Just a quick post to inform all of you Seattle area small business folks about a future opportunity. In conjunction with a few other service providers, I’ll be participating in the Small Business Institute of Seattle & Bellevue.  I’m developing a class that will help you understand some of the legal considerations you’ll face as you start your small business.  John Huddleston will be talking about business tax considerations and the basics of S-corps and LLCs.  Check the website often for updates and I’ll keep you posted here as the classes develop!

I am sorry I haven’t been posting as often as I should - things are really busy, which is a wonderful thing. I can’t wait to bring you some great small business content in the future, especially for those of you in the greater Seattle area.

In the meantime, I wanted to share some cool news with you all - I was interviewed recently by Lance Godard of The Godard Group on Twitter. For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it’s a form of micro-blogging that limits users to 140 characters per “Tweet.”

To check out my Twitterview, go to the Twitterviews page here.

I’d love your comments and feedback on my recent radio & Twitter interviews!

I had the pleasure of appearing on Rachel Whalley’s radio show this afternoon. Listen to the archived show HERE.

Rachel is a therapist and healer, and you can visit her website at http://www.fogtofire.com - thanks, Rachel!

Hello again!  For those of you in Western Washington, I hope you’ve been enjoying the glimpses of sunshine we’ve had the last couple weeks.  Do any of you ski?  I do…and I am excited about the snow reports I’m hearing today!  Here’s hoping it sticks around…the 40 degrees and rainy thing just doesn’t cut it when you want to use those season passes.

ABCs of LLCs - An Introduction

Many of you have been asking for more information on LLCs.  What are they?  How do they work?  What do *you* need to do if you have an LLC?  Over the next few weeks we’ll cover all these topics.  Today, though, we’ll start with a quick overview and some resources for LLC owners.

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Hello again from busy, snowy Seattle!  It’s been far too long since I’ve posted a substantive article, so I promise to deliver one as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know that on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., I will be making my first official radio appearance since launching the firm!  The Seattle-based radio show Chat With Women is doing a series of features on female CEOs in the greater Seattle area, and they’ve done me the honor of highlighting me in this upcoming show!

Chat With Women broadcasts live Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on KKNW 1150 AM in King County, Washington.  Please listen on the 25th and call in with your small business law questions!  And many thanks to Pam & Rochelle of the Chat With Women show for the opportunity to talk with their listeners about practicing small business law in Seattle!

Happy 2009! Thanks so much for showing interest my blog. I’d like to start my first “official” post of the New Year by asking for continued feedback and suggestions – this blog is about YOU, so I need you to tell me how I can make it better! What would you like to see here? Feel free to leave your ideas and thoughts in the comments section, or to e-mail me at valerie@farrislawpllc.com.

On to today’s topic. In the last two blog posts, I shared some thoughts on how to know when, as an individual or small businessperson, you need a lawyer. The bottom line is this: get one when you don’t need one, so you have one you like when you do. The next logical question, then, is “How do I choose the right lawyer for me or my business?”

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The interview below appeared in Sandra Watson’s blog, titled “Bridetiquette” today.  Check out Sandra’s blog and website - she’s a fabulous event planner who can help you with anything from a business event to a wedding!  And, stay tuned for a future guest blog post from Sandra right here, telling you all about her event planning services and how they can be of use to small business owners.

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Last week I shared a bit about why – and when – small business owners need a lawyer. But it’s not just businesspeople that need attorneys. Often, I hear people say, “hopefully I’ll never have need of your services,” as if the only time an individual would need a lawyer is if something bad has happened. The truth is, hiring a lawyer at the right time can help you safeguard your personal assets, keep a judgment from being obtained against you, and even proactively protect your belongings, real estate, or other investments and concerns. Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from consulting with a lawyer when doing so might save you a world of heartache and trouble.

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Have you noticed that many people view a visit to a lawyer like a trip to the dentist?  They treat it like something to be avoided at all costs; put off until they’re in extreme pain. But, like dentists, lawyers can do their best work for you before the pain starts. With the proper “treatment,” your lawyer can help you set up your business, and your life, to protect you from “pain” – aka liability and legal exposure.

So how do you know if and when you need a lawyer? The answer is different based on whether you’re a small business person or need a lawyer for more personal stuff. This blog post will address how to figure out your need for a lawyer when you’re in small business; stay tuned for next week’s blog post about determining your need for a lawyer in your personal life. I’ll also share some common sense tips on how to choose the right lawyer for you, regardless of the practice area you’re shopping for.

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A wise soul once said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” The majority of Americans are, unwittingly, on the road to “failure” with respect to estate planning. Estimates vary, but at least half of Americans don’t have a will[1]. The most common reasons for this are avoidance (I don’t want to think about dying) and incorrect assumptions (I don’t need a will because I don’t have a lot of money/assets). Some folks just don’t know where to begin; what’s a will? Do I need one? Why? Who can I talk to about my questions?

Whatever reasons you have for avoiding this crucial topic, I hope to prompt you to action and give you some of the tools you need to make estate planning a priority. This article is not meant to provide legal advice for your particular situation, but to offer general information that will get you started down the right road.

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