Starting a Business
Choosing an entity, formation filings, and initial agreements.
Typically Includes
- Entity selection and formation
- Operating agreement or bylaws
- EIN and initial filings
- Initial contract templates
Business Law AttorneyOne Lawyer, From Formation to Succession.
Starting a business, signing a lease, buying out a partner — most business owners end up with a different lawyer for each one.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri business attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so the legal work is checked against your actual numbers, not handled in isolation.
Free 30-minute consultationNo obligation
30 Years
Practicing law
11 Years
In wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®
Certified Financial Planner
AEP®
Accredited Estate Planner
What it does
Find the Right Service
Start with what's true for your business — not the legal name of the service.
Business Formation — choosing the right entity, filing the paperwork, and setting up your business correctly from day one.
Learn about Business Formation →Contracts — agreements written to actually protect you, not just look official.
Learn about Contracts →Business Transactions — structuring and closing deals that actually hold up.
Learn about Business Transactions →Commercial Leases — terms reviewed and negotiated before you sign, not after.
Learn about Commercial Leases →Business Succession — a plan for what happens to your business when you retire, become unable to run it, or pass away.
Learn about Business Succession →Buy-Sell Agreements — decides what happens if a partner leaves, retires, or passes away.
Learn about Buy-Sell Agreements →What we watch for
Common Mistakes We Watch For
Generic templates miss protections specific to your business, and often don't hold up when it actually matters.
Generic templates miss protections specific to your business, and often don't hold up when it actually matters.
Whether you retire, become unable to run it, or want to sell, your business needs a plan — most owners don't have one until it's urgent.
Formation, contracts, and succession each start from scratch with someone new who doesn't know your business.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri business attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so the legal work is checked against your actual numbers, not handled in isolation.
Pricing
How Business Legal Work Is Priced
Pricing depends on where your business is in its life and what you actually need. Most matters are quoted as a flat fee or a clear hourly rate, agreed to before work begins.
Running a Business
Ongoing contracts, leases, and transactions as the business operates.
Typically Includes
- Contract drafting and review
- Lease review and negotiation
- Vendor and client agreements
- Ongoing legal guidance
Transitioning a Business
Succession, buy-sell agreements, or selling the business.
Typically Includes
- Buy-sell agreements
- Succession planning
- Business sale or acquisition
- Coordinated with your CPA & advisors
Get an exact number for your situation — the first call is free.
Call 636-214-0546The process
How We Work With Your Business
What you have, what's at risk, and what's coming next — in one real meeting.
1
We map your business
What you have, what's at risk, and what's coming next — in one real meeting.
2
We handle the legal work
Formation, contracts, leases, or transactions, drafted to actually protect you.
3
We coordinate with your other advisors
Your CPA, banker, or financial planner, so the legal and financial sides match.
4
We stay
Reviewed as your business grows or changes, not a one-time document drop.
Your attorney
Why Business Owners Trust Deborah With This
Deborah Smiley
JD · CFP® · AEP®Deborah has practiced law in Missouri for 30 years. For 11 of those years, she also worked in wealth management — a combination that matters here too, since so much of business law touches real numbers — valuations, buyouts, taxes — not just contract language.
She's a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and an AEP® (Accredited Estate Planner) — credentials very few business attorneys hold together.
30 yrsPracticing law in Missouri
11 yrsIn wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®Certified Financial Planner
AEP®Accredited Estate Planner
Past ChairProbate & Trust Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Ready to talk through your plan?
Call 636-214-0546Client Reviews
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Questions
Questions
Handles the legal side of starting, running, and eventually transitioning a business — formation, contracts, leases, transactions, and succession planning.
It depends on liability, taxes, and how you plan to grow. We'll walk through the options and recommend one based on your actual situation, not a generic default.
It's not required, but a contract that looks fine on the surface can carry real risk. A quick review before signing is usually far cheaper than fixing a bad one later.
An agreement that decides what happens if a business partner leaves, becomes disabled, or passes away. If you have any partners, you need one.
Deciding who takes over your business, and how, when you retire, become unable to run it, or pass away.
Yes. Lease terms are negotiable more often than tenants realize, and problems are far easier to fix before signing than after.
No. Most business owners end up with one lawyer for formation, another for contracts, and someone else for succession. We handle it all together, so nothing is disconnected.
It depends on what you need — formation, ongoing contracts, or a larger transaction. Call for a free 30-minute consultation and we'll give you a clear cost estimate before you commit to anything.
Ready to Protect Your Business?
Call to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with Deborah — no obligation.
Call 636-214-0546Free 30-minute consultationNo obligationReal person answers