A business lawyer typically charges $150–$500+ an hour, but most small-business work that matters is billed as a flat fee: roughly $500–$2,000 to form an entity and $300–$1,500 to review a contract. Hourly rates only really bite on open-ended work like a negotiation or a dispute. The skill is knowing which structure applies to your situation before you sign an engagement letter.
This is a buyer's guide for business owners and for the firms that serve them. We build websites and lead systems for law firms, so we'll give you real ranges, what moves the price, and — honestly — when you don't need a lawyer at all.
Solos and small firms at the low end, established firms higher. Used for open-ended work where the scope can't be fixed in advance.
Plus state filing fees. Higher when it includes a custom operating agreement and tax-election guidance. You can file a simple LLC yourself for the state fee alone.
Per agreement, depending on length and stakes. A custom contract from scratch costs more than a review of one you already have.
For ongoing access and a set block of hours. Worth it once your legal needs are continuous; overkill for a one-time question.
Bring in a lawyer the moment there are partners, outside money, real dollars in a contract, or a dispute on the horizon. That's where the fee earns itself back many times over.
Business owners price-shop legal help, and the firm that publishes clear flat-fee context and accepts consult requests online wins the ones searching. We build a business lawyer website that does exactly that, plus AI lead capture that qualifies and books consults after hours.
Our Start Getting Leads plan is $249/month; the SEO plan at $597 wins the search channel. See what clients judge in choosing a business lawyer or browse more cost guides. We run our own service companies on this exact stack.
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Typically $150–$500+ an hour. Solos and small firms cluster low; experienced attorneys at established firms run higher, and big-city rates exceed small-town rates for the same work.
Often a flat fee of $500–$2,000 plus state filing fees, more with an operating agreement. You can file a simple LLC yourself for the state fee, but a lawyer matters with partners or investors.
For a simple single-member LLC, a vetted-template agreement, or routine filings, you often don't. Bring one in when there are partners, investors, real money in a contract, or a dispute coming.
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