Best way to incorporate a Business

So I have a website http://stocksonwallstreet.net/ and it makes decent money so i want to incorporate it as a business. What is the best way? LLC???

 

Yeah LLC is the best to go.

 

Nice I'll look into it, whats the best Legal Zoom?

 

The best thing you can do is talk to a qualified attorney. The money spent up front will protect your business in the long run. Also as a side note make sure they are a business attorney that can write a TOS that protects you.

 

For a small operation that isnt taking risks - LLC is probably the way to go as a default answer, but understand an LLC does very little to limit your liability in a closely held private company started with little money. An attorney will come after you personally unless you have properly seperated the corp from your personal self, have documented minutes of shareholder meetings, started the LLC with a "reasonable amount of money" that will be deemed by a judge while you are getting sued - etc... I know the generic answer from attorneys is to form an LLC, and you can, but most of them arent worth the paper they are written on for personal protection from a corporate lawsuit. If this entity is truly you dba this website, I would save the money on the attorney and talk to an accountant about how best to strategize your taxes and to buy a business owners policy that would pay out if you get sued.

 

Ok will look into the options?

 

There isn't a one size fits all answer. If LLC was universally the best answer the other options such as an S corp or C corp wouldn't even exist for small businesses.

There are pros and cons to each. That is the problem with legalzoom and the like... its easy to fill out the forms, but then you have this legal entity you don't know its benefits and drawbacks and how to maintain it as a separate legal entity from yourself.

 

For a simple website and I want to incorporate other websites under the business is an LLC the easiest option?

 

Create a parent LLC (ex. Stockson Wall Street LLC), then you can list that company with copyright info in the footers of all your websites. Most states require $50 to research and file the incorporation. Then file that name with the IRS to get your EIN - required for business accounts at banks, PayPal etc..

Good Luck!

 

I have honestly never heard this before and am not sure where you've heard this - but agree that anyone who hasn't followed all of the rules (meeting minutes, separate bank account/expenses, etc) would definitely be liable.

 

Thanks will look into starting a parent LLC

 

Does anyone know which state is the best to start an LLC in? I have addresses in both Arizona and California, which one would make more sense financially?

 

you may want to consider Pensilvania as an alternative to Nevada

 

Can I use those for a website LLC even if I don't have an address there?

 

Do I need an address for these?

 

That is something you will need to consult a professional legal advisor for.
I have only done basic research into something I am looking at doing in the future so have not gone into deep detail.

However My research that I did do pointed to it being more favourable for my plan to consider Pensilvania rather than Nevada.

 

Will contact a legal advisor for further information.

 

I think legal zoom is pretty reputable and probably reasonable as well.

 

Just got my LLC paper work filed and all. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

With where? I personally would recommend filing in Delaware. But, that may not be feasible depending on the laws of where you live. Good luck.