Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Brian,

Let me get this thing back on track. In spite of a few bone-heads, those of us who actually went to business school can help you.  Here is the deal:

An LLC will definitely protect your personal assets in case of a corp. liability as well as a corp. lawsuit. It will protect you against exactly what you are describing: a civil liability due to an accident where your company is doing work for a client. It is not just for monetary liability - i.e. business bankruptcy, etc - but also for any exposure which may occur as a result of the normal operation of the business.

Especially in the fitness business, (not so much the writing part - that should be a really minimal liability issue) you need to protect your personal assets. An LLC will accomplish this.

Yes, LLC filings are on a state level, with the Secretary of State. LegalZoom just files as your agent (on your behalf).

The state fees, whether it`s PA directly or through LegalZoom, your attorney, or whomever, should be identical. I`m not sure what you are looking at on the PA site - just call the Secretary of State`s office and ask them the fees for establishing an LLC.

LegalZoom I can speak to since I used them. They have different packages depending on how fast you want the filing - in NC, mine was $279 I think - $125 to the state and the rest to LegalZoom. It wasn`t an extra $279 - that was inclusive of the state fee as well.

You can do it either way - download the forms yourself from your state, or use someone like LZ - kind of like filing your own taxes on paper yourself versus buying software like TurboTax. It can be done either way, but good software makes it less of a pain and is more thorough on the up-to-the-minute legal issues.

Finally, and this probably goes without saying, I`m not an attorney yet, so this advice is just from personal experience. Feel free to personally email me if I can help clarify anything.

Jeff,

Thanks for that clear explanation. That`s exactly the type of information that I would expect to see in a description of an LLC, but didn`t. And it would also seem that using the official Pennsylvania web site would be sufficient to properly create an LLC. Thanks again.

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Brian O`Keefe
Web Designer & Writer @ YiNZCO
Athlete & T-Shirt Guy @ STR!VE NATiON

Brian I live in NJ and I filed my own LLC online for $125.00

Why is there such a huge difference in state fees?  Illinois is $600!

Don`t feel Bad California is $800.00 Every state sets their own price to kill small businesses...


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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Oh man, that`s harsh.  I thought states tried to encourage small businesses!  I would think california would be less expensive.

I filed my own LLC in Colorado and paid $10 in 2007; now the fee is $50.  From personal experience, I would suggest checking out the Secty` of States website and just see what is involved w/filing.

I opted for LLC primarily for business legitimacy.  After all, nothing says a lawsuit can`t be against your company AND you personally - it happens all of the time (having worked for 2 law firms I`ve seen it a lot).

I have a LLC Basics brochure that I created from my own experience.  PM me with your email or mailing address and I will gladly send you a copy (and I promise not to add you to any mailing lists.).


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Lily E. Chambers CPS, CQU
"Why hire a mere mortal when you have access to a Goddess"
www.virtualofficegoddess.com

I have a couple rental properties that I place in an LLC which I though everything would go through it but every time i have problems with tenants or tenants doing things against the city code they send me letter in my name or fines for things from the properties. example, a couch it put on by the street and not picked up, city comes and takes it and sends me a bill in my personal name. I try and argue that it shouldn't be in my name and that the stuff should be in the LLC's name and they keep telling me that i'm the owner. Been thinking about taking it to court just to see if i can get it dropped since its not in my name....

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