Getting your business up and running is fun and exciting. You know what's not fun? Meeting with lawyers and paying expensive legal fees. At The Real Venture, we have started a few companies; all with differing legal setups. We have gone full corporate, paid the big money and we have bootstrapped the entire process. In this episode we want to walk you through the way we view the legal process, where you should splurge and where you could take some ownership. Check out the newest The Real Venture Podcast episodes directly to you - subscribe here. And, if you’re enjoying The Real Venture Podcast, please give us a 5-Star rating on Itunes! Understand the role legal plays in a startup. Setting up a company for the first time can be daunting. Getting your ducks in a row is easier said than done. Still it’s a task that can be done on your own all the way up to the actual filling. In our experience the more complex your business structure the more you should lean on your lawyers. Most mistakes can be fixed later on down the road, but some could kill the business before it even starts. Used good judgment. How to be cost effective and efficient. Lawyers get paid based on their time, i.e. the more they spend working on your account the more you end up paying. That is a lesson we have learned the hard way, which is why we recommend laying out exactly what you need to have accomplished, very clearly. This way they know exactly what is expected and they can knock it out quickly and correctly.  Where to splurge and where to take ownership There are several different documents that have to be complied and filled out during the incorporation process. Some of these need to be owned by the lawyers; bylaws, articles of incorporation etc. Let them handle that. On the other hand, there are forms that you can find online that you can have filled out and ready to rock on your own. Understand what your business needs and then figure out if you have the capacity to handle on your own or if you need legal help. At the end of the day you and your lawyers are a team, share the workload and take their guidance and you will be off to a smooth start. KEYWORDS SUMMARYNDA, legal, business, lawyers, working, luke, law firm, continue, order, incorporation, talk, google, people, creating, corporate structure, investors, important, major roadblocks, gung ho, documents Want to be featured in an episode? Drop a comment below, or share your questions, feedback, and whatever else using #TheRealVenture​​ and TAG US @therealventure_ on Instagram. The Real Venture PodcastThe Real Venture Website The Real Venture Instagram The Real Venture LinkedIn The Real Venture YouTube Peyton Truitt - Linkedin Peyton Truitt - Instagram Luke Truitt - LinkedIn