Legal advisors for small businesses

Lawyers and legal advisors who work with small and medium businesses: company formation, founders' agreements, contracts, employment, leases, franchise agreements, and the paperwork of buying or selling a business. Find one in your country below — or, if that is your practice, list it.

When a new business needs a lawyer

Most founders can register a sole trader or a simple company with an accountant. These are the moments where a lawyer earns the fee:

More than one founder. A founders' or shareholders' agreement that says who owns what, who decides, and what happens when someone leaves.
Choosing the legal form when liability, investors or a later sale are in play, and the articles of association that follow from it.
Terms of business and a privacy notice that match what you sell and where, including GDPR obligations if you deal with people in the EU.
Employment contracts, contractor agreements and the rules that come with the first hire.
A commercial lease: term, break clauses, rent reviews, who pays for what.
A franchise agreement review before you sign it — see franchising explained.
Buying or selling a business: the NDA, due diligence, the sale and purchase agreement, and what transfers with the business (contracts, staff, licences, debts).
Licences, permits and trademarks for food, transport, health, construction, finance, or any brand you want to keep.

Find a legal advisor

All legal services

No legal advisors are listed yet. Be the first — or ask the forum who founders in your country use.

For lawyers and legal advisors: list your practice in the directory

Why here

People reach FounderCroft by searching "how to start a business in my country". Your listing appears on that country's page, next to the registration steps, at the moment they are deciding whom to call. Buyers and sellers see it on the businesses for sale and franchise pages, where the NDA and the sale contract are about to be needed.

What a good listing says

Practice areas, in the client's words: "company formation", "contracts", "buying a business"
Countries and languages you work in
Who you work with: sole traders, start-ups, family businesses, franchisees
A starting price for a defined service, if you offer one
Response time, and a photo of you or the office

What it costs

A basic listing is free for as long as you want it. Showcase and Premium placement are optional, 30 days at a time. There is no commission and no fee per lead; clients message you directly.

Add your registered company name and registry number in Settings for the verified badge.

The listing is one part of it. Advisers who answer questions in the forum, publish a plain-language piece in the blog, host a webinar under events or take a few mentoring calls are the ones people remember when the contract needs signing.

List your legal practice

Free account, "Advertise a service", category Legal. Ten minutes, no card required.

List your practice Get verified

Common questions

Do I need a lawyer to register a company?

In most countries you can register a sole trader or a simple limited company yourself or through an accountant. A lawyer earns their fee when there is more than one founder, outside investment, a lease, employees, a franchise agreement, or a business being bought or sold.

How much does a small business lawyer cost?

It depends on the country and the work. Many lawyers quote a fixed fee for company formation or a contract review and an hourly rate for the rest. Listings on FounderCroft show a starting price where the adviser states one; ask for a written quote before you start.

Are the legal guides on FounderCroft a substitute for a lawyer?

No. They explain the steps and the vocabulary for a named country so you know what to ask. The decisions that are hard to undo, such as the legal form, the founders' agreement or a sale contract, deserve a professional's review.

How do I list my legal practice?

Create a free account, choose Advertise a service, pick the Legal category, and describe what you do, for whom, in which countries and languages, with a starting price if you have one. Add your registered company details in Settings to get the verified badge.

FounderCroft is a directory, not a law firm. Listings are written by the advisers themselves; the verified badge confirms a company registration, not a licence to practise. Check the bar or chamber register in your country before you engage anyone.