Legal guidance for Alabama entrepreneurs and small business owners, from formation and contracts to ongoing counsel and business succession. Serving Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Hoover, and across Alabama.
Schedule a Consultation Call (205) 202-9801Starting and running a small business in Alabama takes courage, vision, and hard work. At Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices, we provide practical, experienced business legal counsel for entrepreneurs and small business owners across Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and throughout Alabama.
Christopher Colvin is not just a business attorney, he is a former small business owner himself. He understands the realities of running a business in Alabama from the inside out.
"The best time to get an attorney involved in your business is before you need one. The right legal foundation protects everything you build on top of it."
Most Alabama business questions start with structure. If you are deciding how to organize, start with Sole Proprietor vs. LLC in Alabama, then talk to us about the right fit.
Alabama LLC formation has a unique two-step process, filing with both the Secretary of State AND the county probate court. We handle every step correctly. See: How to Form an LLC in Alabama.
We form Alabama corporations, S-Corps and C-Corps, with proper articles of incorporation, bylaws, initial resolutions, and all state compliance handled from the start.
Choosing the right structure affects taxes, liability, and flexibility for years. We help Alabama business owners choose correctly, and plan for the S-Corp election many LLCs eventually benefit from. See: LLC vs. Corporation in Alabama.
Every Alabama LLC needs an operating agreement. We draft custom agreements that protect your interests, define member roles, and provide clear procedures for disputes and ownership changes.
What happens to your business when you retire, become incapacitated, or pass away? We help Alabama business owners plan for ownership transitions that protect the value they have built.
All Alabama LLCs and corporations must file and pay the annual Business Privilege Tax. We ensure your business stays current and compliant with Alabama's requirements.
Alabama is one of only a few states that requires business entities to file at the county level in addition to the state level. Many entrepreneurs who use online formation services end up registered with the Secretary of State but never file at the county, leaving them non-compliant under Alabama law.
Confirm your business name is available in Alabama. The name must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and cannot be deceptively similar to an existing registered business.
File your Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State, the step most online services complete, but only half the process in Alabama.
File a copy of your Certificate of Formation with the probate court in the county where your LLC is located, Jefferson County, Shelby County, or whichever applies. Most online services skip this step entirely.
Draft a custom operating agreement, obtain an EIN, open a business bank account, and file the initial Alabama Business Privilege Tax return, typically due within 2.5 months of formation.
Starting a business or need legal counsel for your existing Alabama company?
Call Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices at (205) 202-9801 or send us a message. We serve business owners across Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and all of Alabama.Christopher Colvin founded Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices and practiced as a small business owner before he practiced law, so he advises Alabama entrepreneurs with a working understanding of what actually keeps a business running. He handles entity selection, operating agreements, contracts, and succession planning, and makes sure Alabama businesses clear the state's two-step formation requirement that so many online services miss.
He coordinates business matters with the firm's contract drafting and review and estate planning work, so an owner's company and personal plan are built to fit together.
"Fast, efficient, and made the entire process so much less stressful. From the beginning, they took a huge weight off my shoulders and handled everything with professionalism and confidence. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an outstanding attorney."
Alabama LLC formation requires two filings: one with the Secretary of State AND one with the county probate court, a step many online services miss. You also need a registered agent, operating agreement, and must comply with Alabama Business Privilege Tax requirements.
For most small businesses, an LLC is the better starting point, liability protection, pass-through taxation, and simpler administration. As profits grow, an S-Corp election can deliver significant tax savings. We help you evaluate the right choice for your specific situation.
An annual tax imposed on all entities doing business in Alabama, LLCs and corporations, calculated based on net worth. All Alabama businesses must file and pay it annually. We ensure your business stays compliant.
Christopher Colvin and Valerie Sawyer serve clients throughout Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Alabaster, Pelham, Helena, Chelsea, Trussville, Gardendale, Bessemer, and Montgomery.
Schedule a Consultation Call (205) 202-9801