Legal Cost Guide
How Much Does a Business Lawyer Cost?
Business lawyers charge $200–$700 per hour, with flat fees for common work like LLC formation ($500–$2,000) and contract drafting ($500–$5,000 per agreement).
Business legal pricing comes in three flavors: hourly, project-based flat fees, and monthly retainers. Most growing companies use all three.
Hourly rates for business attorneys range from $200–$400 at small firms and solo practices, $400–$700 at mid-sized firms, and $700–$1,500+ at major BigLaw firms. Junior associates bill less, partners more, and specialty areas like securities, tax, and M&A command the top of the range.
Project-based flat fees are common for predictable work. LLC or corporation formation typically runs $500–$2,000. Operating agreements and bylaws: $1,000–$3,000. Standard commercial contracts: $500–$2,500 per agreement. Trademark applications: $1,000–$2,500 plus USPTO fees. Privacy policies, terms of service, and similar website documents: $1,500–$5,000.
Monthly retainers and fractional general counsel arrangements are increasingly popular with growth-stage companies. Expect $2,000–$10,000/month for a defined scope of ongoing work — contract review, employment matters, light corporate governance. M&A and financing transactions are almost always billed hourly and routinely run $25,000–$250,000+ on the legal side, depending on deal size.
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Legal Specialties
Immigration Law
Visas, green cards, citizenship, deportation defense.
Green Card Law
Family-based, employment-based, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, adjustment of status.
Citizenship & Naturalization
Naturalization, N-400, citizenship exams, dual citizenship, derivative citizenship.
Visa Law
H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, TN, student visas, work visas, investor visas.
Asylum Law
Affirmative asylum, defensive asylum, withholding of removal, CAT protection.
Deportation Defense
Removal defense, cancellation of removal, bonds, appeals, ICE detention.
Personal Injury
Car accidents, slip and fall, medical malpractice, wrongful death.
Family Law
Divorce, custody, support, adoption, mediation.
Divorce Law
Contested divorce, uncontested divorce, property division, mediation, collaborative divorce.
Child Custody
Legal custody, physical custody, parenting plans, modifications, enforcement.
Family Law
Divorce, custody, support, adoption, prenups, mediation, restraining orders.
Spousal Support
Alimony, temporary support, permanent support, modifications, enforcement.
Adoption Law
Private adoption, stepparent adoption, agency adoption, ICPC, consent, termination of parental rights.
Criminal Defense
DUI, felony, misdemeanor, federal defense, expungement.
DUI Defense
DUI, DWI, OWI, license suspension, ignition interlock, field sobriety challenges.
Drug Crime Defense
Possession, trafficking, distribution, manufacturing, prescription fraud, diversion.
Federal Criminal Defense
FBI, DEA, IRS, DOJ prosecutions, grand jury, sentencing guidelines, appeals.
White Collar Defense
Fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, money laundering, bribery, compliance.
Corporate Law
Formation, contracts, M&A, governance, venture financing.
Startup Law
Formation, SAFEs, cap tables, venture deals, founder agreements.
Contract Law
Drafting, review, negotiation, breach disputes, enforceability.
Business Formation
LLC, corporation, partnership, S-corp, registered agent, operating agreements.
LLC Law
Operating agreements, member disputes, LLC conversions, asset protection, tax elections.
Trademark Law
Trademark registration, USPTO prosecution, infringement, branding, domain disputes.
Copyright Law
Copyright registration, licensing, infringement, DMCA, creative works, software.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Buy-side, sell-side, due diligence, deal structuring, closing.
Corporate Governance
Board duties, shareholder agreements, compliance, SEC filings.
Securities Law
Reg D, Reg A, IPOs, 10b-5, broker-dealer compliance, private placements.
Real Estate Law
Closings, title, zoning, landlord-tenant, commercial leases.
Estate Planning
Wills, trusts, probate, elder law, tax planning.
Estate Planning
Wills, trusts, probate, elder law, tax planning.
Probate Law
Estate administration, will contests, creditor claims, executor duties, intestacy.
Trust Law
Revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, charitable trusts, trust administration.
Elder Law
Medicaid planning, long-term care, guardianship, elder abuse, age discrimination, estate planning.
Living Trusts
Revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, trust funding, probate avoidance, incapacity planning.
Bankruptcy Law
Chapter 7, 13, 11 reorganization, debt negotiation.
Employment Law
Discrimination, harassment, wage claims, severance, non-competes.
Intellectual Property
Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing.
Tax Law
IRS disputes, audits, planning, international, estate tax.
Civil Litigation
Contract disputes, class actions, appeals, commercial litigation.
Civil Rights
Police misconduct, discrimination, free speech, voting rights.
Car Accident
Auto collisions, insurance claims, hit-and-run, uninsured motorist.
Truck Accident
Commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, FMCSA violations, multi-defendant claims.
Motorcycle Accident
Bike crashes, rider injury claims, helmet defense, lane-splitting disputes.
Slip and Fall
Premises liability, store injuries, ice and snow, dangerous conditions.
Wrongful Death
Fatal accidents, medical negligence, survival actions, family recovery.
Medical Malpractice
Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, birth injuries, hospital negligence.
Frequently Asked
What Clients Ask
How much does it cost to start an LLC with a lawyer?
Attorney-assisted LLC formation typically runs $500–$2,000 in legal fees plus state filing fees of $50–$500 depending on jurisdiction.
What does a business lawyer charge per hour?
Small-firm and solo business attorneys generally bill $200–$400/hour. Mid-sized firms run $400–$700. BigLaw partners can exceed $1,500/hour for specialty work.
Should I hire a business lawyer on retainer?
Companies with regular legal needs — recurring contracts, employment matters, ongoing IP work — usually save money on a monthly retainer compared to ad-hoc billing.
How much does a contract review cost?
Reviewing a standard commercial contract typically costs $300–$1,500 depending on length and complexity. Negotiating it adds to the total.