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Guide de recrutement · a Lawyer or Attorney

How to Hire a Corporate Attorney for Business Setup

Hire a corporate attorney who has worked with companies at your stage and in your target jurisdiction — an attorney who handles venture-backed Delaware C-corps thinks about equity, dilution, and investor rights very differently from one who forms LLCs for local service businesses. Stage and entity type are the two most important fit factors.

Illustration for how to hire a corporate attorney for business setup
James Chae

Rédigé par James Chae — Co-fondateur, Expert Sapiens

Licensed Attorney (JD)Bar-Admitted Professionals

Expertise sur la plateforme : Services juridiques et sélection d'avocats · Révisé juin 2026

Révisé par des avocats vérifiés sur Expert Sapiens
Licensed AttorneysBar Association Members
Fourchette tarifaire typique$1,500–$5,000 for LLC or corporation formation packages; additional $2,000–$8,000 for investor agreement and cap table setup

Comment évaluer un spécialiste

Confirm direct experience with your target entity type in your jurisdiction — LLC, C-corp, and S-corp formation carry different tax elections, governance structures, and investor implications
For venture-backed startups, look for attorneys with direct experience structuring SAFEs, convertible notes, and term sheets, not just general corporate formation
Ask whether they use standard templates (YC SAFE, NVCA) or draft custom documents — for early-stage companies, standard templates reduce investor friction and legal cost
Confirm the fee structure covers your full formation scope, not just state filing fees — founders agreements, IP assignment, and bylaws are commonly excluded from quoted packages
Verify they can handle post-formation needs such as board resolutions, cap table maintenance, and equity grants, or will need to refer you elsewhere

Questions à poser

Posez ces questions lors de toute consultation initiale pour rapidement distinguer les candidats solides des plus faibles.

1.Have you formed companies in my target jurisdiction with my entity type before, and what are the most common complications?

Pourquoi c'est important : Jurisdiction-specific rules matter significantly. Delaware C-corps, California LLCs, and Korean LLCs each have unique governance requirements, and an attorney unfamiliar with your target jurisdiction will miss them.

2.Do you use standard SAFE or convertible note templates, or do you draft custom investment documents?

Pourquoi c'est important : For early-stage companies, standard YC SAFE templates reduce negotiation time, investor friction, and legal cost. Custom documents are justified only when standard terms genuinely do not fit.

3.What is included in your formation package, and what will cost extra?

Pourquoi c'est important : Formation quotes frequently exclude founders agreements, IP assignment agreements, cap table setup, and initial equity grants. Knowing what is out of scope prevents invoice surprises.

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