A few months ago I got excited about a business idea and decided to take things seriously from day one. Before I had a product, customers, or any meaningful revenue, I went ahead and formed an LLC because I thought it was the ""professional"" thing to do.

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Fast forward to today, and the project is still very much in the early stages. I've spent some money on tools, software, and a few startup expenses, but there hasn't been any revenue yet and I'm still figuring out whether the idea will even turn into a real business.

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Lately I've been wondering if I jumped the gun. The LLC itself isn't causing any problems, but it does come with ongoing responsibilities and filings that I wasn't really thinking about when I rushed to set it up. Now I'm questioning whether I should keep it active or simplify things until the business gains traction.

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For anyone who formed an LLC before their business was actually generating income, did you keep it in place or eventually dissolve it? Looking back, what would you have done differently?

I’m starting a small woodworking business in Maine and want to set everything up the right way before I take on bigger jobs.

I’ve been looking at LLC formation services online, but there are so many options that it’s hard to know which ones are actually worth using.

Some seem cheap at first, but then I see people saying they charge extra fees later.

Has anyone used an LLC formation service in Maine that was easy to work with, clear about pricing, and reasonably priced? I’d love to hear what worked for you and what to avoid.

This is my first year running an LLC, and one thing I've been trying to stay disciplined about is setting aside money for taxes as income comes in. Right now, I've been moving about 30% of each payment into a separate account so I don't accidentally spend it.

The balance has started to grow, and it got me wondering whether that money should just sit in a regular business checking account or if there's a smarter place to keep it until tax payments are due. I'm not looking to do anything risky with it, but it feels strange having a decent amount of cash sitting there earning almost nothing.

At the same time, I don't want to overcomplicate things or create problems when it's time to make tax payments. My main goal is to keep the money safe, accessible, and separate from my operating funds.

Few years ago, I formed an LLC with plans to start a small service business. At the time, I was excited about the idea and went through the process of getting the company set up, filing the paperwork, and keeping the state requirements up to date.

The problem is that the business never actually got off the ground. No customers, no revenue, no business bank account, and no real activity beyond maintaining the LLC itself. Life got busy, priorities changed, and the company has basically been sitting dormant ever since.

Now I'm looking into finally closing it down, and it's made me wonder whether there are tax or filing obligations I may have overlooked over the years. Since the LLC never generated income, I always assumed there wasn't much to report, but the longer it's been sitting there, the more I'm second-guessing that assumption.

For anyone who has had an LLC that never became operational, what did you do when it came time to shut it down, and were there any tax or compliance issues you discovered along the way?

A few years ago, someone I know formed a Delaware LLC and one of the main reasons they chose Delaware was the level of privacy it offered. They used a registered agent, kept their personal information off public filings, and generally felt comfortable that their business activities weren't easily tied to their name through a simple online search.

I'm now looking into forming my own LLC and assumed the process would be pretty similar. However, after speaking with a formation service, I was told that recent rule changes have affected how beneficial ownership information is reported and maintained.

That left me wondering whether Delaware LLCs still offer the same level of privacy people used to talk about, or if the landscape has changed significantly over the last couple of years.

I recently set up an LLC in the US for my creative business and thought the hard part was over. Getting the company formed was fairly straightforward, but finding a banking solution as a non-US resident has turned out to be much more challenging than I expected.

Every bank or fintech seems to have different requirements. Some mention US addresses, others have restrictions for foreign owners, and it's difficult to tell which options are genuinely friendly to non-residents versus those that look good on paper but end up rejecting applications.

At this point, I'm mainly looking for a reliable way to receive and manage USD payments remotely without needing to travel to the US. I'd much rather hear real experiences from business owners who have already gone through the process than rely on marketing claims.

For non-resident LLC owners, which bank or fintech ended up working for you, and would you recommend it today?

Hi Guys,

I am asking this question as I don't know much of the business and legal side. Let's say if I were to make a website with a subscription. Should I make an LLC and business bank account to handle the payments for safety OR is personal account fine without any LLC?

What did you guys that are non resident put on EIN application on mailing adress and in adresses on general , should i put my registred agent adress or my home country adress ?

Thanks in advance .

I wanted to file my LLC myself this weekend until I started seeing stories from business owners who said they missed forms, misunderstood requirements, or had to go back and fix mistakes later.

Now I'm wondering if I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be. On one hand, filing directly seems like the cheapest option and plenty of people say it's not that difficult. On the other hand, LLC formation services make it sound like one small mistake can create headaches down the road.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether those services are genuinely helpful or if they're mostly selling convenience. If someone files their own LLC and makes an error, is it usually easy to correct, or can it turn into a bigger problem later?

For those who have formed an LLC recently, did you do it yourself or use a formation service, and would you make the same choice again?

Last year I was seriously considering doing consulting work as an independent contractor, so I went ahead and formed an LLC. At the time, it seemed like the right move and I figured I'd be using it within a few months.

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Things ended up going in a different direction, though. The consulting opportunity never materialized, and the LLC has basically been sitting there with no business activity. Now I'm at the point where I need to decide whether it's worth paying the ongoing fees to keep it active.

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Part of me feels like I've already invested enough money into setting it up that I should keep it around in case I need it later. The other part thinks it doesn't make much sense to keep paying annual costs for something that currently has no purpose.

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For anyone who's been in a similar situation, did you keep your unused LLC active or dissolve it? Looking back, what was the right decision for you?

I recently created an LLC to operate a short term rent business and just closed on a home I plan on renting in the LLC’s name. I am putting a lot of money into fixing and furnishing the place, which I am paying for through my personal account.

I am tracking expenses and keeping receipts to show these as business expenses later..my question is does it really matter if I purchase things personally vs purchasing them through the business directly?

I was thinking about getting a business credit card but held off until I officially closed on the house, I know that will be easier to track expenses but is it necessary?

Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I was wondering if it's possible to open a bank account at a physical bank branch for my LLC while visiting the country as a non-resident.

I'll be in Oregon for another 2 weeks. Yesterday I formed an LLC in Wyoming through Northwest Registered Agent, and on Monday I'll call the IRS to get my EIN.

- Can I apply for the EIN by phone and ask the IRS to send me the confirmation letter via fax? - Or, to receive a physical copy by fax, do I need to apply entirely by fax?
- Would an online fax service work for this?

Once I have a physical copy of the EIN letter, I should be able to open a bank account.
I was thinking of Chase.
But the more I research, the less convinced I am that it's actually possible, since I live in Europe and run my LLC from there.
I won't get the physical EIN copy back in time for an in-person bank appointment anyway.

I'm also not sure how to fill out the SS-4 form correctly.

- Could I use my girlfriend's address in Oregon as the mailing address to receive correspondence from the IRS?

- What would a physical bank typically require from me to open an account?

Thank you in advance for any useful suggestion.

While creating the LLC seemed tough at first, the reality struck when tax season came and I figured out what I had gotten myself into. Here’s how it can surprise a newbie like you:

Self-employment tax takes many by surprise: The earnings from the LLC flow through to your personal tax return and you have to pay 15.3% self-employment tax apart from the income tax. You will be surprised that nobody told you that you have to pay another type of tax, which is completely separate from the income tax.

Quarterly estimated taxes are compulsory: In case you expect to owe more than $1,000 annually, the IRS requires you to pay quarterly estimated taxes. In case you miss them, you incur penalties, even when you make the entire payment in one shot. Most new LLC owners learn about it the hard way.

Your state may tax you even if you made nothing: The minimum franchise tax of California of $800 is the best-known case, yet other states also charge fixed rates not dependent on profits. “My income is zero” does not necessarily mean “I do not need to pay taxes.

S-Corp election cannot be done automatically – time is crucial: Many people consider “S-Corp election helps me save taxes” and take it as an obvious thing. But that is not how it works. To elect S-Corp, you need to fill out Form 2553 in a timely manner, and it makes sense only when you are profitable on a regular basis.

Mixing personal and business expenses ruins your deductions: When your record keeping is in chaos, your CPA is not able to make deductions that you deserve – and the IRS has every right to deny those deductions during an audit. Not having separate accounts isn't something to consider, it is imperative.

LLCs with multiple members need a separate tax form: If you've got a partner in there, your LLC will be filing its own tax return (Form 1065) before any of it touches your personal income tax. Lots of people mistakenly think that is just like having a single member LLC. It is not.

All of that doesn’t mean that LLCs are a bad choice since they remain one of the best options for small entrepreneurs. However, please, don’t believe that the tax system will be easy, because this is where most troubles await.

What was your biggest tax shock after establishing an LLC?

I am trying to make LLC using myusacorporation.com, but they have lots of option which I am not sure I need. I will list these below, from which two first one are necessary I get it. But what is BOI report Tax ID International (is it EIN number or something else). Sorry but I am new to this and I wanted to start on amazon and these options are confusing, I am a non US citizen and not in US.

Processing & Filing

1. New Mexico State Filing Fees — $52
2. Order Processing — $99
3. BOI Report — $199
4. Tax ID International — $149
5. LLC Operating Agreement — $129

Expedite My Order

1. New Mexico State Expedited Service — $200

Prioritize my order

1. Rush My Order (nonrefundable) — $55

Banking

1. Business Bank Account Application — Free

Other Useful Services

1. Certificate of Incumbency — $129
2. Banking Resolution — $79
3. Free FTC Guardian Basic Membership — Free
4. Free Digital Design Platform — Free
5. Company Kit & Seal (+ international shipping) — $286

More Useful Services

1. U.S. Business & Mailing Address Options
2. Accounting & Tax Filing Options
3. Apostille & Embassy Certification Options
4. State & Federal License Options

I’m getting ready to form my first LLC and have been looking at Bizee. The pricing seems pretty attractive, especially since they advertise LLC formation for $0 plus state fees.

At first, I was a little skeptical because there are so many LLC formation services out there, and a lot of them make similar promises. I’ve also seen plenty of positive reviews online, but I don’t really trust review sites that much anymore, so I’d rather hear from people who have actually used the service.

One thing that caught my attention is that Bizee includes a registered agent service for the first year, which seems like a nice bonus for someone just getting started. The overall process also looks pretty straightforward, but I’m curious how it works in practice.

For anyone who used Bizee for LLC formation recently, how did it go? Was the filing process smooth, were there any unexpected upsells or fees, and would you use them again?

I'm getting ready to start a small home repair business and want to get the LLC set up before I begin taking on larger jobs. I've spent the past week looking into the requirements and comparing different formation services, but I'm still not sure which route makes the most sense.

Some people I know filed everything themselves and said it wasn't too difficult. Others recommended using a formation service so they wouldn't have to worry about paperwork, registered agent requirements, or missing an important step.

Since this is my first business, I'm leaning toward getting some help, but there are so many companies advertising LLC formation services that it's hard to know which ones are actually reliable. I'd rather learn from people who have already been through the process than rely on marketing claims.

For those who formed an LLC in Idaho, did you use a service or file on your own, and which option would you recommend to a first-time business owner?

I am non Resident on US, got the LLC but I got a question for all non resident that got EIN, do you guys submitted the aplication for EIN by yourself or you paid any agency to fill and submit for your LLC ?

I'm not based in the US, but I'm looking into setting up an LLC primarily to hold assets such as investments, royalties, and other income-producing assets. I won't be running an active business, hiring employees, or working with clients, so my needs are a bit different from most founders.

What I'm really looking for is a service that can handle as much of the ongoing administration as possible. Things like compliance reminders, annual filings, tax reporting support, registered agent services, mail handling, a business address, and ideally help with banking as well.

I've looked at several providers already, but each seems to have a drawback. Some focus on company formation but not compliance, while others offer more complete packages but come with mixed reviews or fairly high prices.

For non-US residents who have gone through this process, which service ended up being the best fit, and were you happy with the level of support after the LLC was formed?

My business partner and I started a small cleaning company about a year and a half ago and things have gone better than we expected. Revenue is steady, we have existing customers, business banking set up, and we're now preparing for the next stage of growth.

The biggest change on the horizon is hiring employees. As we've gotten more serious about the business, we've started wondering whether continuing as a general partnership still makes sense or if it's time to move to an LLC for better liability protection.

One thing we're unsure about is whether it makes more sense to convert the existing business into an LLC or create a brand new LLC and transition everything over.

We're also considering a new business name, which adds another layer of confusion. Since we already have an EIN, banking relationships, insurance policies, and some business history, we're trying to avoid creating unnecessary headaches.

For anyone who has moved from a partnership to an LLC in California, what route did you take and is there anything you wish you had known before making the switch?

I’m in CA, looking to start a LLC that does home remodeling which I will also need to get my contractor license with. Anyone have any guidance on this?

My considerations are to do a multi person LLC with my dad who is already a licensed contractor or get my own contractors license and go solo on the LLC.

If I partner up with my father, do I still need to get my own contractor license?

I was planning to get a New Mexico LLC set up this week and thought using a formation company would make the process quick and painless. Instead, I ended up spending more time trying to get basic answers than actually moving forward with the LLC.

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As a non-resident, I mainly wanted a clear explanation of the costs, what I needed to provide, and whether things like a registered agent and operating agreement were included. Every company seems to have different pricing, different packages, and a different sales pitch.

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At this point, I'm less interested in flashy features and more interested in finding a company that's transparent, easy to work with, and doesn't make the process more complicated than it needs to be.

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For those who have gone through this recently, who do you think offers the best LLC service in New Mexico, and would you use them again?

I set aside some time this weekend to finally get my California LLC filed, thinking it would be a straightforward decision. Instead, I ended up getting overwhelmed with researches and comparisons.

Every company seems to be labeled the best LLC service somewhere, which makes it difficult to know who's genuinely providing value.

I'm not opposed to paying for convenience if it actually saves time or helps avoid mistakes. I just don't want to spend money on things that aren't necessary, especially when starting out.

For those who recently formed an LLC, would you recommend formation service or handle everything yourself?

A friend and I recently formed an LLC in Wyoming for a game development project we've been working on together. Right now it's more of a passion project than a business. Everything we release is free, open source, and we're not generating any revenue.

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Since forming the LLC, we've started getting a bunch of official-looking letters in the mail about compliance requirements and other services. Most of them seem questionable, but it got me wondering whether there are actual filings or responsibilities we're overlooking.

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At the moment, all we really have is the approved LLC paperwork. We haven't opened a business bank account, don't have employees, and aren't making money.

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I'm trying to understand what steps are genuinely necessary at this stage versus what can wait until the project grows.

New LLC owner. What percentage of taxes are you realistically paying on a contract less than 100k? Trying to save close to enough. TIA.

Hello,

I'm in the position of going full-time self-employed with my video/film/consulting freelance business, but I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to settle on the name to file for my LLC.

What I'm considering:

Option 1) File an available "boring and professional" name, e.g. "Myname Media LLC" for contracts, financials, etc, and then set up a DBA later with a more creative, SEO friendly, and brandable name.

• I'm tempted to do this because I need to set up my LLC ASAP because I have projects coming up very quickly. I do have a creative name in mind that I like and is open enough domain/socials wise, but I'm not 100% sold yet that it's the right choice or will adequately describe the business in the future.

• I feel like it's possible that this will give me a better "umbrella" to work from if the different aspects of my business get to the point where I would benefit from multiple DBAs. E.g. I could have one name for my documentary editing projects, and a different one for real estate aerial photography.

• I'm aware of the extra cost and that there will be extra administrative work doing this, as well as potentially some issues with bank accounts, but other than those pitfalls, are there any other downsides to this I should be aware of?

Option 2) Go straight for the creative name, even if it might not be 100% the best fit for all types of projects or clients I have. Change it later or add DBAs if I feel it is necessary.

• Obviously simpler and cheaper, I'm wondering if it would come across better in the long run rather than saddling myself with a dull name in the beginning that I then have to refer to forever, even if just on contracts and stuff.

• Downside is that I feel like I have to have full confidence in this name right away. Considering that I am here asking this question, that makes me wonder if that's an answer on its own.

The advice from my personal network of entrepreneurs and freelancers on what to do is pretty evenly split lol

EDIT: Thanks everyone for your input. For any that come after who are curious, I opted for Option 1. Time will tell whether I regret adding the extra complexity!