Entrepreneurs are people who operate a business, often at great risk. They’re staking their ideas, values, and even finances on the line, with a small percentage of success. However, should they find success, they will reap great rewards. And perhaps, this is the primary reason why many people are enamored with the idea of an entrepreneur.
Many people are rich, famous, and powerful. An entrepreneur often comes off as those three: holds responsibility for several people, has considerably high wealth, and is known to relevant people. However, what many don’t see or understand is the amount of hard work that goes into it. Particularly, the amount of paperwork that’s involved with being an entrepreneur- and not just the paperwork, but the legal aspects as well.
And the sad thing is, many people overlook the legal aspects of their business idea.
A common reason why many aspiring entrepreneurs fail in their business ventures is that they’re not protecting themselves legally. Many focus too much on the “idea” part of being an entrepreneur and less on the “organizing and logistics”. Some entrepreneurs even fail to realize the value of business laws. So let’s take a look at what business law is, and why every entrepreneur should be concerned.
Defining Business Law
In the simplest of terms, business law simply means the cluster of rules that protects the rights and liberties of business, keeps the order of business, and even resolves potential disputes between clients and business owners. It also concerns government bodies that look over the quality of industries for the public’s safety.
Each location often has different rules when it comes to running a business. Because businesses are essentially formed at the state level, the laws that govern them are of the state’s and are often bound by taxation rules, safety measures, and other standards imposed by their state. Entrepreneurs will find it beneficial to look into their state’s business law to become very familiar with it. This helps prevent legal mistakes, thereby preventing costly mistakes in the future.
Why is Business Law Relevant in an Entrepreneurs’ Career?
Business law might initially come off as a way to limit what an entrepreneur can’t or can’t do. But ultimately, it protects both the business owner, the business itself, and the customers from any misdeeds that occur. Let’s take a look at some of the key points why it’s very important.
Handles Compensation Packages
Employment is an agreement between an employer and employee, and it often involves a set amount of hours for a set amount of pay. Should there be any breach within this agreement, business law is there to help settle things. Labor rights lawyers are often provided by the local government to help employees and employers manage the situation. Consequences are often serious, but that’s what the law aims to do in the first place: prevent people from breaking an employment agreement.
Protects Employees
Being that employees are essentially the lifeblood of a business, business law helps protect them should business owners or even customers overstep their boundaries and end up harming laborers or employees. That’s why there’s a lawyer for every profession: be it a truck driver rights lawyer or a real estate lawyer, specific rules for specific professions exist, requiring professional legal input to navigate.
Upholds Business Formation
If a business is owned by more than one person, it is business law that dictates the type of ownership. Of course, it could also be a sole proprietorship where it’s only just you, but with the help of business law, business partners can transact without fear of being double-crossed. And because a company’s finances should always be separated from its owner, business law also helps entrepreneurs from protecting themselves from the risk of loss should their business go under.
Protection Against Fraud
Entrepreneurs should also be wary of people trying to take advantage of their goodwill. Fortunately, business law is there to protect business owners from these types of people. Cases and lawsuits against individuals taking more than what they should get or breaches of an agreement are far too common, and it’s something that will continue to be so. As long as the law is upheld, however, business owners can feel confident that justice is on their side.
An entrepreneur won’t succeed with just “good ideas”. They also have to be very aware of what makes a business work: both the logistical and legal aspects of things. Overlooking this simply spells major trouble later, so if you’re planning to start a business of your own, make sure that it’s completely within the law.
