Bad legal at the foundation can wreck your company.
You can file your taxes by yourself but chances are you're going to fvck up somewhere in the process that will wind up costing you money. If a company isn't worth investing the $1500 to $4000 to file and draw up rock solid articles of incorporation then is it even worth starting?
Also, you're on the Internet BEGGING people for money like a panhandler. Not only that, but the money you're raising this way is going into another corporation's pockets before it gets to you. Hustling backwards. How is someone that's been in business for as long as you've been in business for be hard up for $2k to invest back into the company?
I'm not chasing you, but you've been blowing the bullsh!t horn pretty loud the past day or so. It's pretty hard to avoid. Props to you for starting your own business but you're setting people up for failure with some of this advice.
You do not need a lawyer to register your business. Especially if you have a llc, llp, partnership, sole-proprietor. These things can be done online, sometimes all it takes is one phone call to find out what you need to do and how often you need to do it for the state.
If you are starting a corporation, then you should get some legal advice first. Even then, you can do much of it yourself or pay a company (not a lawyer) to do it. No, it shouldn't cost $1500. That is ridiculous.
These documents are a formality for the government, so that it can protect your assets and tax you appropriately.
If you aren't issuing stock or making more than a million then you shouldn't need a lawyer yet. If you blow up, then you can have a lawyer amend it and begin filing your annual reports.
I have had to do all of the above for the small business I work for and it is not that hard. Calling someone at the office that requires these documents will get you further then talking to a lawyer and it is cheaper.
I want to add that you don't even need any of this.
You are not really in business until you have customers. Paying all of this money to comply with the "law" will not put money in your pocket. I would advise not to do any of the above until you are actually making money, even though it is the right way to do it, unless you are opening a liquor store, corner store, buying investment property, etc. Otherwise, it is not an immediate priority.
On another note:
My business mentor suggested I use Kickstarter. Everyone is using it. A guy was being interviewed on Bloomberg Radio last week and said that he used it to fund his business. Its credibility is growing, I don't see how this is a bad thing.
and pay your bills if you have yet to pull a salary from the company? are u living off a corporate card or something?