The Community Development & Entrepreneurship Practice at Northeast Legal Aid helps low-income clients overcome barriers to small business-led growth.  NLA provides free legal assistance to small businesses on transactional matters (i.e., not litigation in a court). These services include: business formation (i.e., forming corporations, and LLCs), business licensing, permitting and zoning, tax planning and compliance, financing agreements, drafting customer and contractor agreements, negotiating commercial leases, and assistance with trademark searches and applications. We represent clients on specific matters. We can also present to groups on common legal issues for small businesses and hold "office hours" at community organizations to offer brief advice to walk-in entrepreneurs. Our services are available to individuals and businesses located in Northern Middlesex and Essex counties. To be eligible for our services, your household income for your household size must be at 300% or below of the Federal Poverty Income guidelines.