In this episode of Smart Business Talk, I sat down with a business attorney, Jack, to talk about the legal mistakes I see entrepreneurs make when they’re starting a business—and how those mistakes can cost you serious time and money later. Starting a business is exciting, but too often people skip the legal basics: forming the proper entity (like an LLC or corporation), using contracts with clients and partners, handling licenses and zoning, and protecting intellectual property like your business name and logo. We also broke down why choosing a sole proprietorship “just to keep it simple” can be risky—because there’s no legal separation between you and the business, which can put your personal assets at risk. And if you’re going into business with friends or family, I strongly agree with Jack: get a partnership agreement in writing and spell out ownership, roles, profit sharing, and what happens if someone leaves. My biggest takeaway is simple: do it right from the start. As Jack said, even a short consultation early on can prevent expensive cleanups later—and as I always remind my clients, keep your business finances separate from your personal accounts.