Frequently Asked Questions

• What services does CAFE offer? 

We offer a variety of services including business and legal advice. You can view a detailed list of many of the services we offer on the Our Services page.

• What kind of businesses does CAFE help?

We help most small businesses operating with a legal purpose. If you are unsure whether you qualify for CAFE’s help, feel free to fill out our Intake Form and we will let you know. 

• How long does it take to get help?

Once you have filled out the CAFE Intake Form on our website, you can expect a response from CAFE within 1-3 business days. CAFE staff will assess your request, determine how best to provide assistance (written materials, 45 minute consultation, or extended project), and let you know the specific next steps and timing for your situation. Most assistance is provided within a few days, although a longer project could take a week or more. 

• Are CAFE’s services really free?

Yes! We offer free legal and business advice to small businesses with a demonstrated need.

• Does CAFE have a revenue cutoff at which they no longer help small businesses?

No, CAFE does not limit small businesses by a specific level or revenue or profits. However, to receive help, the small business must have a demonstrated need and confirm on the CAFE Intake Form that they cannot afford to hire an attorney or other business professional who could otherwise assist them. 

• What if I already have an attorney for my small business?

CAFE cannot provide free consultations to businesses that already have ongoing engagements with attorneys and other business professionals for the same services they are requesting. We encourage you to work within your existing relationships to get your business’s needs met.

• What credentials do the CAFE volunteers have?

Our volunteers at CAFE have been thoroughly vetted to ensure that they are appropriately professionally licensed and have plenty of experience in their specific fields.

• What geographic area does CAFE cover?

CAFE serves the Southeastern Pennsylvania area. We primarily serve Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties and the neighboring Pennsylvania counties.  

• How will my information be used by CAFE?

Community Assistance Friends Enterprise is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. Anything you share about your business with one of the CAFE attorneys or other business professionals is confidential. In addition, one of the basic principles CAFE follows is minimizing the amount of information we collect and store. CAFE asks only for the information we need to provide the services you have requested. As a result, what information CAFE collects and stores depends almost entirely on how you choose to make use of our website and our services. For more information about the use and collection of information review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.