Has anyone created an LLC?

[soccerdad72]

I know - dumb question, of course people do them all the time.

Just curious for those who may have set up an LLC, did you do it on your own (e.g. on a website, like LegalZoom) or did you use an attorney?

Quick background - my wife, who recently retired (end of 2024) was approached by someone to be a part-time (fractional) CFO for their startup company and she's looking to quickly create an LLC. We asked our lawyer who set up our family trust and his firm can do it, but it will take upwards of 2 weeks. Looking up companies online, it appears that she can set one up pretty quickly and likely cheaper than our lawyer, but I don't know if there's concerns with using a service like this?

 

[RuntheMouse]

DH has an LLC that he set up on his own 20+ years ago. He didn’t even use a service. I believe he started with the IRS and an EIN first. Then he went to the Secretary of State website for the state we lived in and followed instructions. Pretty straightforward. We have registered said company to 3 different states when we have moved and it was rinse and repeat.

Your accountant might be of assistance as well rather than your attorney.

 

[soccerdad72]

Your accountant might be of assistance as well rather than your attorney.

We're both accountants

 

[RuntheMouse]

We're both accountants

well you’ve got that covered then!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I did it on my own back in 2007 or so. It was very easy. It required going to get published in the newspaper. Now that we are in a digital age not sure if you still do that or not.

 

[Imzadi]

Decades ago I attended a workshop with the Small Business Administration, (a government agency.) They said the quickest way to get an LLC was to use a service in Maryland. One didn't even need a lawyer. Just know the type of LLC you want to register for. Back then, Maryland had the most LLCs in the country because of that.

Now, one can do it online. Ads on YouTube keep popping up for me saying I can now get an LLC in NY state within a matter of hours. (Not sure I'd use them, but it's nice to know it's much easier now.)

Just do your research on the different types of LLCs, the liabilities, protections, benefits and tax structure of each, and make sure you go through a reputable company.

 

[White Cat]

CPA and a lawyer set up my S Corp. For me that was worth the costs.

 

[YachtClubWoman]

I set up my LLC for pharma consulting in Pennsylvania this year.
I did the paperwork myself without issue. Obtaining the federal EIN number was on line and fast. I am not using the LLC at this time so have not yet paid for insurance or set up a bank account for the business.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I setup my LLC myself from following online instructions. I would start with that and only hire an attorney ifyou run into complications later. LLC's are pretty straight forward.

 

[tvguy]

I hope it is easier than forming a non-profit. Took us over a year for what was supposed to be a simple three step process. IRS, no problem. State Franchise Tax Board, no problem. Secretary of State? Kept asking for financial information from previous years. Ah, there are no previous years, and until you sign off on our application, there will be no current year either. Over $10,000 in lawyers fees. Fortunately, we found a CPA who helped us pro bono.

 

[_19disnA]

Never done one but not sure why there needs to be a rush to get this setup. Seems like using a lawyer would insure the appropriate type is properly created.

 

[soccerdad72]

Never done one but not sure why there needs to be a rush to get this setup. Seems like using a lawyer would insure the appropriate type is properly created.

The rush was that the company wants her to start on a project as early as next week and she'd like the contract (and the income) to be going to her LLC, not under her SSN.

Our lawyer was able to expedite the paperwork (I assume a paralegal will knock it out for him) and it turned out, it won't be much more expensive than if we did it ourselves.