What’s your split? The biggest motivator for going into business for yourself is getting 100% of sales. The flip side is you also take 100% of the risk. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to have an attorney by your side along the way? 

By investing in a LegalShield Small Business Plan I make calculated business decisions avoiding unnecessary risk. Custom business legal plans starting at $39.00 per month give you access to a huge variety of legal services to help you rest easy knowing you’re protected. Speak to a lawyer as often as you’d like, get contracts & documents reviewed before you sign and much more. Protect and grow your business with a LegalShield Small Business Plan.

Are you struggling to pay your commercial lease? Put your LegalShield Small Business Plan to work for you! Have a lawyer review your commercial lease for a Force Majeure Clause then guide you how to navigate rent negotiations amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Is your landlord unresponsive? Have a lawyer write a letter on your behalf.  
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Benefits include:
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS

• Speak with your attorney on an unlimited number of business legal issues.
• One hour of legal research on each matter is included at no additional charge.

LETTERS & CALLS

• Your attorney can make phone calls or write letters on your behalf.
• Debt collection letters are included at no additional charge.

DOCUMENTS & CONTRACTS

• Have your attorney review documents and draft contracts.
• Legal forms are included at no additional charge.

TRIAL DEFENSE

• Your attorney can defend you in covered civil lawsuits.
• Pre-trial hours included at no additional charge.

Well... there are a few ways to look at it. You can set your prices based on:

• Cost of doing business = First, figure out how much money you need to charge per in order to make the numbers work, i.e. cover overhead and pay yourself for time spent away from your family. How much money to do you need to make each month to cover your bills?
• What people are willing to pay (Let the market set your prices) = Set your prices based on what the market will bear. What are people willing to pay? How much can they afford to pay? How much is your work worth to them? If they didn't pay you, would they have to take a day off work to get it done? Are they willing to pay you to keep from dealing with the stress? 
• Match/Undercut Competitor pricing = check out your competitors; what’s the going rate in your area? How low are you willing to go? If you undercut your competitors will you undercut yourself? Can you do things more efficiently than your competitors?  

Personally, I do a little of everything. We have lengthy discussions about pricing in chapter meetings. Most LDAs find a niche specialize in it and stick to that one area of practice. Everyone is different. Each LDA prepares an motion differently. Is there a page limit on the declaration? Do you including filing? Is service by mail included, etc. ? 

Pricing is not set in stone. You can alway raise their prices annually. The average fee is $300 for a Request for Order (Motion) and goes up depending on case complexity.  

You can always run a promotion to test the market too.

Affording clients the option to apply for monthly payment plans is a great way to ensure affordability and access to legal services. Legal Document Preparers is launching Square Installments as a convenient feature for clients who need a little more time to pay and response timely to pending actions.

The California Secretary of State instructions for the Articles of Organization form state on there that service-based businesses cannot operate via LLC unless there is an affirmative clause in the California Business Professions Code authorizing the subject profession with the ability to do so.

California BPC § 6400 et seq. does not contain authorizing clause for Legal Document Assistants profession to operate via LLC. Therefore, Legal Document Assistants are limited to incorporation or sole proprietorship.

In fact, Paralegals, LDAs, and any profession under CA BPC, cannot form an LLC for their professional services, because CA CORP §17701.04.says:

(e) Nothing in this title shall be construed to permit a domestic or foreign limited liability company to render professional services, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 13401 and in Section 13401.3, in this state.

13401. As used in this part: (a) “Professional services” means any type of professional services that may be lawfully rendered only pursuant to a license, certification, or registration authorized by the Business and Professions Code, the Chiropractic Act, or the Osteopathic Act.

13401.3. As used in this part, “professional services” also means any type of professional services that may be lawfully rendered only pursuant to a license, certification, or registration authorized by the Yacht and Ship Brokers Act (Article 2 (commencing with Section 700) of Chapter 5 of Division 3 of the Harbors and Navigation Code).

That said, many Paralegal Service Provider and a handful of Legal Document Assistants have structure their businesses as LLCs. Whether the LLC limited liability protections will be tested later when invocation become necessary. Would a court pierce the LLC veil? Well… do you feel luck? Well do ya’?

While Bus & Professions Code § 6400, et seq. goes into great detail about the role and responsibilities of an LDA, what it does not tell you is the business aspect of becoming an LDA. Self-Employment is not for everyone.

In addition to the technical portion of the business, there is also a compliance proration such as federal, state, and local business licensing requirements that your business must comply with. Then there is the financial aspect.

Are you ready to prepare financial statements like a Profit & Loss or how about a Balance Sheet? Sure you can contract out the accounting portion, but hiring a professional accountant would increase start up costs and monthly overhead.

Don't forget marketing! Building a lead tunnel for which prospective client to follow so when they get to you they are ready to close the deal! Oh, by the way you'll need client management software, and document drafting software for pleadings which may require thousands of initial investment depending on your business needs.

What will the day to day operations in your business be like? What will clients experience when they interface with your business, i.e. client flow.

Have I scared you off yet? No, good!

Then becoming an LDA may be right for you after all. The best place to start is with building your business is with the support of the Small Business Administration. Having a business plan with 3/5/10 years goals is important. This is the framework your business will follow.

It's really comes down to the entrepreneurial mindset. Look, I know I can be difficult, but you can do it. To help keep me motivated and on track I surround myself with like minded professionals by network with fellow entrepreneurs and listening to podcasts such as Side Hustle Pro. ​

Legal Document Assistants (LDAs) are required to include their registration information on any solicitation or advertisement, and on any printed papers or documents prepared or used by the LDA. This includes contracts, letterhead, business cards, correspondence, documents, forms, claims, petitions, checks, receipts, and pleadings.

THE LDA STAMP SHOULD INCLUDE:

• Legal Document Assistant (LDA) Name
• Business Name (if using a dba)
• Business Address
• Telephone Number
• ​County Registration Number
• County of Registration 

Effective January 1, 2016, The LDA registration expiration date is only required on on the written contract, as well as on any Internet Web site maintained by the registrant, and in any solicitation, advertisement, document, or correspondence prepared or used by the LDA in electronic form.

The idea behind limiting the LDA registration expiration date to electronic forms, aside from reducing the cost of printing, it also eliminates waste. Every two years LDAs had to print new business cards or other pre-printed materials and had to purchase a new LDA Stamp. Removing the registration expiration requirement from printed materials is better business not only for the LDA, but also the environment.