Opening a restaurant is a lot of work. It also happens to cost a lot of money. Since there’s no way to be sure the investment will pay off, it’s normal for budding restaurateurs to cut costs wherever possible during the early days. While purchasing refurbished equipment and limiting the size of your payroll until business picks up won’t threaten operations, failing to seek legal advice could. As such, prospective restaurant owners should budget for hiring a business attorney from day one. Here are just a few ways a lawyer can help ensure the success of your big endeavor. 

Before Opening Day

During the initial planning stages of your restaurant, making even a minor misstep can have major consequences. This is why seeking legal advice long before you open your doors is essential. A seasoned lawyer will help you choose the right business entity, obtain all necessary permits and licenses, and implement standard operating procedures that do not violate health or safety regulations. An attorney can also help you estimate just how much insurance coverage you’ll need for personal injury liability, as well as for fire, theft, and other common perils. 

After Becoming Operational 

Once your restaurant is up and running, a lawyer will help you mitigate potential legal issues. For example, since you probably won’t have a human resources department to defer to when it comes to hiring, firing, and managing workers, an attorney can help you avoid employment law disputes instead. It’s fairly common for restaurants to have a high turnover rate, which exposes owners to considerable liability when it comes to issues like discrimination. Even if the owner doesn’t actually discriminate against a protected class, the sheer number of workers who come and go increases the chances of facing a lawsuit at some point.  

A business lawyer can also assist with growth once the restaurant starts making a profit. Whether you want to open and operate a second location or offer franchising opportunities to others, an attorney can guide you every step of the way. 

If you’re planning on opening a restaurant, turn to Zellar & Zellar Attorneys at Law, for legal advice. Located in Columbus, OH, this family-owned firm always goes the extra mile for their clients. As a full-service practice, they've been counseling individual and commercial clients throughout Franklin County since 1965. To learn more about the comprehensive legal advice they offer to small business owners, visit their website, or call (614) 257-1643 to schedule a consultation. 

This article is intended to provide general information and should not be construed as legal advice or in creating an attorney-client relationship.