This is a confidential summary of the proposed operations of Marco Law, PLLC. Unless you are given a copy of this document by Marco Law, PLLC, please destroy it immediately because it contains confidential information. If you have been given a copy of this document, you agree that it contains confidential information and you agree not to reproduce it in whole or in part, not to use it for any purpose other than the one for which it was delivered, and not to disclose any of its contents to third parties without the written consent of Marco Law, PLLC.
Founded by Zechariah P. Marco, a respected professional in the legal profession, MARCO LAW, LLC (Firm) is a new law firm that is dedicated to providing personal legal service for the legal needs of the people of Grand Rapids. It is expected that most of the clients during the first year of operation will be individuals. Individuals seeking estate planning, business planning, tax services, and tort claims. Thereafter the Firm will expand its clientele to include business clients. The Firm will operate a 1,500-square-foot office facility in a multi-level building which houses other businesses. The building is located 1234 Main St. in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is a prime location because it is close to the courthouse, a major highway, and reasonable parking. The Firm intends on being very involved in the community and will seek to serve not only its clients but the community as well. The Firms motto is Dedicavit Servitum Pro Vita, which is Latin for, Dedicated Service for Life; the Firm intends on exhibiting dedicated service to be a lawyer for life.
Article I
Organizational Plan
1.1 Mission Statement. The mission of the Firm is to act as an advisor to its clients providing quality and dedicated personal service in a cost-efficient and timely manner. The Firm is dedicated to creating clients for life by achieving the best possible outcomes.
1.2 Objectives. The objectives of the Firm for the first three years of operation include:
a. To create and maintain a law firm whose primary goal is to exceed clients expectations.
b. To provide legal guidance with a personal touch while exercising integrity, accountability, dependability, and loyalty.
c. To strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients through dependable and determined service.
d. To provide cost-efficient service by utilizing flat-fee billing when possible.
e. To serve the community as well as its clients.
1.3 Legal Services. The Firm wishes to serve the legal needs of a client whether it be an individual seeking an attorney to help them meet their business objectives, guidance
$ through litigation, or assistance with estate planning or a real estate transaction. The Firm will generate revenue from the following major service categories:
a. Estate Planning: Wills, Estates, and Trusts, and other probate matters. b. Business/Corporate: Startups, Tax issues relating to businesses, and other corporate issues. c. Employment Law: Employer as well as employee issues. d. Tax Law: Individual and business tax. e. Litigation: Representation in civil plaintiff or defense matters. f. Commercial and Residential Real Estate Transactions. g. Criminal Defense.
1.4 Location. The Firm's office will be located at 1234 Main Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All operations will take place at the leased facility of approximately 1,500 square feet. The facility consists of a small waiting room, offices, and a conference room that can accommodate up to ten people comfortably. The monthly rent is projected at $1,500. The Firm has signed a five-year lease agreement. According to the agreement, the rent will not increase during the lease period. Utilities are separate and projected at $300 per month. The Firm also has a right of first refusal to lease contiguous space at the same rate as charged under the current lease. This building was selected in part due to the potential for referrals from the Firm's business neighbors.
1.5 Legal Structure. The Firms legal name is MARCO LAW, PLLC. The Firm will be organized as a Michigan professional limited liability company. The Firms founder, Zechariah P. Marco, will be the sole owner of the Firm.
1.6 Management and Personnel. Zechariah P. Marco will be the sole executive manager of the Firm and the office. When there are sufficient funds, approximately 6 months to a year after operations commence, the Firm will hire a Secretary/Office Manager. When there is sufficient work for a paralegal to be able to bill thirty-five hours each week, and doing this work is no longer the best use of the lawyers' time, a paralegal will be hired. This hire is expected to occur a year to a year-and-a-half after operations commence. The Firm will also look to utilize the help and service of law school student externs.
1.7 Accounting. The Firm plans to use a nationally known case management and billing software and a well-regarded accounting software program. These products will be designed to interface with each other, minimizing the need to input data more than once and reducing the likelihood of errors resulting from multiple entries of the same data in different systems. The Firm will retain the services of John Doe and Co., a Grand Rapids-based accounting firm, to prepare an annual review of the financial statements, as well as a letter on internal controls.
1.8 Office Management Software. The Firm plans to use Abacuslaw for its law practice management software.
% 1.9 Intellectual Property. The Firm plans to protect its Web site, service mark, publications, and other writings with appropriate trademarks and copyrights.
1.10 Insurance. The Firm will carry general liability, property and professional liability coverage. General liability will be for $1 million and personal property coverage will be for $500,000. Professional liability coverage needs to be explored with a carrier to determine appropriate coverage for firm and individuals.
1.11 Security. The Firm will take the steps necessary to encrypt its e-mail, install firewalls, and take other appropriate steps to prevent access to the Firm's data and confidential client information through the Internet. Upon employment, each member of the staff will sign a confidentiality agreement. No documents will be disposed of in a manner that confidential information could be obtained from the trash. To accomplish this goal, the firm will consider retaining the services of a bonded shredding company or shredding the documents in-house.
Article II
Marketing Plan
2.1 Marketing Strategy Summary. The Firm plans to use networking and the creation of a referral network to reach its target market. The Firm will join the optimal local organization and appropriate trade organizations to increase the Firms name awareness and reputation in the local legal field. The plan also includes a schedule of follow-up calls to contacts and former clients. The success of the Firms referral network will be measured by projects that come to the office from people in the network. The Firm will also offer free attorney consultations to prospective clients. The Firm will also join the Grand Rapids Bar Associations Lawyer Referral Service as well as the Kent County Circuit and Probate Courts court-appointed lists. The Firm will also own and maintain a website and will also manage a Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Martindale accounts.
2.2 Goals of Marketing Strategy.
a. Obtain Name Recognition: The goal is to obtain name recognition for the Firm in the local area. Through former clients, networking, referrals, and social media, the Firm will strive to improve the recognition of the name. Name recognition leads to traffic on the website, email, and more consultations, which in turn will lead to more clients.
b. Demonstrate Client Concern: Demonstrate to the client that he or she is important as an individual and to the Firm. This will be measured by keeping track of response time to phone calls and e-mail messages to the Firm. Each individual is to be contacted by the Firm in response to a call or email by the afternoon if received in the morning or by the next morning if received in the afternoon. This will also be measured by maintaining a log of communications with existing clients on current
& matters, calls to former clients, and communications with prospects. The Firm intends to speak to a client with an active matter at least every ten days to two weeks. Former clients will be contacted once or twice a year.
c. Maintain a Presence in the Community: The Firm will join local community organizations and will strive to maintain its presence in these groups. The Firm will devote time and effort to these organizations and provide legal services, pro bono services, and non-legal support.
2.3 Target Market. The Firm will actively market to individuals and small businesses within a fifty-mile radius of the Firm's office. The Firms target market includes individuals who could be characterized as young professionals or middle-aged individuals. The target market will also include young families, and business entrepreneurs looking to start small businesses. The Firms ideal prospective client is an individual in his or her late 20s or early 30s, single or married/starting a new family, who requires legal services in the categories listed above. This is an ideal target market because the Firm is a new, small firm, owned and operated by a young relatable lawyer who will provide professional quality service at a cost-efficient rate with a personal touch.
2.4 Pricing. When appropriate, the Firm will offer fixed fees for certain services relating to estate planning, business planning (startups), contracts, buy-sell agreements, and other services that could reasonably be billed at a fixed rate. For other services that require time, such as litigation, the Firm will provide representation at an hourly-rate of $150 per hour. The Firm will also contingency fee agreements for appropriate cases. There will essentially be two different price offering for clients, (1) Fixed rate, (2) Representation
a. Fixed Rate: The Firm will aim to bill on a fixed rate basis when appropriate. The price will cover the work product, the time spent, and any expenses such as printing, copies, and filing costs. Such products include but are not limited to wills, trusts, power of attorney, articles of incorporation, bylaws, articles of organization, operating agreements, partnership agreements, contracts, leases (residential and commericial), etc. Prices will start at $300 for the simple stuff and increase at $50 increments depending on the complexity.
b. Representation: For services that require time such as representation in litigation including discovery, deposition, appearance in court, trials, negotiations, etcetera, the Firm will bill its time at $150 per hour. The price will cover the time spent in the needed representation, legal research, and the necessary work product
2.5 Sales Strategies.
a. Direct Relationships: The Firm will use previously established professional and personal relationships as the initial source of business.
' b. Direct Mail: Direct mail campaigns to a specific group of clients or prospective clients will be conducted when necessary.
c. Direct Email: Email marketing to a specific group of clients, prospective clients, and former clients will be conducted when deemed necessary.
d. Referrals: The Firm also expects to receive clients through word of mouth or through professional or personal referrals. The Firm will also join the Kent County court appointed list, as well as, the Grand Rapids Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.
e. Name Recognition: The Firm expects receive clients through its reputation in the community as well as its online presence via its website, Facebook, Twitter, and Martindale accounts
2.6 Advertising/Branding Strategies.
a. Traditional Advertising: The Firm will employ traditional advertising such as newspaper ads and educational publications. For the first year, the Firm has budgeted $1,200 ($100 per month) for advertising and the running of the website. Before operations begin, the Firm has budgeted $1,500 to traditional newspaper advertising and printed advertising such as opening announcements.
b. Website: The Firm will maintain a website and will acquire the domain name www.zpmarco.law when .law becomes available. The website will provide the description of the Firm as well as the services it will provide, and the background of its lawyer. It will also include the Firm's mission. Speaking engagements and seminars will also be listed. A community bulletin board will also be featured where area nonprofit organizations can advertise their events. The website will also be linked up with the Firms social media pages as well as Link-Exchange.
c. Social Media: The Firm intends to have a Facebook Page, a Twitter account, and a Martindale.com account. Each account will offer the Firms description, services, and contact information. The accounts will be maintained daily.
d. Promotional Seminars: The Firm plans to host various promotional seminars for current and prospective clients. These include, free breakfast seminars, free dinner seminars, free lunch networking events, and free young-professional networking events. The seminars will include issues in the service areas that the Firm provides.
e. Public Relations: The Firm will join community organizations and attend community events to build its community name recognition. The Firm
( will also build relationships with local newspaper and journal reporters, so that they will some day contact the Firm for legal quotes or legal articles. The Firm will write articles for journals and speak to both business and non-business groups. These articles will be placed on the website and the Firm will send a simple email to current and prospective clients including a link to the article.
f. Networking: In order to engage in networking, the Firm will join a mentorship program. It will also join the Grand Rapids Bar Association and other community agencies.
Article III
Financial Plan
3.1 Day Zero/Opening Cost. The Firm has estimated that a total of $26,600 would be required to bring the Firm operational on Day Zero. This total includes one-time expenses such as rent, utilities, phone/internet, announcements/advertising, website, malpractice insurance, office supplies, grand opening event, office furniture/fixtures, and the office management software. SEE EXHIBIT ATo Open Costs.
3.2 Monthly Expenses. The Firms monthly expenses are estimate to be 2,338 per month. This amount includes monthly rent, utilities, phone/internet, advertising/website, supplies, promotional seminars/events, and office software. SEE EXHIBIT A.
3.3 Projected Sales. The Firm estimates slow growth in the first year of operation starting out with $500 in revenue in Month 1. The Firm estimates and intends on increasing revenue by $1,000 every quarter. These projected sales numbers include both fixed rate and billable hour rates. According the projections, the Firms revenue will exceed its expenses in Month 6. Total projected sales for Year 1 are $30,000. SEE EXHIBIT A.
3.4 Sources of Financing. The Firm estimates the $80,000 in capital would be required in order to bring the Firm operational. This amount is appropriate because it is large enough to keep the Firm operational and is also low enough to obtain through private family loans and donations from friends and family. The Firm does not intend on obtaining financing through bank loans.
3.5 Year-One Financial Analysis. Starting with the initial capital of $80,000 less the opening expenses, the Firm estimates Day 1 cash to be $53,400. The projections indicate that this cash amount will gradually decrease each month until Month 6, when the revenue exceeds the monthly expenses of $2,338. As of Dec 31, the Firm estimates $53,400 in pre-expense cash, $30,000 in revenue from sales, $33,056 in total expenses, leaving $50,344 in net cash. The net-cash amount is only $3,056 less that the pre- expense cash amount. Going into Year 2 with $50,344 in pre-expense cash is adequate to continue operations and a continued gradual quarterly income increase. SEE EXHIBIT A.