Why Your Small Business Should Consider LLC Formation

By Small Business Ideas On April 29, 2009 Under Small Business

The business formation know as an LLC can be best described as being a hybrid between a partnership and a corporation. To put it simply, limited liability company gives you the best parts of a corporation without all of the corporate formalities.

The multiple owners, called members, of an LLC are treated like a partnership for tax purposes. The LLC passes through taxes on income directly to its members, so, unlike a corporation, the LLC itself never pays income tax.

An LLC never worries about the double-taxation issue that a corporation does. To simplify this, due to the fact that the tax obligation is put on only the owners, income tax is paid just one time. Though, an LLC must still pay state (assuming there is any) and federal payroll taxes.

At the time of LLC form, you choose how to handle income taxes. You have the choice to be taxed like a sole proprietor, a C corporation, or an S corporation. The great thing about an LLC is that you get to decide how to handle paying taxes.

Assuming that the LLC is properly set up, and personal and business activities are completely separated, the members are afforded personal liability protection. This potential protection is one of the biggest reasons to form an LLC instead of operating as a sole proprietor. Also, a company earns more reverence when it has a formal structure, such as an LLC.

LLC formation is performed by someone who does not necessarily have to be an owner. You can actually use an online company to create your LLC for a very nominal charge, which means you are assured that everything is set up correctly.

Typically, a member’s financial liability is limited to the financial contribution made by that member. And an LLC’s structure allows you to bring in more than one partners, who can either be actively involved in the business, or serve as silent investors.

While an LLC is similar in structure to a corporation, it offers more flexibility to its owners. Starting an LLC with an incorporate your business online company is most suitable for a smaller business in which there doesn’t have to be too many owners.

In the United States, the limited liability company is a relatively new business structure. As early as 1986, limited liability companies were only allowed in two states. Now, you can form a limited liability company in every state.