Phone: (312) 578-9300
Starting a business involves more than just a great idea. It requires a solid legal and structural foundation. Without the proper protections in place, business owners may face avoidable risks, tax issues, or disputes that stall progress or disrupt operations. Choosing the appropriate business structure, drafting effective agreements, and complying with local, state, and federal requirements are essential steps that should never be overlooked.
Working with a business startup lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes and set your business up for long-term success. An attorney can assist with formation filings, operating agreements, partnership arrangements, and legal compliance while also guiding tax strategy and liability protection. Rather than guessing your way through the early stages, you gain peace of mind knowing every step is deliberate, informed, and legally sound. This is a recipe for business success.
At Anthony J. Madonia & Associates, we provide direct, clear legal support to new and growing businesses throughout the Schaumburg and Chicago communities. We focus on long-term relationships, not just quick transactions, and offer practical advice tailored to your business goals. Our legal and tax expertise enables us to deliver comprehensive startup services tailored to your financial priorities and regulatory requirements.
Whether you are new at starting a business or a serial entrepreneur, launching a business can be challenging. You need the assistance of our skilled professionals that offer a wide range of business startup services. In addition to developing the product or service, you may require planning and executing the proper business documentation and structure. We can help manage ongoing business issues. We know that you just want to be focusing on what you’re passionate about, your business. That’s why we are here to guide you as you get started, and to be on ongoing resource.
Our 365 Business Start-Up Program™ provides business owners with a professional advisor to navigate the complexities of planning for the future, especially during start up. We can help you get started and we can work with you as you grow.
What We Do
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Across our practice areas, our clients represent a variety of industries, and we help them with a broad spectrum of issues – providing the right direction. We serve as business attorneys and trusted advisors to businesses and individuals through comprehensive legal and tax support that fosters growth and the preservation of wealth. Our strategic practice areas illustrate the breadth of our professional skills. Contact our Chicago business attorneys today to schedule an initial consultation and discuss your case.
Selecting the proper business structure is a critical first decision. Whether you’re forming a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation, each choice affects your taxes, liability, and decision-making authority. We help clients evaluate their options and complete all necessary formation documents, ensuring compliance with Illinois law and alignment with future business plans.
Beyond entity selection, new businesses often need guidance on drafting essential internal documents. These may include operating agreements for LLCs, shareholder agreements for corporations, or partnership agreements for joint ventures. These documents establish how your business operates, how decisions are made, and how disputes are resolved. Our firm ensures these documents are not only legally enforceable but also easy to understand and practical to implement.
We also assist clients with EIN registration, business licensing, and compliance with local and state regulations. This is particularly important for industries with special licensing requirements, zoning considerations, or state-level oversight. For example, businesses operating in professional services, food service, or health care often require additional filings and disclosures. We guide our clients through each of these steps to prevent delays and potential penalties.
A strong contract is one of the most essential tools for protecting your business. During the early stages of a startup, owners may need a wide range of agreements, including:
These contracts should not be copied from online templates. Each agreement must reflect your business’s actual operations, protect your interests, and comply with Illinois contract law. We draft and review contracts that provide clarity and reduce the risk of conflict, whether you are onboarding employees, working with vendors, or leasing office space in Schaumburg.
New business owners must understand how their business structure affects tax liability. For example, sole proprietorships and partnerships often face different tax reporting requirements than S corporations or C corporations. Our firm combines legal and tax expertise to help you develop a strategy that fosters growth without incurring unnecessary tax burdens.
We also assist with sales tax registration, payroll setup, and understanding state and federal filing obligations. For businesses hiring employees, we help ensure compliance with employment tax rules and reporting deadlines. Proper tax planning at the startup stage can help avoid major issues down the road, particularly as the business grows or attracts investors.
Your relationship with a business startup attorney should not end once your entity is formed. Startups often evolve quickly, and legal needs change as the business adds employees, enters new markets, or seeks financing. We work with clients long after formation to handle ownership transfers, buy-sell agreements, business succession plans, and disputes between partners or shareholders.
We also provide counsel on real estate transactions, intellectual property protection, and estate planning for business owners. These areas often overlap, particularly when a business becomes a primary source of wealth or legacy for a client. By taking a holistic approach, we help our clients protect what they’ve built while positioning their businesses for stability and continuity.
Early business relationships often shape long-term success. Whether you’re bringing on a co-founder, hiring your first employees, or engaging third-party vendors, the terms of these partnerships should be clearly defined from the beginning. We help clients document roles, responsibilities, compensation terms, and exit strategies to reduce future disputes. With clear legal agreements in place, you can focus on growth with the confidence that your business relationships are stable and secure.
The best structure depends on your goals, industry, tax preferences, and risk tolerance. LLCs are popular for flexibility and liability protection, but corporations may offer advantages if you’re planning to raise capital or issue stock. We evaluate your situation to help you choose the proper structure.
While it’s possible to file LLC documents yourself, an attorney helps ensure your documents comply with Illinois law and align with your business goals. We also prepare operating agreements and provide legal advice that online filing services do not offer.
Startups typically need formation documents, an operating or shareholder agreement, NDAs, employment or contractor agreements, and client or vendor contracts. The exact needs depend on your business model and structure.
Protecting intellectual property may involve trademarks, copyrights, or nondisclosure agreements. We help clients take appropriate legal steps based on the type of business and the nature of their work.
Yes. If you are seeking outside investment, we can review or draft financing agreements, equity terms, or investor contracts to ensure your rights and ownership interests are protected.
Launching a business in Illinois, Kansas, and Arkansas presents opportunities, but it also carries risks. Without the proper guidance, it’s easy to overlook legal requirements, misunderstand tax obligations, or enter into unfair contracts. These issues can derail a startup before it even has a chance to grow.
We provide practical legal support tailored to meet the unique needs of new and growing businesses. With years of experience in both legal and tax matters, our firm is well-positioned to help clients build a solid foundation. We’re committed to providing clear advice, responsive service, and long-term value.
If you’re ready to build your business with confidence, contact us today to schedule a consultation. You can also visit our homepage to learn more about our services. We’re here to help you make your business vision a reality.
It would be our pleasure to discuss your business, tax and/or estate planning needs.
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