Business Structure
Choosing a Business Entity: Sole Proprietor, LLC, or Corporation
Your business structure affects your taxes, your liability, and your paperwork for as long as you operate. It's worth choosing on purpose, not by default.
01Sole Proprietorship
The simplest structure — no formation needed, all profit flows to your personal return. The catch is no liability protection: your personal assets are exposed if the business is sued.
02Limited Liability Company (LLC)
An LLC adds a legal shield between you and the business while keeping tax treatment flexible. It's the popular middle ground for most small businesses starting out.
03Corporations (C and S)
Corporations offer strong liability protection and specific tax treatments. An S-Corp election can reduce self-employment tax; a C-Corp is usually for businesses with different growth or investment plans.
04Weighing Liability vs. Simplicity
More protection generally means more paperwork. The right balance depends on your risk, income, and growth plans — there's no universal best answer.
05Revisit as You Grow
The structure that fit at launch may not fit at scale. Reviewing your entity as income and complexity grow keeps it working in your favor. The SBA structure guide is a solid overview.
Have a question about your situation?
Book a free 30-minute consultation and we'll walk through it together.
Schedule a ConsultationThis article is general information, not individualized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every situation is different — reach out and we'll look at yours directly.