Santa Clarita Small Business Bankruptcy Attorney

If you own a small business, at some point you will find yourself dealing with legal issues that you’re not familiar with. At that point, you will need a lawyer. Maybe you need someone to review a contract, resolve a dispute with a vendor or a customer, or get sound legal advice on a potential lawsuit. These are every day realities that small businesses like yourself face.

We understand- because we are a small business ourselves. We understand what it takes to start and grow a business. We are here to listen to your concerns and help you face any legal issues or problems that you may encounter. Oftentimes, new business owners don’t want to hire an attorney because they’re concerned about the cost but what they don’t realize is that it is far more cost-effective to protect yourself before you run into serious legal problems. So before you experience any legal stumbling blocks, it would be prudent for you to have a lawyer who understands you and your business so that you can focus on what you do best- running your business.

Professional Services We Provide To Small Businesses

Business Entity Formation (LLC, Partnership or Corporation)

Choosing the right entity for your new business is important to your success. Your choice affects your ability to protect your personal assets from business creditors, your ability to allocate profit and authority among owners and also has tax consequences for the business and its owners. We will help you decide what is best for you by understanding your business, your goals and what is important to you.

Debt Negotiation

There may be times in your business when you feel like you’re just pouring money down the drain to keep your head above water. The key to survival is often to take action immediately in order to turn things around before the situation is out of control. As a full-service debt relief law firm, we have successfully helped thousands of small business owners in obtaining relief from debts that put a heavy burden on the business. Whenever feasible, we can help eliminate debt by negotiating for large reductions without the need for filing bankruptcy. On average, we settle unsecured debts for 20-60% of the original amount resulting in significant savings to our clients.

We see a lot of business owners who have used their personal credit to fund their business. When these personal debt obligations become overwhelming, they not only affect the profitability of the business but can cause financial trouble at home as well.

The big banks and lenders have their own attorneys. If you are ever sued for a debt, you will have to face attorneys representing the creditor. If you are not represented by a lawyer, you are at a tremendous disadvantage. Our clients are assured the highest level of confidentiality when they retain us as their counsel. We have earned a reputation for effectively dealing with most major creditors/collection agencies and can negotiate significant discounts on behalf of our clients.

Here are the tremendous benefits that our debt negotiation services can provide:

• Improved cash flow by reducing debt; more money to use for your current business operations
• Relief from stress and embarrassment of creditor collection activities
• Resolve problem debts before they become lawsuits
• More time to run your business instead of dealing with creditors and their lawyers

Business/Payroll Tax Problems

The IRS has enormous legal powers to collect past due taxes. It has the power to seize everything you own including bank accounts, your home and your wages. If your business owes back taxes, your tax debt will also continue to grow as the IRS piles on interests and penalties making it even more difficult for you to catch up.

Unpaid payroll taxes are often the worse and can cause you to lose your business and your freedom. If you don’t act quickly to deal with business tax audits, unpaid payroll taxes and business tax problems, it may just be a matter of time before you are forced to shut down your business.

Unpaid payroll taxes can also lead to the IRS imposing personal liability on you if the IRS deems you as the person responsible for turning over payroll taxes to the IRS (This is called the “Trust Fund Recovery Penalty”).

We can help resolve IRS problems to help you protect your business. We know that you need working capital and cash flow to keep your business running. Call us immediately so we can deal directly with the IRS and advise you on viable options for tax resolution.

• For a free report, go to “How To Solve Any IRS Problem”.

Contract Drafting and Review

As you run your small business, you will from business relationships with vendors, customers, landlords and a host of others. A lot of small business owners will sometimes close the deal on a handshake rather than memorializing their agreement with a written contract. While this works for all parties involved especially when you’ve been working together for a long time, such in-formalities can expose your business to risks and litigation. We can help protect your business from such risks.

As your small business lawyer, we will review and revise your existing agreements to ensure that they are well-documented and that they protect your interests. If necessary, we will revise contracts presented to you by third parties for signature to make sure that your business is adequately protected.

Other Small Business' Legal Needs

A variety of legal issues may come up on a daily business when running your business. We are here to provide you with peace of mind knowing that all your legal concerns are handled appropriately. Allow us to help you prepare your business for growth and success.

What Are The Different Types of Bankruptcy Options Available For Small Businesses in California?

Small businesses in California have several bankruptcy options available, each suited to different circumstances and goals. As Santa Clarita small business bankruptcy lawyers, we aim to guide you through these options to find the best fit for your situation.

• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Often referred to as liquidation bankruptcy, Chapter 7 is generally appropriate for businesses that are no longer viable due to insurmountable debt. During this process, the company's assets are liquidated to satisfy creditor claims. Although this usually means the business will cease operations, it allows for a clean slate by eliminating most of its debts.
• Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: This option allows businesses to reorganize and continue operating while repaying creditors under a court-approved plan. It’s often used by larger businesses but can also be beneficial for small businesses with complex debt structures. The goal is to restructure the business's debt and emerge more financially stable.
• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Although typically associated with individuals, small proprietors who operate their businesses as sole proprietorships may file for Chapter 13. This option allows for the reorganization of personal and business debts into a manageable repayment plan over three to five years. It’s useful for businesses that want to stay operational while they repay their debts.
• Subchapter V of Chapter 11: Specifically designed for small businesses, Subchapter V simplifies the Chapter 11 process, making it faster and less costly. It is intended to help small businesses retain control while restructuring their debts and streamline the reorganization plan approval process.

Protect Your Small Business with Legal Expertise

As a small business owner in Santa Clarita, managing the legal complexities of your enterprise can be daunting. Whether you require guidance on business entity formation, debt negotiation, tax issues, or contract drafting, our team at Financial Recovery Law is dedicated to offering the expert legal support you need. We recognize the unique challenges that small businesses encounter and are committed to safeguarding your company's interests.

Benefits of working with our small business bankruptcy attorney include:

• Expert guidance on business entity formation
• Negotiation skills to help alleviate debt burden
• Resolution of business and payroll tax problems
• Thorough and professional contract drafting and review
• Comprehensive legal support for any other business needs