Whether times are good or bad, the legal aspects of starting and running a successful business remain. You need to find good legal advice...you need proper licenses and permits...you need the right forms for just about anything...and you may also need a way to manage your contracts. In addition, you might also need nondisclosure agreements to help protect your company's secrets. You'll find help for all of these legal issues in this issue of WhatWorks.

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Keeping it Legal
Obtaining Proper Licenses and Permits
By Matt Alderton
Most entrepreneurs strike out on their own hoping to answer only to themselves. Many, however, fail to remember that they have to answer to someone else, too: their government. Before you open for business, you may need to get the green light from some government or regulatory body. The necessary licenses and permits won't just get you the go-ahead, though, they'll also help you: Read Full Guide

Legal Help
Finding a Business Attorney or Legal Specialist
By Constance Gustke
At some point, every business owner needs a good attorney. These legal eagles are essential when navigating complex business issues, such as launching a business or dissolving one. While hiring a lawyer can be expensive, NOT hiring a lawyer can cost you far more. A good attorney can help you with most small business legal issues, such as: Read Full Guide

Maintaining Good Form
Essential Small Business Forms
By Matt Alderton
The formula for a successful business includes an entrepreneurial spirit, passion and creativity. It also includes lots and lots of paperwork. Whether you need to pay vendors or bills, recruit employees or customers, or handle hundreds of other routine business tasks, you'll need to fill out a form to do it. Here's what you'll need: Read Full Guide

Keeping Your Secrets
Nondisclosure Agreements
By Toni Klym McLellan
When it comes to protecting proprietary information, "Don't ask, don't tell" doesn't fly. That's where a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), or confidentiality agreement, comes in. Whether your company needs one depends on the nature of your products and business relationships. Nondisclosure agreements can exist between various individuals and entities you do business with, including: Read Full Guide

Tracking Your Contracts
Contract Management Software
By Jeanne Dininni
Managing contracts can be a task you don't particularly look forward to, especially if your company lacks an effective contract management system to track the process from creation through renewal. Because contracts are both multi-faceted and multi-phased, effective contract management requires that you maintain awareness, coordination and control throughout every stage of a contract's life. Here's how contract management software can help: Read Full Guide