How to Start an LLC: A Legal Guide for Small Business Owners
8 min • Business Law
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is one of the most popular business structures in the United States because it combines the liability protection of a corporation with the tax flexibility of a partnership. Forming an LLC creates a legal entity separate from its owners (called members), meaning your personal assets — house, car, savings — are generally protected from business debts and lawsuits. Every state has its own LLC statute, but the core concepts are consistent across jurisdictions.
The formation process: (1) Choose a business name that complies with your state's requirements — it must include 'LLC' or 'Limited Liability Company,' must not be deceptively similar to an existing registered business, and in some states, must not use restricted words (like 'Bank' or 'Insurance') without special approval. Check name availability on your Secretary of State's website. (2) Appoint a registered agent — a person or company with a physical address in the state who can receive legal documents (service of process) on behalf of the LLC. You can serve as your own registered agent or hire a commercial service ($50-$300/year). (3) File Articles of Organization (called Certificate of Formation in some states) with the Secretary of State, pay the filing fee ($50-$800, varying by state), and include: the LLC's name, registered agent information, management structure, and sometimes member names and business purpose.
The Operating Agreement is the most important internal document for an LLC — yet many new business owners skip it. This is a mistake. The Operating Agreement spells out: ownership percentages, how profits and losses are allocated, member voting rights and management authority, procedures for adding or removing members, buyout provisions (what happens if a member dies, divorces, or wants to leave), and dissolution procedures. Without an Operating Agreement, your LLC is governed by your state's default LLC statute — which may not reflect what you and your co-members actually want. Single-member LLCs should also have one to reinforce liability protection by demonstrating the business is truly separate from the owner.
LLC tax treatment is flexible and powerful. By default, a single-member LLC is a 'disregarded entity' — you report business income and expenses on Schedule C of your personal tax return. A multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership (Form 1065) with K-1s issued to each member. Either can elect to be taxed as an S-corporation (Form 2553) or C-corporation (Form 8832). S-corp election can save self-employment tax: you pay yourself a reasonable salary (subject to payroll taxes) and take remaining profits as distributions (not subject to self-employment tax). This election only makes financial sense when the business has net income above a threshold (typically $40,000-$60,000+) after your reasonable salary — consult a tax professional before electing.
Post-formation compliance: (1) Obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS — free, online, immediate. (2) Open a separate business bank account — commingling personal and business funds can destroy your liability protection (called 'piercing the corporate veil'). (3) Check if your business needs state or local business licenses, professional licenses, or permits. (4) File a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with FinCEN within 90 days of formation (for LLCs formed in 2024 or later) under the Corporate Transparency Act. (5) Most states require annual or biennial reports and fees ($10-$500) to keep the LLC in good standing. (6) If you plan to do business in other states, you may need to register as a foreign LLC in those states.
Key Takeaways
- LLC combines corporate-style liability protection with partnership-style tax flexibility
- Filing steps: name check → registered agent → Articles of Organization → filing fee → Operating Agreement
- An Operating Agreement is essential — it governs ownership, management, and what happens when members leave
- LLC can be taxed as sole prop, partnership, S-corp, or C-corp — S-corp election can save self-employment tax
- Post-formation: get EIN, separate bank account, business licenses, FinCEN BOI report, and annual state filings
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