Ever wondered how to close deals without emptying your bank account on legal fees?

Meet Josh Kim, founder and CEO of 7A Accelerator. He’s not your typical entrepreneur – he’s built his reputation on teaching practical, money-saving strategies for small business owners. His specialty? Four clever approaches to structuring deals or transactions while paying zero legal fees.

Yes, you read that right. Zero. Legal. Fees.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… is this even possible? Let’s dive into Kim’s methods and see how they could work for you – whether you’re running a traditional business or exploring the wild west of DeFi projects.

4 Ways to Pay Zero Legal Fees When Structuring Deals

1. Use standardized templates that lenders already accept

Why reinvent the wheel when you can use documents that banks and lenders already approve of?

Kim emphasizes using forms and paperwork that financial institutions are familiar with. This drastically reduces the need for custom legal drafting – and the hefty bills that come with it.

Think about it: lenders and SBA programs require specific documentation anyway. By matching their expectations with pre-approved templates, you’re not just saving money – you’re actually speeding up the approval process too!

As one industry report explains, this approach can eliminate thousands in legal fees simply by working within established frameworks rather than creating bespoke documents.

2. Work with intermediaries who shift legal work into existing processes

Ever heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder”? That’s the essence of Kim’s second approach.

By partnering with experienced intermediaries (like specialist brokers or accelerators), you can pre-qualify borrowers, prepare standard underwriting packages, and communicate with lenders in ways that dramatically reduce attorney time.

These intermediaries – especially those familiar with SBA 7(a) lending or specific markets – can package transactions in standardized formats that avoid extensive legal negotiation. Fewer negotiations means fewer billable hours from attorneys.

According to financial specialists at SBA lending firms, this approach can save 40-60% on transaction costs compared to going it alone.

3. Negotiate contingency or success-fee arrangements

Why pay for effort when you can pay for results?

Kim advocates for models where fees are performance-contingent. This might mean an advisor takes a small deposit upfront, with the balance due only if the deal closes.

This approach aligns everyone’s incentives – your service providers (including attorneys) only get paid when you succeed. And more importantly, it eliminates or drastically reduces your immediate cash outlays for legal work.

Transaction advisors report that this approach works especially well for well-prepared, straightforward deals where the risk of failure is relatively low.

4. Limit legal involvement to only the critical items

Not everything needs attorney review. Shocking, I know!

Kim suggests preparing routine documentation yourself (financials, credit packages, standard purchase contracts) and only bringing in attorneys for complex, high-risk issues.

By restricting legal fees to genuine legal risk areas – like regulatory compliance, intellectual property, or complex indemnities – while handling the rest through templates and advisors, you keep costs manageable.

As business finance experts note, most transactions contain 20% truly complex legal issues and 80% standard documentation – paying attorneys only for that critical 20% is just smart business.

How This Works for Modern Business Models

These approaches aren’t just for traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. They work surprisingly well for stealth-mode startups and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects too.

For Stealth Startups

Stealth startups thrive on discretion and trusted networks – tactics that align perfectly with Kim’s emphasis on using institutional templates, trusted intermediaries, and limiting attorney scope.

If you’re operating under the radar, you need to be especially cost-conscious while still managing legal risk. These approaches help you do exactly that.

For DeFi Projects

In the blockchain world, cost savings often come from:

• Using audited, open-source smart-contract templates
• Standardizing token documentation
• Engaging specialized audit firms on a narrowly-scoped basis
• Relying on escrow or on-chain governance to reduce legal drafting

It’s the same principles Kim recommends, just translated to code and audit work instead of traditional paperwork.

Your Action Plan: Implementing the Zero-Fee Approach

Ready to put these ideas into practice? Here’s your checklist:

1. Identify which documents your counterparty already accepts and start with those templates
2. Find a specialized intermediary who can prepare near-final packages, minimizing attorney time
3. Negotiate alternative fee arrangements – deferred, capped, or contingent – instead of open hourly retainers
4. Clearly scope attorney engagement – have them review only critical sections while you handle routine paperwork
5. For DeFi projects: Prioritize audits of critical smart contracts and reuse battle-tested templates

When You Still Need a Lawyer (Be Smart, Not Reckless)

These tactics can dramatically reduce your legal fees, but they don’t eliminate all legal risk.

You’ll still want professional legal advice for:

• Regulatory compliance issues
• Securities law exposure
• Intellectual property ownership
• Tax consequences
• Complex indemnities

The goal isn’t to avoid legal guidance entirely – it’s to be strategic about when and how you use it.

Remember, Kim’s approaches come from practitioner experience rather than formal legal doctrine. Apply them thoughtfully, especially when the stakes are high.

But for many standard transactions? You now have the blueprint to save thousands while still getting deals done right. And in today’s economy, that’s not just clever – it’s essential.