When someone opens up a restaurant there are many things that they need to take care of. It can be very easy to get overwhelmed or forget something that is important. When a restaurant first opens a person must choose a business entity, get the necessary licenses and permits, take care of health and safety issues, get sufficient insurance, find out about franchising if applicable and handle any employees all within the confines of the law. This is in addition to working on menus, figuring out advertising, making budgets and attracting customers. Because there is so much to do it is important to hire a good Chicago restaurant lawyer to help you walk through all of the legal responsibilities and ensure that you are doing everything correctly.
How a Lawyer Can Help You
In order to operate legally there are several things that need to happen and a good lawyer will make this process a lot easier for you. The first thing that needs to happen is to determine if you will operate as a sole proprietor or in a partnership. Papers will need to be drawn up to protect you from any liability issues that could arise. A restaurant lawyer will be able to help you determine what action you need to take and which forms need to be filed to ensure that you are protected in your venture.
Getting Help with Licensing
There are a number of permits that will need to be issued and licenses to apply for before you can open the doors of your restaurant for business. Operating without getting the proper forms and licenses can cost you a lot of money in fines and penalties. Sometimes getting the proper licenses can be difficult and confusing. A Chicago restaurant lawyer will help you sort everything out and mover things along so you can open on schedule.
Keeping Your Restaurant Running
Any time a person is dealing with food for human consumption there are numerous health and safety violations to contend with. These issues must be addressed before you open your doors but also must be maintained for as long as you are in business. A lawyer can help you understand what needs to be done to meet the current regulations to open your doors to business as well as keep your kitchen open and bringing in money.