- SEATTLE: 206-621-1110
- TACOMA: 253-572-1000
- PORTLAND: 971-416-0881
- OLYMPIA: 360-742-3500
Seattle and Tacoma Sole Proprietorship Attorneys
Providing sole proprietors with solution-oriented legal counsel and representation
According to the State of Washington Business Licensing Service, sole proprietorships are the most common form of business entity. In fact, many people may be operating as a sole proprietorship without being aware of it. A sole proprietorship exists when an individual or a married couple operates as a business; common examples could include music teachers, nannies, plumbers, handymen, carpenters, freelance writers, or housekeepers. Because many sole proprietorships are small operations, their owners are often under the mistaken impression that they do not need legal counsel or that they should just obtain representation on an ad hoc basis if the circumstances call for it. In reality, anyone who is operating their own business should seek legal counsel regarding their business and develop a relationship with an attorney who is familiar with representing small business owners.
Call the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess today at (251) 621-1110 in Seattle and (253) 572-1000 in Tacoma for a consultation with one of our lawyers.
The legal pros and cons of sole proprietorship
Sole proprietorships have various legal advantages and disadvantages that make them more suitable for some business than others. For example, there are no filing requirements to start a sole proprietorship, they are extremely flexible in terms of management, are not subject to corporate regulations, and may pay less in taxes than other business forms. On the other hand, the owner of a sole proprietorship is personally liable for all of the debts incurred by the business. Other business formations, including limited liability companies, S-corporations, and C-corporations shield their owners from personal liability in many cases.
While there are few legal formalities associated with operating a sole proprietorship, there are many ways in which an attorney can help sole proprietors successfully run their businesses and avoid legal liability. These include the following:
- Contract review and drafting
- Tax advice
- Representing you in business negotiations
- Ensuring that your operation complies with any applicable state and federal regulations
The exact way in which an attorney will be able to help you depends of the specifics of your business. An experienced lawyer will conduct a thorough analysis of your circumstances and advise you as to whether there are any critical legal issues that need to be attended to immediately.
Contact a Seattle and Tacoma business law firm today to schedule a consultation
Anyone who is operating a sole proprietorship in the state of Washington should contact an experienced business law attorney as soon as possible. With over 100 years of combined experience, the Seattle & Tacoma business lawyers of the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess are equipped to provide individuals and businesses with top-notch legal representation and counsel.
For a phone consultation with one of our lawyers, call the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess today at (206) 621-1110 from Seattle or (253) 572-1000 in Tacoma.
Attorney Robert Dickson
The core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners. His is a practical approach to law, which strives to balance the need for a successful legal outcome with a client’s financial goals (or constraints). Outside of his private practice, Rob serves as an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law where he teaches real estate litigation. [ Attorney Bio ]
Thomas L. Dickson
Tom is an experienced litigator and the founding partner of the firm. For over 30 years, he’s helped clients prevail in their real estate, construction, and business law matters.
Heather Burgess
Heather represents property owners and developers in all phases of real estate development, from pre-acquisition due diligence through local permitting and appeals.
Robert P. Dickson
The core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners.
Daniel J. Frohlich
Dan’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate law, business law and probate law. He has more than 10 years of experience as an attorney serving clients throughout Western Washington.
Mark S. Johnson
Mark’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate law, business law and family law. He works tirelessly to help his clients achieve the outcome they are looking for.
Trevor A. Zandell
Since graduating with honors from law school in 2005, Trevor has been serving the legal needs of businesses, individuals, and families across Southwest Washington.
Daniel E. Pizarro
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Daniel is active in the firm’s civil litigation department. His practice is mainly centered around real estate law, landlord-tenant law, construction law, and probate law.
Alexander J. Wisbey
Alexander Wisbey comes to the firm with 5 years of experience as a litigator and trial attorney. He has first chaired several jury trials and has extensive experience handling arbitrations, mediations, depositions, and settlements.
Andrew Hata
Andrew is the head of our Transactional Department and focuses his practice on corporate governance, real estate transactions, commercial contracts, and corporate finance.
Kelley Duggan
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kelley practices in a wide range of areas, including estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and intellectual property law.
Cambria A. Queen
Cambria is an Associate with Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess in the civil litigation department, where she practices primarily real estate and probate law.
George Knight
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, George is active in the firm’s civil litigation and transactional departments. His practice is mainly centered around business law, real estate law, construction law, employment law, and probate law.
Chris Pierce-Wright
Chris comes to Phillips Burgess Tacoma from Seattle, where he served as an associate attorney focused on insurance litigation with Wilson Smith Cochran Dickerson.
Jennifer Yoo
Jennifer is an associate attorney at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess where her current practice focuses on real estate law, contract and commercial disputes, and business law.
Katherine E. Baals
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Katherine practices in a range of areas, including real estate, construction, business, and civil litigation.
Kenneth Chan
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, PLLC, Kenny is active in the firm’s civil litigation and transactional departments. Prior to working at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kenny was an in-house attorney for a Fortune 100 company.
Brian Buske
Following his graduation from Lewis & Clark Law School, Brian garnered valuable client experience working on international compliance and intellectual property issues.
Kyla S. Bennett
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kyla practices in a range of areas, including real estate, land use, and civil litigation.
Matt Wand
Matt was born and raised in East Multnomah County in the Gresham area where he lives and has raised his family. His wife of more than twenty-five years is Anne Wand and they have three children together.
