By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
People often ask me how I ended up dedicating my career to helping entrepreneurs choose the right business structures. The honest answer? I got tired of watching smart, capable business owners make expensive mistakes that could have been easily avoided with the right guidance.
After 15+ years in business formation consulting and helping over 1,000 entrepreneurs launch their companies, I’ve seen the same patterns repeat over and over: brilliant people with amazing business ideas who stumble on the foundational decisions that can make or break their long-term success.
Let me share the story of how llciyo.com came to be—and why I believe every entrepreneur deserves honest, unbiased guidance on business formation without the sales pressure that dominates this industry.
The Problem That Started It All
The $45,000 Mistake That Changed Everything
In 2015, I was consulting with a Denver tech startup that had raised $250,000 in seed funding. Brilliant founders, innovative product, strong market traction—everything you’d want in a client. But they’d made a critical error in their initial business structure that was about to cost them dearly.
They’d formed as a general partnership because it was “simpler and cheaper” than an LLC. When their first major client was injured using their product, the resulting lawsuit threatened not just their business assets, but the founders’ personal homes, savings, and futures. The legal fees alone hit $45,000 before they could restructure as an LLC and settle the case.
The kicker? The entire crisis could have been prevented with a $100 LLC filing fee and 30 minutes of proper guidance.
That’s when I realized the business formation industry had a fundamental problem: too much sales pressure, not enough education.
The Formation Service Problem
Most business formation services have one goal: get you to pay for their service regardless of whether it’s the right choice for your situation. They profit from complexity and confusion, not from helping you make the best decisions.
I’ve watched formation companies:
- Steer Delaware residents toward Delaware LLCs they don’t need
- Upsell expensive registered agent services to entrepreneurs who could serve themselves
- Recommend complicated structures for simple businesses
- Hide critical information about DIY options that would save clients money
The result: Entrepreneurs either overpay for services they don’t need or underpay for protection they desperately require.
My Background: Why I Do This Work
Professional Foundation
Education: MBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin, plus Certified Tax Consultant (CTC) credentials
Early Career: I started as a compliance consultant working with small businesses, helping them navigate regulatory requirements and avoid costly mistakes. Over five years, I worked with over 300 companies and saw firsthand how business structure decisions affected everything from daily operations to exit strategies.
Specialization Development: As I worked with more entrepreneurs, I realized that most business problems traced back to poor foundational decisions made during formation. Tax issues, liability exposure, funding challenges—many could have been prevented with better initial structure choices.
The International Perspective
Global Experience: About 30% of my clients are non-U.S. residents looking to establish U.S. business presence. Working with international entrepreneurs taught me to question assumptions and explain concepts that domestic entrepreneurs often take for granted.
Cross-Border Complexity: International clients face additional layers of complexity—ITIN applications, banking challenges, visa implications, treaty considerations. This experience taught me to think systematically about business formation rather than just following standard templates.
Cultural Insights: Different business cultures have different risk tolerances and operational styles. This diversity helped me develop flexible approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
The llciyo.com Philosophy
Independent and Unbiased
No Affiliate Pressure: Unlike most business formation sites, I don’t make money from steering you toward expensive formation services. My recommendations are based on what’s best for your situation, not what generates the highest commissions.
DIY When Appropriate: If you can handle your business formation yourself, I’ll tell you exactly how to do it. If you need professional help, I’ll explain why and recommend the best options.
Honest Cost Analysis: I provide real cost comparisons including hidden fees, ongoing expenses, and long-term implications that other sites conveniently ignore.
Evidence-Based Recommendations
Client Data: With over 1,000 formation experiences across all 50 states, I can share real patterns about what works and what doesn’t in different situations.
Outcome Tracking: I follow up with clients to understand how their structure decisions worked out long-term. This feedback loop helps me refine recommendations based on real results, not theoretical benefits.
Industry Analysis: I regularly review formation service quality, pricing changes, and regulatory updates to ensure recommendations stay current and accurate.
Practical Implementation Focus
Step-by-Step Guidance: Every guide includes specific, actionable steps rather than vague conceptual advice.
State-Specific Details: Formation requirements vary significantly by state. I provide detailed, state-specific guidance rather than generic national advice.
Timeline Management: I help entrepreneurs understand realistic timelines for formation, compliance, and operational setup.
What Makes llciyo.com Different
Real-World Experience Over Academic Theory
Client Stories: My recommendations are based on actual client experiences—both successes and failures—rather than textbook theories about business structures.
Practical Problems: I’ve seen what actually goes wrong in real businesses: partnership disputes, liability exposure, tax complications, funding challenges, compliance failures.
Solution-Oriented: Every piece of content addresses specific problems entrepreneurs actually face, not theoretical scenarios that rarely occur.
Honest About Limitations
When I Don’t Know: If a situation requires specialized expertise I don’t have, I’ll tell you exactly what type of professional you need and how to find them.
Regional Expertise: While I’ve worked in all 50 states, I have deeper experience in certain regions. I’m honest about where my knowledge is strongest.
Industry Specialization: Some industries have unique formation requirements I’m not equipped to handle. I’ll refer you to appropriate specialists rather than give incomplete guidance.
No Upselling, Ever
Direct Answers: If you ask a question, I give you a straight answer without trying to sell you additional services.
Cost-Effective Solutions: I’ll always recommend the most cost-effective approach that meets your needs, even if it means you don’t need professional help.
Transparent Recommendations: When I recommend formation services, I explain exactly why and what alternatives you have.
Common Myths I Fight Against
“Delaware Is Always Better”
The Reality: Delaware makes sense for maybe 5% of the businesses I work with. For most entrepreneurs, forming in their home state is simpler, cheaper, and more practical.
When Delaware Works: High-growth companies planning to raise venture capital, businesses with complex ownership structures, or companies planning eventual public offerings.
When It Doesn’t: Single-member LLCs, local service businesses, retail operations, most consulting and professional service firms.
“Expensive Formation Services Are Better”
The Truth: Some of the best formation work I’ve seen comes from entrepreneurs who filed themselves or used affordable services like Northwest. Some of the worst comes from clients who paid premium prices for cookie-cutter service.
What Matters: Accuracy, appropriate structure choice, and ongoing compliance—not how much you paid.
“Business Structure Doesn’t Matter for Small Businesses”
The Danger: I’ve seen too many “small” businesses face large liability exposures. Structure matters from day one because you never know when you’ll need the protection.
The Protection: Even one-person consulting businesses benefit from LLC liability protection and professional credibility.
My Approach to Different Business Types
Technology and Professional Services
Common Needs: Intellectual property protection, professional liability management, potential for rapid growth and investment.
Typical Recommendations: LLC for most, corporation for venture-backed companies, careful consideration of tax elections as business grows.
Red Flags: Partnerships (too much liability exposure), sole proprietorships (no protection), complex structures for simple businesses.
Retail and E-commerce
Common Needs: Product liability protection, inventory management, seasonal cash flow variations, potential for multiple locations.
Typical Recommendations: LLC for liability protection, careful state selection for multi-state operations, business interruption insurance planning.
Red Flags: Inadequate liability protection, poor state selection for online businesses, ignoring nexus implications.
International Entrepreneurs
Common Needs: U.S. business presence, banking access, visa support, tax treaty utilization, eventual immigration planning.
Typical Recommendations: LLC for simplicity, careful state selection for tax and operational benefits, professional tax guidance from day one.
Red Flags: Ignoring ITIN requirements, poor banking planning, inadequate tax structure for international income.
The Questions I Ask Every Client
Business Foundation Questions
Revenue Model: How exactly will your business make money? This affects structure choice, tax planning, and operational requirements.
Growth Plans: Are you building for lifestyle income or aggressive growth? The answer dramatically affects optimal structure choice.
Risk Profile: What liability exposures does your business face? This determines how much protection you need and what type.
Geographic Scope: Where will you operate? This affects state selection, nexus requirements, and compliance complexity.
Personal Situation Analysis
Current Assets: What personal assets need protection? This affects the urgency of formal structure creation.
Tax Situation: What’s your current tax situation and how might business income affect it? This influences tax election decisions.
Time Availability: How much time can you dedicate to compliance and administration? This affects structure complexity recommendations.
Risk Tolerance: How comfortable are you with various types of business risk? This influences structure and insurance recommendations.
Results That Matter
Client Success Stories
The Austin Consultant: Helped her choose between sole proprietorship and LLC based on liability exposure. She chose LLC, and when a client sued over project delays, her personal assets were protected. The lawsuit was dismissed, but without LLC protection, her home could have been at risk.
The Portland Food Truck: Guided them through Oregon LLC formation with appropriate insurance planning. When they faced a food poisoning claim, their structure and insurance handled it without personal exposure.
The International Software Developer: Helped a UK resident establish Delaware LLC for U.S. market entry. Two years later, they successfully raised $2M in U.S. venture funding with a structure that supported investment.
Metrics That Validate the Approach
Follow-Up Success: Over 95% of clients report satisfaction with their structure choice two years post-formation.
Cost Effectiveness: Clients typically save 40-70% on formation costs compared to premium formation services while getting better outcomes.
Compliance Success: Less than 2% of clients face compliance issues in their first three years, compared to industry averages of 15-20%.
Looking Forward: Why This Work Matters
The Entrepreneurship Imperative
Economic Impact: Small businesses drive job creation and innovation. Helping entrepreneurs succeed with proper business structures supports broader economic growth.
Wealth Building: Business ownership is one of the most reliable paths to wealth building. Proper structure formation protects and enhances that wealth creation.
Innovation Support: By reducing administrative and legal barriers, good business formation lets entrepreneurs focus on what they do best: building value for customers.
The Education Mission
Democratizing Knowledge: Business formation knowledge shouldn’t be limited to entrepreneurs who can afford expensive attorneys. Every business owner deserves access to quality guidance.
Prevention Over Cure: It’s much cheaper and easier to form businesses correctly from the start than to fix structural problems later.
Confidence Building: Entrepreneurs who understand their business structure make better operational decisions and take appropriate risks for growth.
What’s Next for llciyo.com
Expanding Resources
Industry-Specific Guides: Developing detailed formation guidance for specific industries with unique requirements.
Interactive Tools: Building calculators and decision trees to help entrepreneurs evaluate structure options systematically.
Video Content: Creating visual explanations of complex formation concepts for different learning styles.
Enhanced Services
Follow-Up Support: Developing resources to help entrepreneurs manage ongoing compliance and structure optimization as businesses grow.
Partner Network: Building relationships with specialized professionals (attorneys, CPAs, insurance agents) who share our values of honest, client-focused service.
International Expansion: Enhancing resources for international entrepreneurs and U.S. businesses expanding globally.
My Commitment to You
Always Independent
No Affiliate Conflicts: I will never recommend formation services based on commission potential rather than client benefit.
Honest Limitations: I’ll always tell you when you need expertise I don’t have and help you find appropriate professionals.
Cost Transparency: I’ll provide complete cost analysis including hidden fees and long-term expenses.
Always Educational
Understanding Over Sales: My goal is helping you understand your options and make informed decisions, not convincing you to buy anything.
Long-Term Thinking: I’ll help you consider how structure decisions affect your business over time, not just at formation.
Practical Guidance: Every recommendation includes specific implementation steps and realistic timelines.
Always Accessible
Plain English: I translate legal and tax concepts into language entrepreneurs can understand and act on.
Responsive Support: I answer questions directly and provide additional resources when needed.
Continuous Improvement: I regularly update content based on regulatory changes, client feedback, and industry developments.
Ready to Get Started?
For New Entrepreneurs: Start with my business structure selection guide to understand your options and their implications.
For Existing Businesses: Review my guides on structure optimization and compliance management to ensure you’re on the right track.
For International Entrepreneurs: Check out my U.S. business formation resources designed specifically for non-resident founders.
Questions About Your Situation? I’ve guided over 1,000 entrepreneurs through business formation across all 50 states. Every situation is unique, but the fundamentals remain consistent: proper structure, appropriate protection, and ongoing compliance.
The Bottom Line: Business formation is too important to leave to chance or sales pressure. You deserve honest, experienced guidance that puts your long-term success ahead of short-term profits.
Jake Lawson is an LLC Formation Strategist with 15+ years of experience helping entrepreneurs navigate business formation across all 50 states. He’s guided over 1,000 businesses through successful formation and provides unbiased guidance on formation services, state selection, and compliance strategies through llciyo.com.