Setting up a business and hiring a lawyer and accountant

Dre said
I want to start a small business, and I want to make sure I do everything right. I want to make sure I set it up legally (who know what intricate rules are out there?); make sure I structure it in a way to legally protect myself; know the best way to structure it for tax purposes; and anything else that might come up (contracts, different types of insurance).

What is the best way to consult with a lawyer or accountant? How much should I expect to pay? I imagine I could meet with each for a couple of hours (hopefully less!), but do they even do these brief consultations, or do they expect something longer term? And how do I find one?

Thanks!

I would suggest hiring both at the same time and getting them to work together from the start. A lot of people think this is overkill, but it could possibly save you from having to redo things later.

Most accountants and lawyers will do a initial consultation for no charge. As far as finding one you like, either talk to a lawyer/accountant you trust but may not be in the field you need to recommend one or as someone who has set up a business if they liked the person/people they used.