An LLC is a US business structure that combines the limited liability protection of a corporation with the simplicity and pass-through taxation of a sole proprietorship. Limited Liability protects a business owner’s personal assets (e.g., car, house, and savings) in the event that a business is sued or defaults on a debt. You can set up llc online
The main LLC cost is the state filing fee, which ranges between $40 and $500, depending on your state.
There are two options for forming an LLC for your blogging business:
- You can hire one of the best LLC services to set up an llc for a small fee
- Or, you can use our free Form an guide to do it yourself
- Do I Need an LLC for a Blogging Business?
- LLCs are a simple and inexpensive way to protect your personal assets and save money on taxes.
You should form an LLC when there’s any risk involved in your business and/or when your business could benefit from tax options and increased credibility.
LLC Benefits for a Blogging Business
By starting an LLC for your blogging business, you can:
- Protect your savings, car, and house with limited liability protection
- Have more tax benefits and options
- Increase your business’s credibility
- Limited Liability Protection
LLCs provide limited liability protection. This means your personal assets (e.g., car, house, bank account) are protected in the event your business is sued or if it defaults on a debt.
Blogging businesses will benefit from liability protection because of the risk of lawsuits for libel and trademark infringement.
Example: Another blogger accuses you of plagiarizing his work and sues you for infringement.
An LLC will also protect your personal assets in the event of commercial bankruptcy or loan default. To maintain your LLC’s limited liability protection, you must maintain your LLC’s corporate veil.
LLC Tax Benefits and Options for a Blogging Business
LLCs, by default, are taxed as a pass-through entity, just like a sole proprietorship or partnership. This means that the business’s net income passes through to the owner’s individual tax return.
The business’s net income is then subject to income taxes (based on the owner’s tax bracket) and self-employment taxes. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are taxed in a similar way to LLCs, but they do not offer limited liability protection or other tax options.
When Should You File for an LLC?
You should consider turning your blog into an LLC when the operating costs for the this will be the same as a sole proprietorship. Once your income increases, you can likely reduce your running costs via an LLC. This is because it has a more flexible tax structure and offers “pass-through” taxation, which eliminates the double taxation issue with traditional corporations. Depending on where you live in the world, it may ease your tax burden even more, as personal income is often taxed higher than companies in other countries.
Bloggers have to decide when the growth is significant enough to warrant the extra time commitment and money to separate the blog into its own separate legal entity. Each state is different, as is every country, so you will need to research local laws and find which is right for you. Be cautious: some states tax LLCs at a higher rate, so a corporation may make more sense in those particular cases.
Fill out the Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
For individuals attempting to incorporate an LLC, each state will include its specific criteria and procedures.
- You’ll need to supply the following basic information:
- Your company’s name
- The location of your main place of business
- The company’s objective
- The manner in which your LLC will be run
- Contact information for the registered agent (as well as the agent’s signature in some places)
- The LLC’s time frame
- After that, the form must be signed by one or more business owners or organisers.
