LLC guides
Plain-English explainers to help you understand, start, and maintain your LLC — no legal jargon.
What Is an LLC? A Beginner’s Guide
A plain-English explanation of what an LLC is, how it protects your personal assets, how it’s taxed, and exactly when it makes sense to form one.
LLC vs Sole Proprietorship: Which Should You Choose?
Compare LLCs and sole proprietorships on liability, taxes, cost, and credibility to decide what fits your business.
Best State to Form an LLC for Non-US Founders
Why non-US founders often choose Wyoming or New Mexico, and how to pick the right state for a U.S. LLC.
Wyoming vs Delaware LLC: Which Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of Wyoming and Delaware LLCs on cost, privacy, taxes, and who each is best for.
Do You Need a Registered Agent?
What a registered agent does, when you can be your own, and when paying for a service makes sense.
What Is an EIN and How Do You Get One?
An EIN is your business’s federal tax ID. Learn what it’s for and how to get one — including without an SSN.
How to Open a U.S. Business Bank Account
A step-by-step look at opening a U.S. business bank account for your LLC — including options for non-US founders.
LLC Annual Report Explained
What an annual report is, why states require it, and how to avoid late penalties on your LLC.
LLC Operating Agreement Explained
What an operating agreement is, why even single-member LLCs should have one, and what it should cover.
Common LLC Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent LLC mistakes — from mixing finances to missing compliance — and how to avoid them.
LLC glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms that come up most often when you form and run an LLC — from articles of organization to Form 5472.
Administrative Dissolution and Reinstatement
What happens when a state shuts down your LLC for missed filings, what you lose, and how reinstatement works.
Articles of Organization
The one document that legally creates your LLC — what goes in it, what it costs, and how it differs from an operating agreement.
BOI Report
Beneficial ownership reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act — what it is, who it now applies to, and why the rules changed.
Capital Contribution in an LLC
How money and property go into an LLC, why capital accounts matter, and how contributions differ from loans.
Certificate of Good Standing
The state’s proof that your LLC is compliant and active — who asks for it, how to get one, and what to do if you cannot.
Charging Order Protection
How charging orders shield LLC assets from a member’s personal creditors, and why the protection is weaker for single-member LLCs.
DBA
What a DBA is, when your LLC needs one, and why registering a trade name is not the same as forming a business.
Disregarded Entity
Why the IRS ignores your single-member LLC for income tax — and the four important places where it does not.
Foreign LLC
Why “foreign” means out-of-state, when you must register in a second state, and what happens if you skip it.
Form 5472
The annual IRS filing foreign-owned single-member LLCs must make even with zero income — and the $25,000 penalty for missing it.
Franchise Tax
The annual state fee for the privilege of existing as an LLC — how it is calculated, which states charge it, and how to plan for it.
ITIN
The IRS tax ID for people who cannot get a Social Security number — who needs one, how to apply, and what it does not do.
Member-Managed vs. Manager-Managed LLC
What the two LLC management structures mean, who can bind the company in each, and how to pick the right one.
Pass-Through Taxation
Why LLC profits skip corporate tax and land on your personal return — including the part that catches new owners off guard.
Piercing the Corporate Veil
How courts strip away LLC liability protection, the specific behaviors that trigger it, and how to keep your shield intact.
S-Corp Election
How electing S-Corp status changes the way your LLC is taxed, what a reasonable salary means, and when the savings justify the overhead.
Self-Employment Tax for LLC Owners
The 15.3% that surprises new LLC owners — what it covers, what it applies to, and the legitimate ways to reduce it.
Series LLC
How a series LLC creates separate liability cells under one umbrella, which states allow it, and when it is worth the complexity.
Service of Process
The legal delivery of lawsuits and official notices to your LLC — why it exists, and what a missed delivery costs you.
Single-Member vs. Multi-Member LLC
How the number of owners changes your LLC’s taxes, paperwork, and liability protection — and what to watch for in each.