Everything You Need to Know About LLCs

What Is an LLC?

An LLC, or limited liability company, is a business entity type that allows business owners to take advantage of the taxation of a sole proprietorship and the liability of a corporation.

If that definition made your brain hurt — you aren’t alone. LLCs are complicated, but with a team like us at your side, you’ll be able to navigate the complexities of starting a business with ease. Let’s start by breaking it down.

In layman's terms, an LLC offers the best of both worlds for business owners as it simplifies the tax process while separating your business’ assets, debts and liabilities from your own. This means you won’t be held individually liable for company debts or other responsibilities, but can still enjoy the ease of merging your business profits with your personal income for tax purposes.

Is Starting an LLC Right for You?

Choosing the right type of entity for your business is important, as it will determine the rules and regulations you’re bound to as well as how your company is taxed. But what types of business organizations are the best fit for a limited liability company?

Businesses that should choose an LLC include sole or multi-member companies whose owners are looking to protect their personal assets and pay less in taxes than they would as a C-corp.

At Bizee, we see all sizes and types of businesses forming LLCs — from real estate agents, financial advisors, coffee shops and food trucks to solopreneurs such as personal trainers, bloggers, authors, influencers or even marijuana businesses. Home-based businesses also make a great fit for LLCs and have seen a big boom in recent years.

Who Shouldn’t Form an LLC?

Businesses that cannot form an LLC include financial institutions such as banks, financial trusts or insurance companies, due to federal regulations. LLCs are sometimes limited for industries in certain states, too. For example, in California, architects, accountants and health care providers cannot form an LLC.

Check out specific LLC information by state for more details for your location.

In addition to some state law regulations preventing businesses from forming an LLC, some businesses just aren’t a good fit for this type of entity. These include:

If you’re unsure about whether you should be forming a limited liability company or a different entity type, take our Business Resources or check out our overview of business structures to determine what type of business is right for you.

Benefits of an LLC (Pros vs Cons)

As any good business owner knows, weighing the pros and cons before making a decision is a must. Not only will this ensure you make the right choice for your company, but it will also help you anticipate roadblocks and stop problems before they start.

Below are some of the biggest pros and cons of forming a limited liability company.

The Pros

Creating your business as an LLC comes with a lot of benefits, such as a simplified tax process and minimal regulations. See all the pros of forming an LLC in the list below.

The Cons

While the pros listed above may have just about sealed the deal, there are still some drawbacks of LLC formations that savvy business owners need to be aware of.

Understanding LLC Requirements

Unlike corporations, limited liability companies are not required to hold annual meetings or keep minutes, but there are certain LLC filing requirements you’ll need to keep in mind.

Types of LLCs

In general, an LLC will operate as a Domestic LLC where it is formed and operates within your state, or a Foreign LLC where it operates in a different state than the one in which it was formed. Outside of these conditions, there are seven different types of LLCs to be aware of.