Incorporate your business as an LLC or corporation

Incorporating your business as an LLC or corporation creates real legal separation between your personal and business liability, foundational infrastructure that much of your other legal and financial work depends on already existing.

Operating without formal incorporation leaves personal assets exposed to business liability, and many other missions, contracts, insurance, trademark ownership, function better with this formal structure already in place.

How to do it

1. 1
   Choose the right entity type for your situation

   LLC, S-corp, C-corp each carry different tax and liability implications, worth accountant or attorney input.
2. 2
   File with your state or relevant jurisdiction

   Process and requirements vary by location.
3. 3
   Obtain necessary follow-on registrations

   An EIN and any required state-level registrations.
4. 4
   Maintain active, good standing

   Ongoing requirements like annual reports need to be kept current, not just filed once.