Legal disclaimer

FoundryCounsel helps business owners connect with licensed business-law attorneys. We do not practice law, give legal advice, or represent clients.

Nothing on this site, in our forms, or in our emails is a legal opinion about your specific situation. Laws can depend on your state, your business structure, your contracts, your industry, and your facts.

If you need legal advice for your business, the right next step is to speak with a licensed attorney. If you want help finding one, you can get matched or learn more about how it works.

Reading this website, sending an inquiry, or being matched with an attorney does not create an attorney-client relationship with FoundryCounsel or with any attorney.

An attorney-client relationship usually starts only after the attorney agrees to represent you, confirms the scope of work, and gives you a written engagement letter. That letter should explain what the lawyer will and will not do, how the flat fee or other billing method works, and who is responsible for filing fees or other costs.

Before you hire any lawyer, confirm three things in writing:
- that the lawyer is licensed in the right state
- what work is included and not included
- the flat fee range or other billing terms

For general background, see our services and guides.

We try to keep our content useful and clear, but business-law rules change. State filing rules, tax treatment, deadlines, agency forms, and naming standards can change over time.

A rule that applies in one state may not apply in another. For example, an LLC, which means a limited liability company, can have different filing or publication requirements depending on the state. An EIN, which means Employer Identification Number, is issued by the IRS, but state tax and registration rules are separate.

Because of that, do not rely on this site as the final word for an important decision. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency and, when needed, a licensed attorney.

Useful official sources include:
- your state's Secretary of State for entity filings, status, and state business records
- IRS.gov for federal tax information and EIN rules
- USPTO.gov for federal trademark information

No one can honestly guarantee a business filing, trademark, license, visa-related business step, lawsuit result, contract outcome, or approval by a government agency. That includes FoundryCounsel.

Any lawyer you speak with should be careful and specific about risk, timing, and possible outcomes. Be cautious if anyone promises approval, registration, or a perfect result.

The best approach is to ask direct questions about likely timelines, possible problems, and what documents or decisions may affect the outcome. If you are comparing options such as an LLC or a corporation, which is a company structure with shareholders, directors, and officers, our general guides can help you prepare questions for a lawyer, including How to Form an LLC in the US and LLC vs Corporation: Which Is Right.

FoundryCounsel is free for business owners. Participating attorneys pay FoundryCounsel a flat marketing fee to be part of the matching service.

FoundryCounsel does not take a percentage of any legal fee, does not receive part of any attorney's bill, and does not change the legal advice a lawyer gives you.

If you choose to hire a lawyer, ask for a written engagement letter that clearly states:
- the lawyer's name and licensing state
- the scope of the work
- the flat fee range or other billing terms
- whether government filing fees are included or separate

Fee ranges discussed on this site are general state-dependent ranges, not quotes. For more background, see How Much Does a Business Lawyer Cost.