Affordable Legal Protection for Early-Stage Startups*

Unlike LegalZoom or subscription-based platforms, StartSmart Counsel offers personalized legal advice from a real attorney who understands your business. We don’t just hand you templates — we provide tailored legal strategy, draft and review your documents, and guide you through complex issues. Plus, you only pay for the time you actually use — no monthly fees, no lock-ins.

Yes, if your business is in the early stages, you're likely considered a startup. We typically work with companies that have:

• Less than 3 full-time employees (FTEs)

• Are within their first 1–5 years of operation

• Are founder-led and actively building or scaling

• May be bootstrapped, self-funded, or just beginning to raise capital

• Are you revenue generating?

You don’t need outside investors or a tech product to be considered a startup. If you're building a business and need smart, on-demand legal support without the burden of a full-time legal hire, our Fractional GC service is built for you.

There’s no minimum or expiration. If you don’t use all your hours immediately, they’re available whenever you need them. You can come back for legal help weeks or months later — no pressure, just support when it counts.

Yes. There’s no long-term commitment or retainer required. After the one-time onboarding, you use legal services as needed. If you don’t need ongoing support, you don’t pay — it’s that simple.

We work with startups, small businesses, founders, and growing companies across industries — including tech, ecommerce, wellness, creative services, nonprofits, and regulated sectors like financial services and health. Whether you’re raising funds, building your team, or scaling operations, we tailor legal solutions to your specific stage and goals.

Yes. While our Fractional GC service covers a wide range of general legal and compliance matters, there are a few services that fall outside the scope of this model.

Services that are not included:

• ❌ Litigation or court representation

• ❌ Immigration filings or proceedings

• ❌ Tax return preparation or CPA services (though we collaborate with tax professionals)

• ❌ Patent prosecution or advanced intellectual property filings (e.g., utility patents)

• ❌ Securities registration filings with the SEC or FINRA (Reg D, Reg A+, etc.) unless separately scoped

• ❌ Complex mergers & acquisitions or buyouts (unless separately agreed upon)

These services may require separate engagement, flat fees, or hourly billing at a different rate due to their complexity or regulatory requirements.

That said, if you’re unsure whether something is covered, you can always submit a request in your client portal. We’ll review it and provide an estimate or refer you if needed.tem description