Larger corporations always have a lawyer or two on staff, but small businesses often can't afford that. They also don't necessarily need the consistent protection of having a lawyer on staff. However, that doesn't mean your small business will never need a lawyer. Having one that is familiar with your business and that you have a good relationship with, even if you don't utilize them very often, is essential if you have to respond to claims and suits. Here are three other times when you should consult an attorney.

1. Have a lawyer look at all of your standard business documents. 

If you don't have a lawyer that can approve customized contracts and terms of operations as they come across someone's desk, then you have to standardize your legal documents as much as possible. That means having ironclad language, succinct and universal change order forms, and any disclaimers your business needs. But don't just pull those documents from a free legal template directory. Hand them all over to an attorney who specializes in law for your specific niche and ask for suggestions. They can recommend language that protects your company as much as possible. You can even ask for a library of language additions that can be added to the contracts to allow for safe customization whenever necessary. 

2. Talk to an attorney before expanding your business. 

If you're about to take on another specialty or offer a wider array of construction or repair services, talk to an attorney first. Not only can they recommend additional layers of protection and help you with licensure paperwork, they can advise you on the right insurance options for your business. Every company needs liability coverage, but some specialties need more than others.

3. Get legal advice before hiring employees.

As your business expands from a one-man operation, your first step is probably going to be hiring contractors. But if you get to the point where hiring long-term employees makes more sense for your business, talk to your usual lawyer about the legal pros and cons as well as what you're expected to do as an employer. A conversation can go a long way in helping you set up benefits, HR records, and more before something goes wrong.

Go to iContractor.net for more tips about expanding and protecting your business.