What You'll Pay. Published Up Front.

Every fee on this page is what you actually pay — not an estimate, not a starting point.

Why I Publish My Prices When Most Attorneys Won't

Most business attorneys won't quote a fee until after a consultation. I do the opposite. If you see the price and it's not the right fit, that's fine — you've saved yourself a meeting. If you're still here, you already know what to expect before we talk.


This page covers every service I offer, separated by flat-fee work and hourly work. Most of what I do is flat-fee. The distinction matters, and I'll explain it clearly.

Flat-Fee Services

Flat fee means flat fee. You pay the amount listed. There is no open-ended hourly clock running in the background, no invoice that arrives higher than expected, and no ambiguity about what's included.


Where a flat-fee engagement follows a paid consultation, the consultation fee is credited toward the service fee.

Business Formation

  • LLC Formation — $1,000

  • S Corporation Formation — $900

  • C Corporation Formation — $900

  • Operating Agreement (Basic OA with LLC setup) — $750


All formation packages include the state filing, foundational governing documents, and my review of the structure relative to your specific business situation, partners, and tax considerations. This is the part a document preparation service cannot do.

Contracts & Leases

  • Employment Contract — $400

  • Independent Contractor Agreement — $750

  • Commercial Lease — $750

  • Residential Lease — $400

  • Contract Review — $200/Every 10 Pages or Less

  • Non-Disclosure Agreement — $400

Trademarks

  • Federal Trademark Application (single class) — $2,000 Plus Fees

  • State Trademark Application — $600 Plus Fees

Estate Planning

  • Simple Will — $300

  • Simple Wills for Married Couple — $500

  • Basic Estate Plan for Individual (includes Will, Living Will, Health Care Surrogate and Power of Attorney) — $600

  • Basic Estate Plan for Married Couple (includes Reciprocal Wills, Living Wills, Health Care Surrogates and Powers of Attorney) — $900

  • Complete Estate Plan for Individual (includes Revocable Trust, Will, Living Will, Health Care Surrogate and Power of Attorney) — $1,250

  • Complete Estate Plan for Married Couple (includes Joint Revocable Trust, Wills, Living Wills, Health Care Surrogates and Powers of Attorney) — $2,000 

Mergers & Acquisitions

Business acquisitions, sales, and succession matters vary in scope and are handled on an hourly basis unless the engagement scope can be defined in advance. Contact me to discuss your situation before assuming a flat fee does or does not apply.

Hourly Rate and When It Applies

My hourly rate for consultations and non-flat-fee matters is $400 per hour.


Hourly billing applies when the scope of work cannot be defined with enough precision to quote a flat fee — primarily in M&A transactions, complex multi-party agreements, and ongoing general counsel arrangements. For fractional general counsel engagements, I structure a monthly retainer based on anticipated scope. That conversation starts with a consultation.


Consultations are billed by the slot you book — not by how much we cover. Slots are available at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours through my scheduling link. If you're not sure how much time you need, start with the slot you're comfortable with. There's no obligation to book additional time.

Is a Flat-Fee Attorney More Expensive Than LegalZoom?

Sometimes — upfront. Over time, rarely.


A document preparation service can file the paperwork. What it cannot do is apply Florida law to your specific partners, ownership structure, liability exposure, or tax situation. When a formation is done wrong — wrong entity type, missing provisions in the operating agreement, misaligned ownership percentages — the cost to correct it typically exceeds what an attorney would have charged to do it right the first time.


With 29 years of Florida Bar experience focused exclusively on small businesses, I've seen what happens when the paperwork is technically filed but legally wrong. The flat fee you pay here is the cost of having it done correctly, by an attorney who understands what your business actually needs.

What 30 Years of Small Business Focus Looks Like in Practice

I don't take personal injury cases. I don't do family law. Every client I work with is a business owner or entrepreneur — from first-time LLC filers to owners preparing to sell a company they've spent decades building. That focus means I'm not learning your industry on your dime..

  • 30 years of Florida Bar experience, exclusively in business and estate law
  • Flat-fee pricing on most services, published in full with no hidden billin
  • Dozens of five-star Google reviews from small business owners in the Tampa Bay area
  • Remote-friendly practice — no in-person requirement for most engagements
  • Office in Brandon serving clients across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, and Manatee counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Attorney Fees

  • How much does it cost to hire a business attorney in Florida?

    It depends on the service. For business formation, contracts, estate planning, and trademarks, I charge flat fees that are published in full on this page. For consultations and M&A matters, my hourly rate is $400. Most small business owners working with me on a defined project pay a flat fee with no surprises.


  • How much does LLC formation cost with an attorney?

    My flat fee for LLC formation in Florida is $1,500. That includes the state filing, the operating agreement, and my review of the structure for your specific situation. It does not include the Florida state filing fee, which is currently $125 and paid directly to the state.


  • Do I get credit for a paid consultation if I hire you for a project?

    Yes. If you book a paid consultation and then move forward with a flat-fee service, the consultation fee is credited toward the service fee.


  • What's the difference between flat-fee and hourly work at Dowd Law?

    Most services are flat-fee — you pay the amount listed on this page, period. Hourly billing applies when the scope of work can't be defined precisely enough to quote a flat fee, primarily in mergers and acquisitions and some general counsel arrangements. I'll tell you upfront which category your matter falls into before any work begins.


  • Is a 15-minute consultation enough to get useful legal advice?

    For focused questions, yes. If you have a specific issue — a contract clause you're unsure about, a question about which entity type fits your situation, or a quick compliance question — 15 minutes at a fixed rate is often enough to get a direct answer. If your situation is more complex, we'll know that by the end of the call and can schedule accordingly.


  • Why should I pay an attorney when LegalZoom is cheaper?

    LegalZoom files documents. I review your actual situation — your partners, your ownership structure, your liability exposure, your tax considerations — and make sure the documents reflect what your business needs. When formation documents are filed incorrectly, the cost to fix them usually exceeds what an attorney would have charged. The question isn't which option costs less upfront. It's which option costs less overall.


Ready to Move Forward?

Schedule a consultation or reach out directly. You already know the rates — there's nothing to figure out before we talk.