Legal Advice for Small Businesses in Ireland
Running a business in Ireland means paperwork that has to stand up — shareholder agreements, terms of sale, employment contracts, lease negotiations, and the letters that go back and forth when something is disputed. This category is for professional advice on that paperwork, whether it is a one-off document, a review of something already drafted, or an ongoing arrangement where a professional keeps an eye on your contracts. You describe the matter, the parties involved, and the deadline you are working to. On this Business legal support page you can open listed profiles by Irish county and write to the provider from there. If the person you are dealing with is a solicitor, you can check the Law Society's roll to confirm their standing. Posting a task on ShamFix costs nothing today.
What shapes the price of business legal support
- Business legal support is usually priced in one of three ways: a fixed fee for a defined piece of work, an hourly rate for advice that is open-ended, or a per-document charge where you are buying a draft or a review.
- The figure depends on how much of the work is already done.
- A contract drafted from a standard template with your names and figures inserted sits at the lower end; a bespoke shareholders' agreement with earn-out clauses and deadlock provisions sits higher.
- Hourly work adds up where the matter is contested, where correspondence is lengthy, or where the other side is slow to respond.
- Ask what is included in the quote and what is not: attendance at meetings, follow-up amendments, stamp duty or filing fees, and the cost of a second draft after you change your instructions are the usual extras.
- Get the basis of the fee in writing before work starts.
How long business legal support takes
A straightforward document review can be turned around in a few days; a bespoke agreement typically takes one to three weeks from instruction to final draft. The main delays are on your side as much as theirs: waiting for instructions, waiting for the other party to return comments, and waiting for signatures. Contested matters stretch further, because each exchange of correspondence adds time. If you have a filing deadline or a completion date, say so at the start, because it changes how the work is scheduled. Ask for a written timeline with the key stages marked, and ask what happens if a stage slips. Where a matter is urgent, ask whether an expedited turnaround is possible and what it costs.
What to ask before you hire
- 01Ask which Irish professional body they belong to — for a solicitor that is the Law Society of Ireland, and if they are a solicitor you can check the Law Society's roll to confirm they hold a current practising certificate.
- 02Ask for a letter of engagement before any work begins; it should set out the scope, the fee basis, who will actually handle the file, and how you will be kept informed.
- 03Ask whether the person you meet is the person who does the work or whether it is passed to a colleague.
- 04Ask what happens if the matter settles early or is abandoned.
- 05Ask how they will store your documents and who else in the firm will see them.
- 06Ask for an estimate of the total cost, not just the hourly rate, and ask what would cause that estimate to change.
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Legal support for Irish small businesses
Small business owners often need legal help but worry about open-ended fees. Common needs include drafting terms and conditions, shareholder agreements, commercial leases and employment contracts. Under Irish employment law, new employees must receive a written statement of five core terms within five days of starting, which many owners overlook. Others need help with GDPR policies, debt recovery, company formation with the Companies Registration Office or a dispute with a supplier. Only a solicitor holding a practising certificate can give certain legal services, so check credentials. Describe your issue for fixed-fee or hourly quotes.
Business legal tasks
- Employment contracts and staff handbooks
- Terms and conditions for websites and shops
- Shareholder and partnership agreements
- Commercial lease review
- Company formation and CRO filings
- GDPR privacy policies
- Debt recovery letters
- Supplier and customer contract review
- Trademark and intellectual property advice
- Workplace disciplinary and dismissal advice
Business legal questions
Can I get a fixed fee?
Many solicitors offer fixed fees for defined tasks such as a contract review or company set-up. Ask for this when comparing quotes.
Do I need a solicitor for every legal issue?
Not always. Some tasks, such as drafting policies, can be handled by legal advisers, but court work and certain services require a solicitor.
What must an employment contract include?
Irish law requires employers to give five core terms in writing within five days and a fuller statement within one month. A solicitor can draft compliant contracts.
How do I check a solicitor is qualified?
You can check whether a solicitor holds a current practising certificate with the Law Society of Ireland.
Is my information kept confidential?
Share only the outline in your task. Detailed documents can be sent privately once you choose a provider.
Business legal support questions people ask
Do I need a solicitor to draft a shareholders' agreement for my company?
You are not legally required to use a solicitor, but a shareholders' agreement is a contract that governs how the company is run and how disputes are resolved, so it needs to be drafted with care. A professional can identify the issues you have not thought about — deadlock, transfer of shares, death of a shareholder — and put them in enforceable terms.
What is the difference between a shareholders' agreement and the company's constitution?
The constitution is the company's public rulebook, filed with the Companies Registration Office, and it governs the relationship between the company and its members. A shareholders' agreement is a private contract between the shareholders themselves. It can deal with matters the constitution does not, such as how shares are valued or how a departing shareholder is bought out, and it is not filed publicly.
How much does it cost to have a commercial contract reviewed?
A review of a standard commercial contract is often charged as a fixed fee, while a long or heavily negotiated agreement may be charged hourly. The cost depends on the length, the complexity of the terms, and whether you need advice on negotiating changes. Ask for a written estimate and ask what is excluded, such as follow-up correspondence with the other side.
Can I use a template I found online instead of paying for advice?
You can, but a template does not know your business. It will not flag whether a clause is unenforceable in Ireland, whether it conflicts with your constitution, or whether it leaves you exposed on payment terms. A professional review of a template you have already adapted is often cheaper than starting from scratch and catches the gaps.
What should I do if a client refuses to pay an invoice?
Start by putting the demand in writing and setting a clear deadline. If that does not resolve it, a solicitor can send a formal letter before action, which is often enough to prompt payment. If it is not, the next step is a civil claim, and the amount in dispute determines which court is appropriate. Keep all correspondence and the original contract.
How long does it take to set up a new limited company in Ireland?
The Companies Registration Office usually processes a correctly completed online application within five to ten working days. The timeline stretches if the constitution needs to be drafted from scratch, if the directors are not resident in the EEA and a bond is required, or if the name is rejected. Your adviser can prepare the documents before filing so the application is not returned.
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