Formalize your business entity — LLC or corporation filed and active

Formalizing your business entity — filing and maintaining an active LLC or corporation — creates real legal separation between your personal and business liability, and is foundational business infrastructure that everything else, including trademarks and contracts, typically depends on.

Operating without a formal entity leaves your personal assets exposed to business liability, and many other Ring missions (contracts, insurance, trademark ownership) function better or require this formal structure to already exist.

How to do it

1. 1
   Choose the right entity type for your situation

   LLC, S-corp, C-corp each have different tax and liability implications — this decision often benefits from accountant or attorney input specific to your situation.
2. 2
   File with your state or relevant jurisdiction

   The specific process and requirements vary by location.
3. 3
   Obtain an EIN

   Needed for business banking, hiring, and tax filing, separate from the entity filing itself.
4. 4
   Keep the entity in active, good standing

   Ongoing requirements like annual reports or franchise taxes vary by jurisdiction and need to be maintained, not just filed once.