Start an LLC — the complete 2026 guide
How to form an LLC, what it actually costs, and which setup fits your business. Independent guides, no fluff, plus the fastest filing path we've found.
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LLC basics
If you're starting from zero, read these first.
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a US business structure that protects your personal assets from business debts and lawsuits. Here's exactly how it works.
LLC stands for 'Limited Liability Company.' It's a US business structure that protects your personal assets. Here's exactly what it means and why it matters.
Sole proprietor vs LLC: cost, taxes, liability, paperwork — and the one factor that decides it for most small business owners.
LLC costs range from $40 to $500 to file, plus $0–$800/year to maintain depending on the state. Here's the full breakdown of what you'll actually pay.
LLC by business type
Different businesses need different setups. Find the guide that matches what you're starting.
If a tenant slips on your front steps and sues, they're suing you personally — your house, your savings, your retirement. An LLC puts a legal wall between the rental and the rest of your life. This is the single most important move a small landlord can make.
Short-term rentals get sued more than long-term rentals — guests party, fall, file claims. An LLC keeps those lawsuits at the property level instead of coming after your home and savings.
Selling online feels like a low-risk activity right up until a customer sues over a refund, a stripe account gets frozen with your money inside, or a chargeback dispute names you personally. An LLC separates the business from you.
A trucking accident lawsuit can easily exceed insurance limits. An LLC is the only thing standing between a bad day on I-80 and losing your house. It's also required for most factoring companies and brokers before they'll do business with you.
Amazon doesn't care if you sell as an individual or an LLC — but a product liability lawsuit will. If your product hurts someone, they sue you. An LLC keeps that lawsuit out of your personal life.
Cleaning businesses break things. A maid drops a $4,000 vase, a worker slips on a wet floor and sues, a client claims you stole from them. An LLC keeps those claims off your personal assets.
Dropshipping looks low-risk from the outside — you don't hold inventory, so what could go wrong? Then a supplier ships a defective product, a customer files a chargeback, Stripe freezes $8,000, and now you're personally on the hook. An LLC separates the business.
Creators get sued in ways most people don't think about — copyright claims on background music, defamation suits over a video, brand deals that go sideways. An LLC keeps those claims off your personal assets and your AdSense payout history.
Every serious real estate investor uses LLCs. The reason is simple — one bad tenant, contractor accident, or environmental issue at one property shouldn't be able to take down your whole portfolio. The LLC structure isolates the risk.
Consultants give advice for money, and bad advice gets sued. An LLC keeps a malpractice claim out of your personal finances. It also makes you look legitimate enough for Fortune 500s to actually sign your contract.
Content creators have weird income — AdSense one month, a $50K sponsorship the next, $200 from merch in between. The LLC is what makes that mess look like a real business to the IRS, to brand sponsors, and to your bank.
A food truck is a kitchen on wheels — every shift is a chance for a food poisoning claim, a grease fire, a customer slip, or a fender-bender. An LLC keeps those claims off your house.
Ecommerce founders get blindsided by sales tax nexus, chargeback disputes, and product liability claims. An LLC is the structure that lets you handle all three without your personal finances being on the line.
Freelancing as a sole proprietor works fine — until a client claims your work cost them money, until you cross $40K in profit and realize how much self-employment tax you're paying, or until a big client requires an entity on the contract.
Lawn care looks low-risk until a rock from your mower puts out someone's window, an employee runs over their foot, or a herbicide application kills the wrong plants. An LLC stops those claims from coming after your house.
LLC by state
Filing fees, annual reports, and step-by-step instructions for every state we cover.