Question
What are the minimal legal services I need to launch a startup with 2 people and how much should I pay? We should be able to run the business and be in a position to start a funding round. Expanding the team/hiring would come next.
Answers: 2 public & 0 private
By what exactly do you mean "minimal?" Any legitimate startup venture will expect to wrangle with legal issues including, without limitation, corporate formation and administration (e.g., filing Articles of Organization, drafting an operating agreement and investment documents), federal/state/local licensing if applicable to your business, intellectual property evaluation and asset protection (e.g., patentability opinions, trademark clearance searches, applications involving the same), and commercial transactions (e.g., service provider agreements, employment agreements). Varying complexities involving the foregoing with generally require more time and, usually, more expense.
Ms. Fales has given you excellent advice and her price range estimations are reasonable. I would only underscore that there are few occasions when you will be able to confidently use a "canned" or other paint-by-numbers type agreement obtainable from Legal Zoom, Rocket Lawyer, or other such services. Legal services, perhaps somewhat like medical services, are not those on which to skimp.
It is advisable to contact various local counsels to get different estimates, with IP firms most likely to be able to provide the broadest scope of legal services you will need at this point.
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