3 Reasons Why Freelancers May Need Legal Services
As a freelancer, you may think that your career choice is going to be fairly simple. Your services are provided to a company or a client, you bill for your services, and you are paid. The trick to being a freelancer is there are certain times when your career choice will not be so cut and dry and legal services may be required. Here are a few reasons why, you as a freelancer, may need legal services:
Incorporating Your Business
When you first start your career as a freelancer, you may be testing the waters. This means you may be trying out the idea of working at home or being a contractor instead of an employee. After you have gotten your feet wet and taken on some clients, you may find that more work will come your way and taxes will be easier to handle if you are incorporated.
Though you can fill out incorporation paperwork on your own, having a lawyer help you will ensure that you are doing it correctly, filing the right paperwork for your business, and paying the right fees that are associated with your business.
Breach of Contract
Unfortunately, not all clients will be as respectful as others. You may have a client that requests your services and then doesn't pay for those services. You may also have a client that discontinues work without notice or breaches another part of the contract you have in place with them. If this is the case, you can take steps on your own to settle the matter, but sometimes that may not work. If you find yourself in this situation, then having a lawyer help you obtain the outcome that you want may be the ideal option.
Taxes and Write-Offs
One of the legal services you may not consider is the use of a tax lawyer. When you become incorporated as a freelance business you may have issues of determining what can be listed as a tax write-off or how much you should pay in taxes and when.
Though you may not use a tax lawyer every tax season, having one for the initial steps of your business is ideal. This type of legal service will help you determine the basics of paying your freelancer taxes, but also how to set up contracts and legal matters that deal with your income and taxes as well.
There may be other instances where you will need to use legal services or a lawyer as a freelancer, but these are the three main instances. Remember, if you are interested in using legal services ideally take the step of having a consultation first. This will ensure that you are getting the legal advice you need without paying a hefty price or getting services you don't need.
Contact a company such as Adams & Co Lawyers Pty Ltd to learn more.