Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC?

You can file the paperwork yourself, but an LLC is more than just a filing. You need an operating agreement that protects your personal assets, proper EIN registration, and compliance with state-specific rules. An attorney makes sure everything is set up correctly so your liability protection actually holds up. The cost of doing it right is far less than the cost of fixing it later.

Do you charge by the hour or offer flat fees?

We offer flat-fee pricing for most business services, including LLC formation, operating agreements, and standard contract drafting. For ongoing or complex matters, we may propose a flat fee based on the scope of work. We always discuss pricing before we start so you know exactly what to expect.

What is an operating agreement and do I need one?

An operating agreement is the internal document that governs how your LLC operates. It covers ownership structure, profit distribution, management responsibilities, and what happens when members leave or new members join. Even if you are the only member of your LLC, an operating agreement is essential. Without one, courts are more likely to disregard your LLC's liability protection.

Can you help with a business I already started?

Absolutely. Many of our clients come to us after forming their LLC on their own or through an online service. We review what you have, identify gaps (missing operating agreement, improper formation, compliance issues), and fix them. We can also draft or review contracts, update your operating agreement, and integrate your business with your estate plan.

Can you help with a business that operates in multiple states?

Yes. Jon Miller is licensed in Utah, Arizona, and Texas, so we can handle business formations and registrations across all three states. If your business operates in a state where we are not licensed, we can advise on the general strategy and coordinate with local counsel as needed.

Business Attorney for Utah Companies

Running a business is hard enough without worrying about whether your legal foundation is solid. At Jon Miller Law, we work with Utah business owners on the legal building blocks that protect your company and your personal assets. LLC formation, operating agreements, contract review, and business transactions. The stuff that keeps your business running smoothly and keeps you out of trouble.

What makes our approach different is that we also handle estate planning. That might sound unrelated, but it's actually a huge advantage. Your business and your personal financial plan are connected. What happens to your LLC if you pass away or become incapacitated? Is your business interest held in your trust? Does your operating agreement address succession? These questions fall through the cracks when your business attorney and estate planning attorney don't talk to each other. With us, they're the same person.

We offer flat-fee pricing for most business services, so you know your cost before we start. And because Jon Miller is licensed in Utah, Arizona, and Texas, we can help with business formations and transactions in all three states.

Business Legal Services We Offer

We focus on the transactional side of business law, meaning we help you set things up correctly and stay compliant. We are not a litigation firm, so we don't handle lawsuits. But the work we do often prevents them.

LLC and business entity formation. We form LLCs in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. This includes filing the articles of organization, drafting your operating agreement, and obtaining your EIN. We make sure your entity is set up to protect your personal assets from business liabilities.

Operating agreements. Your operating agreement is the rulebook for your LLC. It defines ownership percentages, how profits are distributed, what happens if a member wants to leave, and how disputes are resolved. Even single-member LLCs need an operating agreement to maintain legal protection.

Contract review and drafting. We review and draft contracts for your business, from vendor agreements to client contracts to partnership arrangements. A well-drafted contract prevents misunderstandings and gives you recourse when things go wrong.

Real estate transactions. For businesses involved in real estate, we review purchase agreements, handle title issues, and prepare closing documents.

Why Your Business Needs an Attorney

A lot of business owners try to handle legal matters on their own, especially early on. They download an operating agreement template, use online forms for their contracts, and hope everything works out. Sometimes it does. But when it doesn't, the cost of fixing problems far exceeds what it would have cost to do it right in the first place.

Here are some common situations where a business attorney pays for themselves. You're bringing on a business partner and need to define the relationship in writing. A vendor sends you a contract that's clearly written in their favor and you need someone to negotiate better terms. Your business is growing and you want to make sure your liability protection is solid. You are buying or leasing commercial property and need someone to review the terms.

The value of a business attorney is not just in what they do for you today. It's in what they help you avoid tomorrow. A contract clause that seems fine now can cost you tens of thousands of dollars down the road. An operating agreement that doesn't address member departures can blow up a partnership. We help you think through these scenarios before they become problems.

Protecting Your Personal Assets

One of the main reasons to form an LLC is to separate your business liabilities from your personal assets. If someone sues your business, they can go after the business assets but not your house, your savings, or your personal accounts. At least, that's how it's supposed to work.

The problem is that this protection is not automatic. Courts can "pierce the corporate veil" and hold you personally liable if you don't treat your LLC as a separate entity. Mixing personal and business funds, failing to maintain an operating agreement, not keeping proper records, or undercapitalizing your business can all weaken your liability protection.

We help you set up the right practices from day one. Separate bank accounts, proper documentation, a solid operating agreement, and good habits that keep your personal and business lives distinct. This is not complicated, but it does require attention to detail.

For business owners with significant personal assets, we also integrate your business planning with your estate plan. Your LLC interest can be held in your trust, which means it transfers seamlessly to your family if something happens to you. Your operating agreement and trust need to work together, and we make sure they do.

Business and Estate Planning Integration

This is where Jon Miller Law offers something most business attorneys and most estate planning attorneys don't: both services under one roof, with one attorney who sees the full picture.

Your business is likely one of your biggest assets. If you own an LLC, what happens to your membership interest when you die? Does your operating agreement allow your trust to become a member? Is there a buy-sell agreement in place? These questions are critical, and they sit at the intersection of business law and estate planning.

We coordinate your operating agreement with your trust so that business ownership transitions smoothly. We make sure your succession plan is reflected in both your business documents and your estate plan. And we help you think about disability planning for your business, meaning what happens if you're alive but unable to run the company.

Business owners who work with separate attorneys for business and estate planning often end up with conflicting documents. The operating agreement says one thing, the trust says another, and the family is left sorting it out. We prevent that by designing both plans together from the start.

Multi-State Business Capability

Jon Miller is licensed to practice law in Utah, Arizona, and Texas. This is a meaningful advantage for business owners who operate across state lines or are considering expanding into new markets.

Each state has its own rules for business entities. Utah, Arizona, and Texas all have different filing requirements, different annual reporting obligations, and different default rules for LLCs. Forming an LLC in the wrong state, or failing to register as a foreign entity in a state where you do business, can create compliance headaches and potential penalties.

We help you figure out where to form your entity and what registrations you need. If you already have a business in one state and want to expand into another, we handle the foreign qualification filing and make sure your operating agreement accounts for multi-state operations.

Having one attorney who understands the laws in all three states simplifies everything. You're not coordinating between multiple firms in different jurisdictions. You're working with one person who sees the whole picture and can advise you accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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