How many have an attorney hired as part of start-up??

[diemonster]

I'm still thinking about opening my own shop.. so I'm doing research into cost of insurance, accountant, etc. How many of you have consulted with an attorney prior to or part of opening your buisness (especially regarding liabilities, waiver forms, etc.).

What sort of attorney should I look for (who would know something about dog-bite laws and other animal-related law)?

I want to make sure I'm covered..both if a client feels I did something wrong (though I'll do my best to NOT do anything wrong!).. and also if I'm attacked by an aggressive dog...(not just a minor nip.. but a debilitating kind of incident).

[Grinch]

I don't have an attorney and I am opening my own shop. The only thing I used one for (which was a friend of my accountant) was to look over my lease. My insurance (travlers through gibson) supplies on should anything go to court.

[Gracy Rose]

I did not use an attorney, I picked the brains of my accountant and insurance guy. The accountant helped me with setting up for employees, payment, taxes and licensing. The insurance guy helped with covering my ASSets. Everything else, come from the book from Problems to Profit and our states business website (I am in Florida and our site sunbiz.com). I hope this helps.

[OnTheSpot]

I started my mobile business recently and I did consult with a local attorney before I started working. I just had some liability questions and return check questions. He had some suggestions for me in different areas. It really didn't cost very much for 1/2 hour of his time but now we have a business relationship and if I ever have a problem he knows me and what I am doing. Go in with your questions written down and be prepared. They usually charge by the hour and you don't want to waste time and $$. I think it's important to have a attorney and accountant to help guide you along. Good luck with your new business!

[lbboop99]

I don't have an attorney. Like everyone, just my accountant and insurance company.

[diamienono]

I have an attorney on stand-by, but he is my nephew, so I don't pay him lol. Heck I don't even have to wash his dog cauz it is really old and he is afraid it will die. I also have an accountant which you REALLY need to consult with before you do anything. There is so much **** you have to do. As for insurance I went through John Glover Agency. They have great policies and cover just about everything. I also have my clients sign a waiver that leaves them resp. for any damage their dog does to my property or myself. They all know they have to pay my bills if their dog decides I am a chew toy.

[workingchihuahua]

i also hired an atty at start up, just to go over my p's and q's. it does not cost much, but the info is invaluable.

[Mo-N-Me]

I'm still thinking about opening my own shop.. so I'm doing research into cost of insurance, accountant, etc. How many of you have consulted with an attorney prior to or part of opening your buisness (especially regarding liabilities, waiver forms, etc.).

What sort of attorney should I look for (who would know something about dog-bite laws and other animal-related law)?

I want to make sure I'm covered..both if a client feels I did something wrong (though I'll do my best to NOT do anything wrong!).. and also if I'm attacked by an aggressive dog...(not just a minor nip.. but a debilitating kind of incident).

An attorney would go over your lease/agreements and point out "potential" issues. As far as your other paper work they'd review it all to make sure it's on the up and up. It's not as expensive as you may think. A business attorney is what you are looking for.

As far as bite laws and other animal related incidences they are found within your cities' by laws. They also fall into civil suits should an incident occur.

I know two different groomers that had civil bite issues.

1) Was bit in the face. Bite was never reported to animal control. She tried to sue shop owner...lost. Then tried to sue pet-owner...lost. Why? Because when you check the dog in, you are accepting the responsibility of controlling the dog. Had the bite been reported, it would have been investigated further by animal control and the results of that may have helped her case or not.

2) Was also bit in the face. Animal control was called because it wasn't a provoked bite. The dog was sitting in the tub, lunged at her face and bit. She wasn't even touching the dog. Animal control deemed the bite so severe that they required the pet owner to either insure the dog(obscene amount), and contain it (can go outside 4 times a day 15 minutes per time, no contact with strangers/kids, etc) OR put the dog to sleep. In the city that this incident occured in there was a 3 bite rule...dog wouldn't be labeled dangerous until they recieved 3 reports on bites. Because it was unprovoked they nixed the 3 bite rule in this case. However, she never tried to sue the business or the pet owner.

You should be well aware of your bite laws and when to inforce them. As well as your own responsibility/liability when you accept a dog into your control.

[Soap]

I'm still thinking about opening my own shop.. so I'm doing research into cost of insurance, accountant, etc. How many of you have consulted with an attorney prior to or part of opening your buisness (especially regarding liabilities, waiver forms, etc.).

What sort of attorney should I look for (who would know something about dog-bite laws and other animal-related law)?

I want to make sure I'm covered..both if a client feels I did something wrong (though I'll do my best to NOT do anything wrong!).. and also if I'm attacked by an aggressive dog...(not just a minor nip.. but a debilitating kind of incident).

I hired an attorney as part of my start up. It was so worth it! I got a corporate attorney, and he filed all my inc stuff and was available for questions of which I had many. He does my basic letters and CYA stuff. If you want an animal law related lawyer, keep in mind that is a specialist. I don't know if it would be worth it to keep one on retainer. I would use my regular lawyer and if something came up and I needed information about a different or specific area of law, I'd call my lawyer and he would hook me up with a specialist. Lawyers are very well connected.

[rapuzzled]

I think that it's a good idea if you should choose too. I don't own my own shop, but my boss has an attorney. An accountant is also a very good thing to have!

[hairdevil]

If you're in business the 3 best friends you will ever have, your banker, your lawyer and your accountant..you should have all 3...your lawyer to tell you what your accountant can or can't do, your accountant to oversee your lawyer fees, and the banker to pay for them both! lol

[sheilabgroomer]

Same as w/most of the others I just have an account and an insurance agent. The reason I have an agent instead of keeping up w/it all myself is that I was having a hard time keeping up w/it all...lol... Between homeowners, auto, business and life/health I was getting very muddled.

[bell]

I don't know about other groomers, but the attorneys in my area cost $150-$300 an hour. That's a lot of the money to me, especially since there are so many other expense to open a store even if it's a small one.

[Soap]

I don't know about other groomers, but the attorneys in my area cost $150-$300 an hour. That's a lot of the money to me, especially since there are so many other expense to open a store even if it's a small one.

Yeah that's about right, and it is a lot of money. That's why I figured it in to my start up and operating costs.

[blhickson]

Hairdevil and Bell are absolutely right IMO about attys, accountants in operating/startup costs. Try to find an atty that does a lot a local civil litigation, contract law, etc. My own atty owns a dog that is a state university's mascot as its brand! He's a great lawyer for me! Accountant also owns show and hunt trial Springers! Everyone loves dogs, even the pricey suits! Atty turned me on to a nice insurance agent who found good prices on Gibson even tho' he'd never done it before for a salon/kennel since his wife owns Cockers that come to the shop! Ask around, ask your customers, they are great references and they will know you mean business and safety for their pets. I was a paralegal in my former life so....