Who this is for
For solo attorneys and law firm owners managing payroll, case costs, office expenses, or uneven collections.
When cash gets tight
Cash flow follows matter milestones more than a single busy season. Collections can bunch around settlements, trial outcomes, billing cycles, and client payment approvals, while payroll and rent remain monthly. Tax deadlines, court calendars, and year-end client budgets may affect when work or payments occur, but timing varies by practice area and client mix.
The cash crunches
Where law firms feel the pinch.
01
Contingency cases take time to resolve
A firm may cover investigator, expert, filing, and deposition costs for months before a settlement or verdict produces a fee. Settlement timing can shift, while case expenses keep coming due.
02
Invoices wait on client approval or payment
Business and institutional clients may have billing review, matter approval, or accounts-payable cycles. Work is already staffed and delivered, but the cash may arrive weeks or months later.
03
Payroll continues between collections
Attorneys, paralegals, intake staff, and legal assistants need to be paid on schedule even when a large client invoice or contingent fee has not cleared.
04
Court and case costs arrive before reimbursement
Filing fees, service of process, transcripts, travel, and expert retainers can cluster around hearings, discovery deadlines, or trial preparation. Client reimbursement may lag the outlay.
05
Growth requires capacity before revenue catches up
Adding an associate, opening an office, or investing in intake and case-management systems raises monthly costs before new matters have progressed far enough to generate collected fees.
What owners fund
Say yes to the next move.
- Payroll for attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and intake staff
- Expert witnesses, investigators, medical records, and deposition costs
- Court filing, process service, transcripts, and litigation support
- Case-management software, secure document systems, and office technology
- Office rent, renovations, conference rooms, and additional locations
- Marketing, referral development, and intake capacity
- Hiring an associate or experienced paralegal ahead of new matter revenue
- Bridging operating costs while waiting for client invoices or case fees to be collected
Funding that tends to fit
Can suit firms that face recurring gaps between payroll and collections or need to manage changing case expenses, subject to the partner's terms and availability.
May fit a defined investment such as adding staff, upgrading office systems, or covering a planned expansion with a set funding amount and repayment structure.
May be worth comparing for a firm with steady business receipts and a need to align payments with revenue activity. Review the payment method and full terms carefully, especially if receipts vary by matter.
Example
A litigation firm is preparing several matters for depositions while waiting for approved client invoices and a contingent fee to arrive. The owner considers funding for expert retainers, transcript costs, and payroll, then compares the cash received, every fee by name, total payback, payment schedule, term, and exit terms before deciding.
Why Goldhour
Every offer, in daylight.
- See every offer side by side in plain English, including cash that lands, each fee by name, total payback, payment, term, and exit terms before you sign.
- Complete one application. One company calls you, and Goldhour does not sell or share your information.
- Work with the same named specialist before and after funding, with an Offer Decoder available to translate an offer you already have.
Have these ready
- Recent business bank statements and monthly revenue information
- Basic business details, time in operation, and ownership information
- Current list of major monthly expenses, including payroll and rent
- Accounts receivable summary with invoice dates, client payment terms, and expected collection timing
- Details of any existing business financing and its payment schedule
- If seeking funds for a case or equipment purchase, a brief breakdown of the planned use and expected timing
See your options
Know what lands, what it costs, and how the terms work before you sign.
How much are you looking for?
Law firms: questions owners ask
Can a law firm apply while waiting for a settlement or client invoice?
You can discuss the timing gap in your application. Funding partners may focus on collected revenue, bank activity, receivables, and the predictability of future cash flow. A pending settlement or unpaid invoice is not the same as cash in the account, and each partner assesses it differently.
What can a law firm use funding for?
Common uses include payroll, expert and investigator costs, court filing and transcript expenses, office technology, hiring, and bridging operating costs while client invoices are collected. Describe the specific use and timing so offers can be considered in context.
Does Goldhour set the terms of an offer?
No. Goldhour is a brokerage that connects business owners with funding partners. Partners set their own terms. We explain the cash received, fees by name, total payback, payment, term, and exit terms so you can compare before signing.
What information should my firm prepare?
Start with recent business bank statements, monthly revenue, major operating expenses, receivables and their expected collection dates, and details of existing business financing. You can describe the intended use without sharing confidential client details unless specifically needed.
Can I use the Offer Decoder for an offer I already received?
Yes. Enter the offer details in the Offer Decoder to get a plain-English explanation of its key terms. You can also apply through the interactive or chat-style form if you want Goldhour to connect you with funding partners.
How do law firm collections affect repayment fit?
Partners may consider whether revenue comes from recurring client billing, project work, or less predictable contingent fees, along with the timing of deposits and existing obligations. Compare the proposed payment schedule with payroll, rent, and expected collections, and review the exit terms before signing.
Make the most of the light.
One short application. One company calls you. Every offer laid out in plain English before you sign.