If you have your own business, or are thinking of beginning one, you
need to think of the liability implications of doing so. There are
possibly greater legal liabilities you are subjected to as a small
business owner that you did not have to consider before you owned a
small business.
Another thing that you have to think about when
you have your own business is taxes. Small business taxes are handled
much differently than personal taxes, so you have to be aware of what is
happening with your company taxes. This is a great time to talk with an
accountant.
While you most likely can run your small business as a
sole proprietor, this is not the best choice in most cases. There are
huge liability and tax reasons why you might not want to operate as a
sole proprietor. Talking to a professional about these issues is highly
recommended.
So what can the average business owner do? Smart
entrepreneurs form a business entity to shield themselves from personal
liability and to take advantage of business tax laws.
A very common business structure, and probably the best choice for most small business owners, is to think about starting a LLC.
A limited liability company (LLC) gives you personal liability
protection, assuming it is set up correctly and you completely separate
your business and personal goings on. And with an LLC, you have the
ability to choose how taxes are handled.
Setting up an LLC is
incredibly easy. You can hire a lawyer to do it for you, which is
usually the more expensive choice. Or, you can use one of the less
expensive Internet business formation services for LLC form. With prices starting at $115, there is no excuse to not form a limited liability company for your small business.
Always meet with a professional to make sure LLC formation
is the right structure for your business. At the very least, you need
to take some action to make sure that your company is separated from
you, to limit your potential liabilities and take advantage of the tax
benefits afforded to small businesses.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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