A limited liability company (LLC) is a popular choice among small business owners for the liability protection, management flexibility, and tax advantages this form of business entity can provide. Set your business up for success by understanding the benefits and disadvantages of an LLC, how to start an LLC, where to form your LLC, and other key topics.
This article will cover:
- What is an LLC?
- How to form an LLC
- LLC versus other entity types
- LLC state guides
- LLC resource center
- FAQs
What is an LLC?
A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure that offers limited liability protection and pass-through taxation. As with corporations, the LLC legally exists as a separate entity from its owners. Therefore, owners cannot typically be held personally responsible for the LLC’s debts and liabilities.
The pass-through taxation of an LLC means that business income is not taxed at the entity level. Instead, any LLC income or loss as shown on this return is passed through to the owner(s). The owners, also called members, must then report the income or loss on their personal tax returns and pay any necessary tax.
If the LLC has a single owner, the LLC can be treated as a “disregarded entity”. In this scenario, a tax return does not have to be filed for the LLC, only for the business owner.
If the LLC has more than one owner, an information tax return for the LLC must be completed in addition to the individual tax returns of the business owners.
Benefits of forming an LLC
The benefits of creating an LLC — as opposed to operating your business as a sole proprietorship, general partnership, or corporation — typically outweigh any perceived disadvantages.
- Limited liability: Members (term used to describe LLC owners) are shielded from personal liability for acts of the LLC and its other members. Creditors cannot pursue the personal assets (house, savings accounts, etc.) of the owners to pay business debts. With a sole proprietorship or general partnership, the personal assets of the owners can be pursued against the business’ debts.
Note: It is possible for an LLC (as well as a corporation) to lose its limited liability. This is known as “piercing the veil”. For more information, see How to avoid piercing the corporate veil.
- Flexible membership: LLC members (owners) can be individuals, partnerships, trusts, or corporations, and there is no limit on the number of members. S corporations (which is a corporation that has elected to be taxed as a pass-through entity under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code) are much more restricted in who can be a shareholder, and there is a maximum limit on the number of shareholders.
- Management structure: LLC members (owners) can manage the LLC or elect a management group to do so. Corporations, on the other hand, are managed by a board of directors, not shareholders. When an LLC is managed by members (a “member-managed” management structure), owners oversee daily business operations. When managed by appointed managers (a “manager-managed” management structure), the LLC resembles a corporation, where business management is the responsibility of the directors and officers rather than the owners (shareholders).
- Pass-through taxation: LLCs typically do not pay taxes at the business entity level. Any business income or loss is "passed-through" to owners and reported on their personal income tax returns. Any tax due is paid at the individual level. Corporations that cannot or choose not to be taxed as an S corporation are taxed at the business entity level and their shareholders are taxed on the income distributed to them. (This type of corporation, which is the default when you incorporate, is known as a C corporation because it is taxed under IRS Subchapter C of the IRC.)
- Heightened credibility: Starting an LLC may help a new business establish credibility more so than if the business is operated as a sole proprietorship or partnership.
- Limited compliance requirements: LLCs face fewer state-imposed compliance requirements and ongoing formalities than corporations (whether taxed as S corporations or C corporations).
Disadvantages of creating an LLC
There are a few disadvantages to creating an LLC. (But in many cases, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks.)
- Cost: An LLC usually costs more to form and maintain than a sole proprietorship or general partnership. States charge an initial formation fee. Many states also impose ongoing fees, such as annual report and/or franchise tax fees. Check with your Secretary of State's office.
- Transferable ownership. Ownership in an LLC is often harder to transfer than with a corporation. With corporations, shares of stock can be sold by the corporation to increase ownership and, unless there is a shareholder agreement to the contrary, the shareholders can sell their shares to someone else. Typically, with LLCs, unless the members agree otherwise, all members must approve adding new members or altering the ownership percentages of existing members.
- Compliance obligations. Although LLCs have fewer compliance obligations than corporations, they tend to have more ongoing requirements than sole proprietorships and general partnerships.
How to form an LLC
LLCs are generally easier to form than a corporation, but there are some administrative and compliance tasks to be done. Although actual requirements can vary by state, these are the basic steps for forming an LLC.
Step 1: Choose a state in which to form your LLC
You can choose to form an LLC in any state — even if the LLC won’t be doing any business there.
However, most LLC owners choose to form an LLC in the state in which they plan to do business — which in many cases is the state they live in. One reason is that if the LLC is formed in a state where it is not doing business (Delaware is a common choice for these LLCs), the LLC will also have to register as a foreign LLC (aka foreign qualify) to do business in the state where it is doing business, which can increase formation and administrative costs.
It’s important to note that formation fees, annual report fees, taxation, and LLC laws can vary significantly from state to state, making some states more advantageous for certain small business owners. Read more about how to select a state for LLC formation.
Step 2: Choose a name for your LLC
In order to form an LLC, you’ll have to choose a name that is not already on the Secretary of State’s records as being the name of another domestic or qualified LLC or other business entity. This is important to know since many sole proprietors already operating under a registered “doing business as” (DBA) name or trade name may want to use that as their LLC’s legal name.
To check the availability of the name you want for your LLC, whether it’s registered as your DBA name or not, you should conduct an LLC name search on your formation state’s website to determine whether your desired name is already in use. If you’re not ready to file your LLC formation document quite yet, it is a good idea to reserve the name. For a small fee, states will allow you to reserve a name for a short period of time.
It’s also a good idea to conduct a trademark search of the name you want to avoid intellectual property infringement.
Step 3: Choose a registered agent
In forming an LLC or registering an existing LLC to transact business in a foreign state, you are required to have a registered agent in the state of formation or qualification. Many new business owners are either unfamiliar with the term registered agent or do not know the purpose of a registered agent.
A registered agent, also known as an agent for service of process, receives important legal notices and tax documents on behalf of a business registered with the state. These include important legal documents, notices, and communications mailed by the Secretary of State (such as annual reports or statements) and tax documents sent by the state’s department of taxation. A registered agent also must be available to receive service of process (sometimes called Notice of Litigation), which are legal documents. These are typically a summons and complaint, that provide notice that a lawsuit has been filed against the LLC. Other court documents such as wage garnishment orders and subpoenas are also served on the registered agent.
While the owner of an LLC can choose to serve as the LLC’s registered agent, there are a number of compelling reasons why business owners choose a registered agent service provider to assist with this important requirement. Among other things, if the registered agent is not available when these time-sensitive documents are delivered, or if the person receiving them mishandles them, it can create serious problems for the LLC. The registered agent must also have a physical address in the state, and cannot use a PO Box.
Step 4: Prepare an LLC operating agreement
An LLC operating agreement is required in nearly every state. And although in most states it can be oral, it is highly recommended that every LLC have a written operating agreement. As the name implies it is an agreement among the members and between the LLC and the member or members as to how the LLC will be operated. Even if you are the only member it is important to have an operating agreement. It shows you respect the LLC’s separate existence (and can help avoid piercing the veil), it gives you a chance to put in writing what you want to happen in certain circumstances such as if you can no longer manage the business and allows you to opt out of certain default provisions of the LLC statute that you might not want the LLC to be governed by.
It is particularly important for multi-member LLCs to have a well-drafted operating agreement. This document will clearly spell out the division of ownership, labor and profits, and often heads off disputes among the owners. It should detail, among things, who has authority to do what, what vote is required to approve certain transactions, how membership interests can be transferred, how new members can be added, how distributions, profits and losses will be split, and more. It is recommended that the operating agreement be reviewed by your attorney to be sure that all the bases are covered.
Step 5: File your LLC with your state
To make your new LLC officially exist you must file LLC formation documents (also known as a Certificate of Organization, Certificate of Formation, or Articles of Organization) with the Secretary of State’s office or whichever department handles business filings in the state in which you are forming. Filing fees vary across the U.S.
Can an LLC be “incorporated?
Although it is common to hear of an LLC being “incorporated”, the correct way to describe the creation of an LLC (or any entity type other than a corporation) is to say that the business has been “formed” or “organized”. “Incorporation” and “Articles of Incorporation” are terms that apply to a corporation (regardless of whether it is taxed as a C corporation or S corporation).
What are LLC Articles of Organization?
While each state’s LLC formation document is different to some extent, there are several common elements. These include the following:
- Name, principal location and purpose of the business
- Registered agent’s name and physical address
- Whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed
Standard forms for the Articles of Organization for an LLC are generally available from each state. The person who formed the LLC must sign the paperwork. In most cases that person does not have to be a member (owner) or manager. In some states, the registered agent’s consent to act as registered agent is also required.
Once approved and filed, the state will issue a certificate or other confirmation document. The certificate serves as legal proof of the LLC’s status and can be used to open a business bank account, obtain an EIN, and so on. Some states may also require that you publish a notice, often in a local newspaper, confirming the formation of the LLC.
Step 6: File a beneficial ownership information report
Most LLCs will have to file a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report with FinCEN (U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). A BOI report includes information on the individuals who ultimately own or control the business. Newly created LLCs that are not exempt will also have to submit information about the company applicant (the individual who directly files the document that creates or registers the LLC). For more information, visit the FinCEN website.
Step 7: Obtain an EIN, sales tax ID, and licenses
After establishing the business entity, you must apply to the IRS for an employer identification number (EIN). This is the identification number your LLC will use on all its bank accounts, as well as income and employment tax filings.
In addition, you will need to apply to the state's tax department for a sales tax identification number, and you may need to register with the state's labor department in each state the LLC will be doing business. Your business may also need to obtain one or more licenses and permits for each jurisdiction.
Step 8: Open a business bank account
This step is not a legal requirement but is a key best practice for anyone who is creating an LLC and is one of the steps outlined in our guide: 10 steps to starting a business. It is crucial to separate business finances from personal ones. This is one of the main factors that courts consider when deciding whether to pierce an LLC’s veil and hold the member liable for the LLC’s debts. A business credit card can also be used to keep personal and business transactions separate, as well as to help build business credit.
Most banks require company details, such as formation date, business type, and owner names and addresses, and EIN.
Step 9: Register to do business in other states (if necessary)
If your LLC will be doing business in more than just the formation state, you will have to register — or foreign qualify — in each additional state. (“Foreign” refers to a state or jurisdiction other than your formation state.) Foreign qualification generally requires filing an application for authority with the Secretary of State. A Certificate of Good Standing is often required as well. The LLC will also have to appoint and maintain a registered agent.
Many factors are used to determine whether a company is transacting business in a state, and therefore needs to foreign qualify. Some of the common criteria include whether your company -
- has a physical presence in the state
- has employees in the state
- accepts orders in the state
Note that different states have different criteria. To determine whether your LLC needs to foreign qualify in a certain state, it is best to seek the legal advice of an attorney.
Comparing LLCs with other entity types
When forming a business, one of the most important steps is deciding on the business structure. There are several business entity options available that each present different advantages and disadvantages.
LLCs versus C Corps, S Corps, and DBAs
Understand the key benefits of LLCs, C Corporations, S Corporations and DBAs before deciding which entity type is right for you. Read our article Comparing company types: Understanding C Corp, S Corp, LLC and DBA Business Structures.
LLCs versus S Corps
While the S corporation and LLC both have pass-through taxation, the S corporation lacks the flexibility of an LLC in allocating income to the owners. Additionally, an LLC may offer several classes of membership interest while an S corporation may only have one class of stock. Visit our article on LLCs versus S corporations to learn about other key differences.
LLCs versus Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships
Learn about the advantages and disadvantages related to taxation, asset protection and other key criteria faced by LLC owners, sole proprietors and partners, whether general or limited partnerships in our article Sole Proprietorships, partnerships ,and LLCs are commonly used entities.
LLC state guides
When forming a business, one of the most important steps is deciding on the business structure. There are several business entity options available that each present different advantages and disadvantages.