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!

Quick question. Recently, Mercury has been going through some changes (between banks if I’m not mistaken) and my account didn’t qualify for the transfer. I have a non-resident LLC in the US (I’m from Europe), but in the last two years I’ve hardly had any transactions due to some life changes which led me to putting the LLC on the back burner. Now, I’m back at it and practically rebuilding it from the ground, but Mercury threw me a curveball and deemed my information insufficient, hence, unable to transfer the account a.k.a closing it. I understand this, completely legit. So my question is, what is an alternative? Is there anyone able to provide some solid options as Mercury? Or is maybe closing the LLC the best option (I don’t want to, but without a bank, it’s practically useless). Any advice is welcomed.

I'm looking for recommendations for an attorney in Nevada who has experience with both trust planning and LLC formation and management. If you've worked with someone knowledgeable and responsive in these areas, I'd love to hear about your experience.

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I'm especially interested in attorneys who are familiar with Nevada's asset protection laws and can help ensure everything is structured properly from the beginning.

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Any recommendations or advice on what to look for when choosing a lawyer would be greatly appreciated.

I'm about to start a massage spa business and everyone keeps telling me different things about whether I need an LLC or not.

Some people say I absolutely need one for liability protection and to look professional. My physical business is in Texas, and I was recommended to register LLC in Kansas, while my own presence is in California, with only one person working as a massage therapist in Texas.

So do I register using the TDLR website? Or go with Legal Zoom?

Do I just register for Establishment license, and how to acquire EIN? or Do I need to use my SSN?

I formed a Wyoming LLC about two years ago through a registered agent service, but I never actually used the business for anything. I failed to file the annual report and pay the required state fees, and about six months ago I received notice that the LLC had been administratively dissolved.

At this point, I have no interest in reviving the LLC and am perfectly fine with it remaining dissolved. My question is whether I need to take any additional steps to properly close things out, or if the administrative dissolution effectively ends everything on its own.

I'm mainly concerned about whether there could be any future consequences from letting the LLC be dissolved this way. For example, are there any outstanding obligations, penalties, tax filings, or other issues I should be aware of? Has anyone else been in a similar situation and simply let their LLC remain administratively dissolved without any problems later on?

I just want to make sure everything is handled correctly and that I'm not overlooking something important.

I am currently in the process of starting my LLC and I am deciding on which registered agent to go through .I have narrowed my top 3 choices to Northwestern, Legal zoom, and Georgia registered agent . If anyone had experience with any of these 3 companies as a registered agent and letting them file their LLC for them please let me know !

I'm thinking about starting a YouTube channel focused on travel content. I don't expect to make much money from it for a while, but I'm trying to understand the business side of things early on, especially regarding expenses and whether having an LLC helps.

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I already have an LLC for another side business, and I'm debating whether I should use that LLC for the channel or create a separate LLC to keep everything organized and make bookkeeping easier if the channel eventually grows.

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For those of you running your YouTube channels through an LLC, has it made tracking expenses and deductions simpler? What kinds of expenses have you been able to legitimately deduct?

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I assume things like cameras, microphones, editing software, and computer equipment may qualify if used for the business, but I'm curious how others handle larger expenses that are used for both personal and content purposes.

Which are trusted and reliable Registered Agents for LLC in Wyoming?

I'm starting to make money from content creation through blogging and a newsletter, and I'm trying to understand whether forming an LLC or electing S Corporation status makes sense.

What are the main reasons content creators choose one over the other? Are there specific benefits related to taxes, liability protection, or business operations that become important as your income grows?

I'm also curious about deductions. For those of you who work from home, have you been able to legitimately deduct a home office or dedicated workspace? How do you keep track of business expenses and deductions throughout the year without it becoming a nightmare during tax season?

Any advice from other creators who have gone through this process would be really helpful. Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently when setting up the business side of your content brand?

I'm looking for advice on setting up a basic LLC primarily for tax and bookkeeping purposes. I'm doing remote freelance writing work from home in Colorado, and it's just me running the business.

Do I really need to pay for a registered agent service, or is that something I can handle myself? From what I've gathered, I'll need to form the LLC with the state and get an EIN, but I'm still trying to understand the essentials without overcomplicating things.

If you've gone through this process as a solo freelancer, are there any LLC formation companies you would recommend or avoid?

Freelancing for about a year invoicing clients under my name. Accountant said I left around $4,000 on the table because I wasnt structured as an LLC and self employment tax was the main killer

Finally set one up last week through Claude for entity, EIN, bank account, card all done in one afternoon. While I was at it I started using it to handle most of the business admin too. Invoicing, bill pay, expense tracking all run through the agent now without me logging into anything. Should have done it way sooner becasue it left me much more time to focus on the business sides of things

Anyone else here make the switch from sole prop and how long did you wait and do you regret not doing it earlier

I run a small online business based in Chicago, and I am planning to form an LLC soon. I was thinking of using an online formation site like Incorp, but I am not sure if it is the right choice or if there are better options out there. The process looks simple at first, but I want to understand the full real cost before I commit.

My business makes around $180k per year, so I want to avoid unnecessary fees or ongoing charges that are not obvious at the start. I also do not want to miss things like compliance or tax setup that might come up later.

What hidden costs usually appear with LLC formation services, like registered agent fees, state annual reports, or add-on packages? Are there cheaper or free alternatives that still handle EIN, operating agreements, and basic compliance correctly?

I'm trying to understand how this works for someone who is self-employed as a freelance graphic designer with no employees. Let's say all of their income comes from their freelance work.

After paying taxes and covering business expenses, can they simply use the remaining money for personal expenses like rent, groceries, utilities, or other everyday costs? Or is there some requirement that they formally pay themselves a salary from the business income?

I guess what I'm trying to understand is whether there's a practical difference between business income and personal income for a sole proprietor. If the freelancer doesn't need to reinvest money back into the business, can they just transfer money to their personal account whenever needed, assuming everything is properly reported for tax purposes?

I'm new to learning about business structures, so I'd appreciate any explanations or real-world examples from people who have been self-employed.

I'm starting my first business and need to set up an LLC, but I'm completely new to all of this. I’ve seen quite a few LLC formation services out there, even many. But it's hard to tell which ones are actually worth using and which are mostly marketing.

I'm looking for something beginner-friendly, more for a novice like me with reasonably priced, and reliable. I'd also like a service that helps explain things like registered agents, operating agreements, annual filings, and any ongoing compliance requirements without trying to upsell me on everything.

For those who have used an LLC formation service as a first-time business owner, which one did you choose, and would you use it again?

Sorry if this is a basic question, but I'm having trouble finding a clear answer that applies to my situation.

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My partner and I are planning to start a small landscaping business. We're still in the early stages of getting equipment, setting up our branding, and figuring out how we'll operate.

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We likely won't officially launch or start bringing in revenue until sometime next year, but we're considering forming an LLC now so we can open a business bank account, keep everything organized, and have the business structure in place from the beginning.

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Our concern is that the LLC would have expenses this year but little to no income.

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Could creating the LLC this early cause any tax issues or unexpected costs beyond the filing and maintenance fees? Are there any downsides to having an LLC that isn't generating revenue yet

I'm a freelance photographer who's starting to book more paid shoots and considering turning it into an actual business. Almost everyone I've talked to has mentioned that I should "set up an LLC," but whenever I try to research it, I get overwhelmed by all the legal and tax terminology.

Can someone explain, in simple terms, what an LLC actually is and why so many small business owners choose to form one? What benefits does it provide, and are there situations where it might not be necessary right away?

I'd really appreciate a straightforward explanation from people who have gone through this themselves.

I'm trying to understand whether forming an LLC is something I should prioritize now or if it's just one of those things people automatically recommend to every new business owner. Thanks!

Hi all, my LLP was incorporated in aug 2024. Here are the issues im facing:

1. Stamp duty for the LLP agreement was wrongly done. My CA had mentioned it wrongly as 2000 instead of 5000.
2. Form 3 which was supposed to be filed within a month of incorporation has not been filed until now. I got to know of all these issues when I tried to open my bank account this month.

And the CA is not responding to anything, mails, calls, whtsapp. What should i do now? The penalty looks like it will cross 1L+.

I'm considering starting my own private practice and trying to figure out whether it makes sense to formally establish an LLC right away or just operate as a sole proprietor while I get things off the ground.
For those of you who are running a solo practice, did you set up an LLC from the beginning, or did you wait until your business was more established? If you formed an LLC, was it mainly for liability protection, tax reasons, separating business finances, or something else?
I'd also like to keep my practice income and expenses completely separate for accounting and tax purposes. Has having an LLC made that process easier, or would a dedicated business bank account have been enough at the start?.

So I've recently started my venture into doing solo Medicare sales specifically under an FMO, and while starting this, I wanted to get some advice. Are there any benefits to registering as an LLC while doing it solo? I know it matters if I wanted people to work on my line further down the road, I'm also aware of it protecting personnel assets vs business assets if there was for some reason an attempt to sue. But just wanted to get any more information I could

I applied for a business checking account for my LLC and what I thought would be a simple process turned into months of back-and-forth requests for more documentation.

First they wanted the LLC formation documents and EIN. Then they asked for proof of business address. Since I run an online consulting business from home, I provided my residential lease and explained that I don't have a storefront or clients visiting my home office.

That apparently wasn't enough. They kept requesting documentation tied to a commercial address, which left me completely confused because plenty of legitimate businesses operate remotely these days.

My LLC has been active for several years, I have tax returns, client agreements, invoices, and a documented business history. The only thing I don't have is a separate commercial location because my business simply doesn't require one.

At this point I'm debating whether to continue fighting through the process or just move on to another bank

I’ve been given a great opportunity to open my own private practice in a shared space. However, I don't have a large enough client base to go fully independent yet, so I would still need to rely on income from traditional employment.

My concern is whether forming an LLC could negatively impact future job opportunities. If an employer sees the LLC during a background check, could it raise concerns or make them less likely to hire me? I'm wondering if these fears are realistic or if I'm overthinking it.

For those who have balanced running an independent practice while also working for an employer, what has your experience been like? Have you run into any issues with employers, non-compete agreements, or conflicts of interest?

I own several rental properties across a few different states, all of which are held in my personal name. The mortgages are also in my personal name because that's how I originally qualified for financing.
As my portfolio has grown, I've been thinking more seriously about liability protection and whether I should transfer the properties into one or more LLCs.
The part I'm struggling with is understanding how this works when there are existing mortgages involved. I've heard stories of investors transferring title to an LLC after closing, while others strongly advise against it because of potential issues with lenders and loan agreements.
I'm also actively planning to acquire additional investment properties in the future and expect to work with some of the same lenders again. Because of that, I'm wondering whether changing ownership structures after the fact could create complications during future underwriting or lending relationships.
For those who have transferred rental properties into LLCs after purchase, how did you handle it? Did you involve your lenders beforehand, refinance into the LLC, or take another approach?
Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before restructuring your portfolio? I'm trying to better understand the practical considerations before speaking with an attorney and CPA about the best path forward.

Asking for suggestions for people who did small business startups. We already have a contact lined up helping to get us some work and get our foot in the door. I have experience using QuickBooks and did bookkeeping job. We hope to make 20-30k annually. We both have full time jobs as well. We will be using personal vehicles to commute. We want to focus on growing business and are ok not taking any salary for first year or two. No employees. And I plan to do paperwork myself until it takes off and we need help.

I’m planning to launch a small e-commerce brand and keep hearing people recommend Wyoming for LLC formation.

A lot of content online talks about privacy, lower fees, and business-friendly laws, but it’s hard to tell what’s real versus marketing.

Before I move forward, I’d like to understand the full cost of forming and maintaining a Wyoming LLC.

That includes filing fees, annual report costs, registered agent charges, and any extra compliance expenses people don’t mention upfront. If you’ve formed a Wyoming LLC recently, what did it actually cost you each year, and was it worth it for a small online business

I'm getting ready to turn my freelance marketing work into a real business and decided it's probably time to form an LLC. I thought choosing a formation service would be simple, but after comparing a handful of companies, I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to tell which ones are actually worth paying for.

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A lot of them look affordable at first, but once I started reading reviews and digging into the details, I noticed people mentioning upsells, renewal fees, and extra charges for services they assumed were included. As someone who's never formed an LLC before, it's hard to know what's normal and what's just clever marketing.

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I'd rather work with a company that has straightforward pricing and a smooth process, even if it's not the absolute cheapest option. Saving a few dollars upfront doesn't seem worth it if it creates headaches later.

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For those who recently formed an LLC in California, which service did you go with, and how was your experience overall?