Here are three simple things a small business can do to help avoid legal problems:
1. Put It In Writing. While we all hope that everyone is trustworthy, but everyone is not. To avoid misunderstandings later, it is best to put it in writing now. 
2. Employee Guidelines. Employee and employment-related lawsuits are probably the most common type of litigation small businesses encounter today. Businesses can begin to protect themselves by developing and adhering to guidelines set forth in employee handbooks. Handbooks might, for example, spell out vacation and paid time off policies, lunch periods, and how confidential and proprietary information is to be handled and secured.
3. Surround Yourself With And Then Rely On A Good Team. Your law firm and your accountant can help guide you through the steps necessary to protecting yourself and getting your business on the road to success. Interview lawyers and accountants and get recommendations from others to ensure that you are surrounded by a good team. Once you have your team in place, use them. When a problem or issue arises, call your team and get their advice. No matter the economy, an ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.
Kurt E. LeeTags: accountant, business, contract, discrimination, employee, employee handbook, employer, employment, small business