Jupiter Business Transactions & Planning Attorney

A Jupiter business transactions & planning attorney can help you carefully plan and review contracts to help transactions go smoothly, and reduce the risk of future disputes.

Jupiter and the surrounding areas of the Treasure Coast are home to many businesses, from one-person small businesses to large corporations. At Apfelbaum Law, we often meet clients who are excited to be starting a business or taking on a new job.

Businesspeople have a variety of needs for Florida legal services, and we always recommend careful planning and review of contracts to help transactions go smoothly, and reduce the risk of future disputes.

Simple Vs. Complex Business Transactions

Not all business transactions are complicated. Some may be as simple as a five-dollar sale in a small store. However, when your business makes a large purchase or enters into a complicated legal agreement, such as a lease, partnership/investor agreement, or sale of high-value merchandise or services, it’s important to plan carefully. Contracts should be written and reviewed by a Florida business lawyer who understands your needs and knows what will be important to your business in the future.

Often we hear questions about independent contractor agreements—sometimes from the contractors, and sometimes from businesses who wish to engage the services of an independent contractor. This person will perform work for a business but is not an employee of the company.

Such an arrangement is useful in many situations—for example, if you need someone to do work for you but it wouldn’t make sense to hire an employee for such a job. However, independent contractors can also do large jobs outside of your company’s area of expertise, such as an architect needed to design a new office building for a tech company. People in an independent trade, business, or profession who offer their services to the public are generally considered independent contractors.

Independent Contractor Agreements

An independent contractor agreement should take into consideration the particulars of your business and the services you need, so it’s best to consult a Florida business lawyer to make sure your specific concerns relating to Florida contract law are addressed. In general, the agreement should cover the following:

• Description of services the independent contractor, or IC, will perform
• Detailed explained of how much and how they will be paid—hourly, commission, lump sum, etc.
• Description of how and when the IC will be paid—weekly, completion of project, etc.
• Explanation of who will cover expenses—usually this is the contractor’s responsibility, but not always, and either way it needs to be clearly spelled out in the contract
• Explanation of who provides materials, office space, etc.—again, usually the IC’s responsibility, but not always
• Statements that the IC and the contracting business agree to the IC arrangement, and the IC has all the necessary licenses and permits for this type of work
• An agreement that the IC will pay all applicable state and federal taxes, carries liability insurance, and he or she understands they are not entitled to any benefits granted to employees
• The length of the agreement—a week, a month, completion of project, etc.
• Details on how the agreement may be terminated, and under what circumstances
• An agreement about how the contracting business and IC will resolve any disputes

Many of these things can be confusing to both business owners and contractors. An experienced Florida business lawyer will answer questions about how these issues pertain to your situation, and write a properly-worded contract to clarify both parties’ responsibilities. This reduces the odds of a costly and time-consuming dispute arising later.

If you have questions or concerns about contracts, business law, real estate, or other Florida legal services, please contact Apfelbaum Law for a consultation. We can be reached at 772-236-4009, or contactus@alawfl.com.