Question 1 of 10
Question 1 of 10
Formation & Governance
Is your business a properly formed entity with current governance documents?
Operating agreement (LLC), bylaws + shareholder agreement (corporation), partnership agreement, etc.
No entity, operating as sole proprietor or in personal name
Entity formed, but no internal governance documents
Entity + basic governance docs from initial formation
Entity + governance docs reviewed within the last 12 months
Question 2 of 10
Contracts
Are your customer, vendor, and partner relationships covered by written contracts?
Mostly handshake or informal arrangements
Some written, some not, case-by-case
Most relationships have written contracts, but using generic templates
Custom-drafted contracts tailored to each relationship type
Question 3 of 10
Contracts
When were your customer-facing contracts (or terms of service) last reviewed by an attorney?
Never
More than three years ago
Within the last two to three years
Within the last 12 months
Question 4 of 10
Employment
How confident are you that your worker classifications (W-2 vs. 1099) are correct under California's ABC test?
We have classification concerns we haven't addressed
Honestly, no idea, we haven't reviewed
Reviewed by counsel two-plus years ago
Recently audited and confident, or no employees / contractors at all
Question 5 of 10
Employment
Do you have a current employee handbook with the policies California law requires?
Harassment, leave, expense reimbursement, meal/rest breaks, classification, etc.
No handbook
Outdated handbook from a few years ago
Updated within the last two years
Reviewed/updated within the last 12 months, or no employees
Question 6 of 10
Employment / Wage & Hour
When was the last wage-and-hour compliance audit (payroll, meal/rest breaks, recordkeeping)?
Documented audits substantially reduce PAGA exposure under the 2024 reforms.
Never
More than two years ago
Within the last two years
Within the last 12 months, or no employees
Question 7 of 10
Brand & IP Protection
Have you registered your brand name, logo, or product names as federal trademarks?
Never thought about it / haven't done anything
Researched but not registered
State trademark only, or partial federal registration
Federally registered, or no significant brand assets to protect
Question 8 of 10
Estate & Succession
Do you have a current estate plan that specifically addresses your business interests?
No will or trust
Will only, business interests not specifically addressed
Will or trust, but business succession isn't fully integrated
Comprehensive estate plan that includes business succession and tax planning
Question 9 of 10
Dispute Exposure
In the last 24 months, has your business received a demand letter, lawsuit, or government inquiry?
Yes, and we're not sure how to respond
Yes, handled it ourselves without counsel
Yes, handled with attorney support
No, clean record
Question 10 of 10
ADA & Accessibility
For your physical location and/or website serving California customers, is accessibility addressed?
CASp inspections for physical premises; WCAG 2.1 AA for websites.
Never reviewed
Some basic improvements but no formal review
CASp inspection or WCAG review within the last three years
Current CASp inspection plus WCAG audit, or no physical premises and no California-facing website
B
Overall
This self-assessment is informational and educational. It is not a substitute for legal advice or a comprehensive legal audit. Your actual posture depends on facts unique to your business, industry, and growth stage. Use this as a starting point for a conversation about which gaps to prioritize.
