Start Your Restaurant with an Experienced Restaurant Industry Lawyer, Says Restaurant Expert Witness

Dec. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- So you've got a great new restaurant concept. Congratulations. Just in case you don't know, the restaurant business is about more than food and service. It’s about being an amateur lawyer and private investigator, knowing where to go for help, and playing by the rules. If you don't play by the rules, you can be sure the rules will come back to bite you when you least expect it.  Finding and hiring an attorney who understands the inner workings of the restaurant industry and your business plan can save you a fortune in time, money, and hassle down the road.

Restaurant Expert Witness, Restaurant Consultant, and CEO, Howard Cannon, says, "Hire the best lawyers and accountants you can afford.  They are out there and the great ones are worth every penny. A lot of people are trying to save money when they start a restaurant, but many make the mistake of choosing to use no lawyer at all because they think they can get what they need from some sort of website."  In Cannon's opinion, that can be a huge mistake.  A bad decision of this magnitude right from the start can be the difference between ultimate success or failure.  Sadly, many times, restaurant owners don’t actually realize the magnitude of this mistake until they have a legal matter that requires real industry knowledge and expertise, and then it’s too late. Professional advice will help you avoid costly mistakes.

Cannon recommends that new restaurateurs and franchisees spend some time with their chosen attorney and accountant, observing, "The legal form your restaurant takes is a very important decision that should not be made lightly. It’s a tax-related decision, and the tax codes in the United States are many thousands of pages long. The ramifications of making the wrong decision can be quite costly, so don’t make this decision on your own and don’t use a do-it-yourself corporate set-up kit. Find an attorney and an accountant that you can trust with your dream."

Mr. Cannon encourages those who want to start a restaurant to get good specialized advice before they ever open the doors.  "Most daily licensing and legal needs are dealt with on a state or local level, not a federal level. State laws vary, and becoming informed on your given state’s guidelines is critical to your success. Local guidelines vary even more than state laws; because of zoning, guidelines can be different between restaurants that are merely blocks apart. The state and local agencies are typically focused on adherence to the liquor laws, the health codes, and the safety guidelines."

Howard Cannon is a highly recognized restaurant expert witness.  He is an author, speaker, consultant, expert witness, mediator, analyst, and CEO.  Cannon is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Restaurant© - found in 76 countries around the globe.  He has experience in both State and Federal cases.  Howard Cannon can be reached at RestaurantExpertWitness.com or at 800.300.5764.

For additional information, visit the website, RestaurantExpertWitness.com.

Contact Information:
Restaurant Expert Witness, 800.300.5764, RestaurantExpertWitness.com, info@RestaurantConsultantsOfAmerica.com

Media Contact:
Susan Wood, 800.300.5764, sq@RestaurantExpertWitness.com

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