Small Business Lawyers (Australia)
Senior Lawyers. Fixed Fees. All Online, Australia-Wide.
Legal help for Australian small businesses, sized to the problem – from a $99 advice call with a practising lawyer to custom-drafted contracts. Senior lawyers, Australia-wide.
Since 2009, our law firm has helped 10,200+ Australian entrepreneurs with easy-to-use legal templates + solutions. Read what 516 clients say about Legal123
When You Need a Small Business Lawyer
Most small business legal problems are cheaper to prevent than to fix. And almost none of them need a law firm on retainer.
What you need is the right-sized help, at a fixed price, at the right moment.
That’s what Legal123 has offered Australian small businesses since 2009: senior contract lawyers, published fixed fees and everything handled online – without the $400-an-hour meter running.
Talk to a small business lawyer if:
- You’ve been sent a contract to sign
- You’re writing your own T&Cs or using AI-generated terms
- You’re hiring your first employee or contractor
- You’re launching a website or online business
- A dispute is brewing or a letter of demand has arrived
- You’re buying or selling a business
- You want to protect your brand or business name
- You’re not sure what your business is legally required to have
Start Where Your Problem Starts
What Does a Small Business Lawyer Cost in Australia?
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for your business? At a traditional firm, $400-$600 per hour – and an ongoing retainer runs to $000s per month. At Legal123, every price is fixed and published: a 30-minute advice call is $99 + GST, contract review is $499, custom drafting starts at $295 and legal templates start at $39.
That means a typical small business can cover its legal needs for the whole year for less than a traditional firm charges for a single day. You choose the service, you see the price, and there is no hourly clock. And if a $99 template solves your problem, we’ll tell you so.
Online Small Business Lawyers. Australia-Wide.
Australian business law is national for most purposes, and our senior lawyers are Australian-qualified and regulated. So you don’t need a lawyer in your city or suburb. You need the right small business lawyer. Everything by email or telephone: no offices to visit, no hourly clock running. We work with businesses in:
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Perth
- Adelaide
- Canberra
- Gold Coast, and
- Regional Australia
Meet Your Small Business Lawyers
Vanessa Emilio
Legal Practice Director
& Founder
(29 years experience)
Andrew Hawking
Australian Lawyer
Commercial Law Specialist
(29 years experience)
Jeremy Climie
Australian Lawyer
Commercial Law Specialist
(14 years experience)
Morris Averill
Australian Lawyer
Commercial Law Specialist
(32 years experience)
Senior Australian small business lawyers. Online business specialists. No juniors. No outsourcing.
Legal123’s lawyers have advised, drafted and reviewed for Australian small businesses since 2009, helping 10,200+ Australian businesses protect their operations. We understand platform rules, subscription models, data flows, IP ownership and the commercial realities of scaling online. With over 130 years of combined experience, our lawyers are Australian-qualified and regulated by the relevant authorities. And as online business lawyers, we specialise in the ecommerce stores, SaaS platforms, coaches and digital businesses that traditional firms treat as an afterthought.
What Our Clients Say
I couldn't be more impressed. Vanessa made the experience not only easy but truly enjoyable. She went above and beyond with her expertise, support, and the time she dedicated to ensuring I understood everything. I now feel incredibly confident moving forward with my business, knowing that I have her in my legal corner.
I had a great call with Vanessa this afternoon. She was very helpful and gave me lots of valuable suggestions. I can't believe how easy and affordable it was to access legal advice.
Vanessa is a genius. She takes the time to understand your real business issues and thinks about the quality of the solutions. Objective, measurable, and with a tone of generosity and good will.
Vanessa was EXCEPTIONAL! I needed legal advice setting up my business and I felt at ease with her straight away on the phone. I found her to be very knowledgeable, giving me tips on things I had not even considered when growing my business. The main thing for me in looking for a lawyer was someone that was personable and approachable and knew the right questions to ask so to be able to help. Highly recommend and plan on engaging Vanessa's services again!
When we decided to sell Flying Solo, I sought a lawyer who would take the time to guide and steer us. We have loved our business for over a dozen years and wanted the sale process to be as enjoyable and satisfying as the entire journey. Legal123 gave us everything we were looking for and more. I felt confident in the competent hands of true professionals. A surprisingly wonderful close to a wonderful chapter of business life.
The process was incredibly easy. Vanessa, the founder of legal123.com.au, provided excellent service and went the extra mile to ensure my needs were met. With over 15 years in the business, their track record speaks for itself. What's even better is that legal123.com.au is affordable, which is crucial for us as new businesses.
I needed insight and advice to help navigate through what to me were unchartered waters starting my first online business. And Vanessa delivered on both counts. But she also made me feel that it was as important to her as it was to me that we sorted out the best way forward and managed the embryonic relationships sensitively. Thank goodness I chose Legal123.
After numerous conversations with some of Australia's leading Legal firms, I stumbled across Legal123. During the first few minutes of our conversation it was clear to me that Vanessa's knowledge around Website legalities was superior. Engaging Legal123 so early in the piece enabled our team to make many critical changes to the point where Vanessa now plays a pivotal role in our success. I couldn't recommend Legal123 more highly.
Wow, this is GOLD. Thanks so much for this service.
Talk to a Small Business Lawyer
FAQs About Our Small Business Legal Services
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for a small business?
At a traditional firm, $400-$600 per hour. At Legal123, every price is fixed and published: legal templates from $39, a 30-minute advice call for $99 + GST, website legal review $299, contract review $499, custom contract drafting from $295 and a complete 3-Month Legal Transformation for $2,397. You always know the price before any work begins.
Do I need a lawyer for my small business?
Often, no. For standard documents – website terms, privacy policies, contractor agreements – a quality lawyer-drafted template costs a fraction of custom work and does the job. You do need a lawyer when the stakes rise: custom contracts, disputes, buying or selling a business, regulated industries, or real money on the line. We offer both, and we’ll tell you honestly which one your situation needs.
Can everything really be done online?
Yes – it’s all we’ve done since 2009. Everything is handled by email or phone: quotes within 24 hours, most work delivered in 2-5 business days, no offices to visit and no meetings to schedule. Wherever your business is in Australia, the process is the same.
What kind of lawyer do I need?
For agreements and contracts, a contract lawyer to draft or review. For your website’s compliance, a website legal review by an experienced online lawyer. To protect your brand, trademark registration by a trademark lawyer. For your personal affairs, our will writing service by our wills and estates specialist. Not sure? A $99 call sorts it out in 30 minutes.
Do you offer ongoing retainers or subscriptions?
No, deliberately. Most small businesses don’t need a retainer or a legal subscription they forget to use – they need the right help at the right moment, at a fixed price. If you want your legals systematically sorted, the 3-Month Legal Transformation ($2,397) covers audit, drafting and implementation end to end – then you’re done.
What industries do you work with?
Online businesses are our specialty: ecommerce, SaaS, coaches, consultants, allied health, tradies, online course educators and more. If your business operates online or sells to customers, we understand your risks.
Who are your lawyers?
Legal123 is led by Vanessa Emilio, Legal Practice Director, with a senior team bringing 130+ years of combined experience. All our lawyers are Australian-qualified and regulated by the relevant authorities. No juniors. No outsourcing.
How do fixed fees work?
Simple: you see the price before any work begins. Templates and reviews have published prices; custom work is quoted within 24 hours of your enquiry. The quote is the price – no hourly billing, no scope creep, no surprise invoices.
Talk to a Small Business Lawyer