Think Legal,P.C.
Pricing

The number you saw is the number you pay.

Flat-fee + costs for transactional work. Phase-priced flat fees for litigation. Three Outside General Counsel tiers priced against the alternative of hiring in-house. State filing fees always quoted separately.

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Three pricing models

We bill three ways, and each way is honest about its scope.

  1. Transactional

    Flat-fee + costs.

    Knowable scope, knowable price. State filing fees passed through transparently. Direct checkout for simple matters; discovery call for everything else.

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  2. Civil litigation

    Phase-priced.

    Each phase scoped and quoted before it starts. Pre-filing assessment, pleadings, motion practice, trial prep, trial — the meter never runs open-ended.

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  3. Outside General Counsel

    Monthly retainer.

    Foundation, Partner, or Embedded — sized to the legal load and priced against the alternative of hiring in-house counsel.

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Transactional · Flat-fee + costs

California business formation, contracts, and recurring compliance.

Three formation tiers anchor the practice. Standalone documents and a light recurring compliance package fill the gaps.

Formation packages

F1 · Business formation

Single-Member LLC Formation

Solo California business owner forming an LLC for the first time.

$995+ California state fees ($90)

Flat-fee + costs · Direct checkout

What’s included

  • Articles of Organization (LLC-1) filed
  • Initial Statement of Information (LLC-12) filed
  • EIN procurement from the IRS
  • California-specific single-member operating agreement (member-managed)
  • 30-minute attorney consultation
  • Banking and tax-timing guidance for the formation year
  • BOI reporting guidance (Corporate Transparency Act)
  • Plain-language post-formation summary memo

What’s not included

  • California state filing fees ($70 Articles + $20 SOI = $90)
  • $800 California FTB franchise tax (paid annually to FTB)
  • Multi-member operating agreement (requires F2 or F3)
  • Buy-sell agreement (B2 or F3)
  • Custom contracts, employment documents, IP assignments
  • Trademark search or filing
  • Ongoing tax advice (refer to CPA)
  • Registered agent service
Most popular

F2 · Business formation

Multi-Member LLC Formation

Two or more California members forming an LLC together — co-founders, partners, family ventures.

$1,995+ California state fees ($90)

Flat-fee + costs · Discovery call

What’s included

  • Everything in F1
  • Custom multi-member operating agreement: capital contributions, profit/loss allocation, voting structure, transfer restrictions, dispute resolution
  • Manager-managed structure if requested (no upcharge)
  • 60-minute attorney consultation including founder-alignment review
  • One round of revisions on the operating agreement
  • Cal RPC 1.7 conflict-of-interest screening before drafting

What’s not included

  • Buy-sell provisions with valuation methodology (F3 or B2 covers)
  • Vesting schedules
  • Custom IP assignment agreements (F3 covers)
  • Capital call structures beyond standard
  • Securities law analysis (refer out)

F3 · Business formation

Premium Multi-Member Foundation

Multi-member LLCs with capital at stake, mixed sweat-equity / cash, or unrelated co-founders.

$3,495+ California state fees ($90)

Flat-fee + costs · Discovery call

What’s included

  • Everything in F2
  • Standard Buy-Sell Agreement covering the Five Ds: death, disability, divorce, departure, deadlock
  • Custom valuation methodology
  • Up to 90 minutes of attorney consultation
  • IP assignment agreement (founder IP into the LLC)
  • Two rounds of revisions
  • One initial contract template (CSA, NDA, or Independent Contractor Agreement)
  • 30-day post-formation Q&A window

What’s not included

  • Tax advice, securities work, litigation
  • More than one custom contract template (additional at S3 pricing)
  • Ongoing fractional GC services (separate engagement)
  • CPA-led valuation services
  • Real estate transactional work

Buy-sell & governance

Most popular

B2 · Buy-sell & governance

Standard Buy-Sell Agreement

The Business Prenup most multi-member LLCs don't have. Default offering on the buy-sell page.

$2,495

Flat-fee + costs · Discovery call

What’s included

  • Custom buy-sell agreement covering the Five Ds: death, disability, divorce, departure, deadlock
  • Tailored valuation methodology (fixed-price, formula, or appraisal-based)
  • Right-of-first-refusal provisions
  • Deadlock resolution mechanism
  • Spousal consent provisions (community property protection)
  • Review of existing operating agreement (issue spotting only)
  • One hour of attorney consultation
  • One round of revisions

What’s not included

  • Operating agreement amendments (B3 covers)
  • CPA-led business valuation services
  • Insurance product recommendations
  • Tax structuring of buyout terms (CPA coordination only)
  • Litigation or active dispute resolution

B3 · Buy-sell & governance

Governance Restatement

Full operating agreement amendment + restatement integrating buy-sell. For LLCs whose existing OA is template-grade and needs replacement.

$4,495

Flat-fee + costs · Discovery call

What’s included

  • Everything in B2
  • Full restatement of the operating agreement
  • Tax-aware structuring of buyout mechanics in coordination with client's CPA
  • Insurance funding coordination (key-person, cross-purchase, redemption)
  • Two rounds of revisions
  • Two hours of attorney consultation

What’s not included

  • CPA-led business valuation
  • Insurance brokerage
  • Tax filings
  • Litigation

Standalone documents

S1 · Standalone documents

Standalone Operating Agreement

Existing LLC with no operating agreement — or replacing a template-service version.

$1,495

Flat-fee + costs · Hybrid

What’s included

  • California-specific operating agreement (single- or multi-member)
  • 30-minute attorney consultation
  • One round of revisions

What’s not included

  • Buy-sell provisions (B-tier covers)
  • Tax structuring
  • Securities work

S2 · Standalone documents

Operating Agreement Review

Existing LLC with an operating agreement that needs an issue-spotting review.

$495

Flat-fee + costs · Direct checkout

What’s included

  • 60-minute review of the existing operating agreement
  • Written memo identifying gaps and risks
  • Recommendation memo (rewrite, amend, or leave as-is)

What’s not included

  • Drafting or amendments (S1, B2, B3 cover)
  • Tax advice

S3 · Standalone documents

Single Custom Contract

One California-specific custom contract — Client Service Agreement, NDA, or Independent Contractor Agreement.

$1,495

Flat-fee + costs · Discovery call

What’s included

  • One California-specific custom contract
  • 30-minute attorney consultation
  • One round of revisions

What’s not included

  • Multiple contract templates (additional ones at S3 pricing each)
  • Negotiation of an active counterparty deal (separate scope)
  • Tax advice

Recurring compliance

R1 · Recurring

Annual Compliance Package

Lightweight annual compliance: SOI reminders, BOI checks, FTB calendar.

$395/year

Flat-fee + costs · Direct checkout

What’s included

  • Reminder + filing assistance for the biennial Statement of Information (LLC-12)
  • Annual member-meeting minute resolution (single document)
  • BOI reporting compliance check (Corporate Transparency Act)
  • FTB compliance reminder (deadlines only — no tax work)
  • One short portal-based question per year on routine compliance

What’s not included

  • Drafting new agreements
  • Tax advice or filings
  • Disputes, litigation, demand letters
  • Employment law issues
  • Any matter requiring more than 30 minutes of attorney time per year

California state filing fees (pass-through)

Pass-through at cost — billed when incurred, with receipts on the invoice. Never marked up.

ItemAmountWhen
Articles of Organization (LLC-1)$70At formation
Initial Statement of Information (LLC-12)$20Within 90 days of formation
Biennial Statement of Information$20Every 2 years
California FTB franchise tax$800Annually, regardless of revenue
Expedited filing (24-hour)$350Optional
Expedited filing (same-day)$750Optional
Civil litigation · Phase-priced flat fees

Each phase scoped and priced separately. The meter never runs open-ended.

You see the next phase’s fee before it starts. If a phase doesn’t apply to your matter — say, no motion to dismiss is appropriate — you don’t pay for it. Specific dollar amounts are scoped at the discovery call and confirmed in the engagement letter before any work begins.

  1. 1

    Pre-filing assessment

    Memo + strategy. Assesses claims, defenses, exposure, and whether the matter should be filed at all.

    $3,500–$7,500 (scoped at intake)

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    Records review and timeline construction

    Liability and damages assessment memo

    Pre-filing demand letter (if strategically appropriate)

    Cost-benefit framework: what filing costs versus what settling buys

    Recommendation: file, settle now, walk away, or wait

  2. 2

    Pleadings

    Complaint or answer + the first round of discovery. The phase that takes the matter from theory to filed.

    Scoped at intake (typical range $7,500–$15,000)

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    Complaint or answer drafted and filed

    Service of process coordination

    Initial round of written discovery (interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission)

    Responses to opposing party's initial discovery

    Case management conference appearance

  3. 3

    Motion to dismissWhen applicable

    When the case can be resolved or narrowed before discovery. Not every matter has one.

    Scoped per motion (typical range $5,000–$10,000)

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    Demurrer / motion to dismiss drafted and filed

    Reply briefing

    Hearing appearance

  4. 4

    Motion for summary judgmentWhen applicable

    When the facts are clear enough that the case can be resolved without trial.

    Scoped per motion (typical range $15,000–$30,000)

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    MSJ briefing with full evidentiary record

    Separate statement of undisputed facts

    Reply briefing

    Hearing appearance

  5. 5

    Trial preparation

    Pretrial motions, jury instructions, witness prep, exhibit lists, mediation if scheduled.

    Scoped at intake (typical range $20,000–$50,000)

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    Motions in limine

    Jury instructions

    Trial brief

    Witness preparation

    Exhibit lists and binder

    Pretrial mediation (if scheduled)

  6. 6

    Trial

    The trial itself. Phase fee covers attorney time for the duration of the trial calendar.

    Scoped per matter (driven by trial length)

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    Opening statement

    Direct and cross examination

    Evidentiary objections

    Closing argument

    Verdict-form coordination

  7. 7

    Post-trial / enforcementWhen applicable

    Judgment enforcement, appeal preparation, or post-judgment motions.

    Scoped at the time the post-trial work is needed

    Phase flat-fee + costs

    Judgment enforcement: bank levies, wage garnishment, debtor exams, abstracts of judgment, real-property liens

    Post-judgment motions (new trial, JNOV)

    Appeal preparation (separate scope if appeal is filed)

Typical pass-through litigation costs

Pass-through at cost — billed when incurred, with receipts on the invoice. Never marked up.

ItemAmountWhen
San Diego County Superior Court civil filing fee$435–$450On filing the complaint or answer
Service of process$75–$200 per defendantAfter filing
Court reporter (deposition or hearing)$300–$1,200 per sessionPer deposition or hearing
Mediation (private mediator)$2,500–$10,000Split with opposing party (typical)
Expert witness feesVaries by disciplineWhen experts are retained
Process server, courier, and court reporter transcriptsPass-through at costAs incurred
Outside General Counsel · Monthly retainer

Priced against the alternative of hiring in-house.

California in-house counsel runs $200K–$350K/year fully loaded. These three tiers cover the same functional load at a fraction of that — and you don’t onboard or off-board headcount.

Hiring in-house

$200K–$350K

Per year, fully loaded.

Salary, benefits, equity, ramp-up, office. Plus the time to recruit, onboard, and eventually off-board.

Outside General Counsel

$18K–$114K

Per year, all-in. Three tiers.

Foundation $1,500/mo, Partner $4,500/mo, Embedded $9,500/mo. Scope known up front. No headcount, no ramp.

Pre-hire alternative to fractional GC

Foundation

From $1,500/monthUp to 4 hours / month

Founder-led California companies with regular but light legal needs — contract review, employment questions, vendor agreements.

What’s included

  • Up to 4 hours of attorney time each month, rolling 90-day window
  • Secure client-portal access for messages and documents, plus scheduled calls
  • Contract review (vendor, client, NDA) up to standard scope
  • Employment-question triage (Cal Lab Code, harassment policy questions)
  • Quarterly compliance check-in (BOI, FTB, SOI deadlines)
  • Discounted rates for matters that exceed monthly scope

What’s not included

  • Litigation (separate phase-priced engagement)
  • M&A or financing transactions (separate scope)
  • Tax advice
  • Out-of-California matters
Most common fit

Fractional GC for growth-stage companies

Partner

From $4,500/monthUp to 12 hours / month

Growth-stage California companies — Series Seed/A operations, multi-employee teams, regular contract throughput.

What’s included

  • Everything in Foundation, with up to 12 hours of attorney time each month
  • Priority response window (same-day for urgent matters)
  • Standing weekly or bi-weekly call
  • Operational employment counseling (offer letters, terminations, severance)
  • Vendor and client contract negotiation (not just review)
  • Annual contract template refresh (NDAs, MSAs, SOWs)
  • Quarterly legal-risk review

What’s not included

  • Litigation
  • Equity financings (separate transaction-based scope)
  • Securities or 409A work
  • Tax advice

Senior in-house counsel runs $250K–$350K/year. Partner gives you that judgment-level coverage on a fractional basis.

Book a call about Partner

Functional GC for late-stage companies

Embedded

From $9,500/monthUp to 25 hours / month

Late-stage California companies running on a functional GC who isn't ready for a full-time hire — or who doesn't want one.

What’s included

  • Everything in Partner, with up to 25 hours of attorney time each month
  • Listed as outside general counsel on company materials
  • Standing presence on operations calls and key vendor reviews
  • Quarterly board-package legal section
  • Coordination with specialist counsel (tax, IP, securities)
  • Annual policy review (employee handbook, contractor agreement, IP assignment)

What’s not included

  • Litigation (separate phase-priced engagement)
  • Equity financings, M&A diligence (separate scope)
  • Tax advice
  • Out-of-California matters

A full-time California GC averages $300K+. Embedded matches that functional coverage at roughly a third of the burden — and you don't onboard / off-board headcount.

Book a call about Embedded
Pricing isn’t a sales tactic. It’s a promise about scope. The number on the engagement letter is the number you pay — because we did the work to scope it before we asked you to sign.
Taylor E. Darcy— Founder & Managing Attorney
Pricing FAQ

The questions buyers actually ask.

We're not competing with LegalZoom on price. The lowest tier intentionally sits in the $750–$1,250 band that signals real attorney work. Below that, you're buying a software platform wearing legal-services clothing. Our work includes attorney-drafted, California-specific operating agreements and a real intake call — that work doesn't fit at $99.

Two paths to start

Not sure which fits? Book a 15-minute call.

Litigation matters use the case-evaluation form so we can run conflicts before you share anything confidential. Transactional matters start with a short discovery call.

Book a discovery callRequest a case evaluation