as a sole proprietor, then getting them done as soon as you can using money earned by the business.
I hope this helps and best of luck with your new venture. Regards,
