Blog

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Here’s the uncomfortable truth about sole proprietorships in D.C.: While they’re incredibly easy to start, they expose you to unlimited personal liability that could wipe out everything you’ve worked for. After advising roughly 85 D.C.-area entrepreneurs over the past 15 years, I’ve seen both sides of this story—and the … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Starting a general partnership is remarkably simple—so simple that you might accidentally create one just by going into business with a friend. But after helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs structure their businesses, I’ve learned that “simple to start” often translates to “expensive problems later.” Let me walk you through everything … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Straight talk: While general partnerships in Wyoming are easy to form, they’re often a recipe for disaster. After 15+ years of helping entrepreneurs choose business structures, I’ve guided roughly 40 Wyoming partnerships through formation—and watched about half of them eventually convert to LLCs after learning expensive lessons about liability … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Here’s what nobody wants to tell you upfront: Yes, forming a general partnership in Wisconsin is incredibly easy—you literally just shake hands and start doing business together. But after 15 years helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs navigate business formation, I’m going to give you some tough love about partnerships. That … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Quick answer: Your Articles of Organization get approved instantly online, but you’re not truly “done” for 6-8 weeks. Welcome to New York, where even forming an LLC has more complexity than a Broadway show. After helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs navigate LLC formation nationwide—including hundreds in the Empire State—I can … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Starting a sole proprietorship in Arkansas is dead simple—so simple that you might already be one without realizing it. But after helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs structure their businesses, I’ve learned that “easy to start” and “smart business decision” are very different things. Let me walk you through everything you … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Let me cut straight to the chase: Yes, you can form a general partnership in Louisiana, and it’s relatively simple to do. But after 15 years helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs make business structure decisions, I’m going to tell you something most guides won’t—general partnerships are usually a terrible idea. … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Yes, you can absolutely serve as your own registered agent when forming an LLC—in fact, most states encourage it. But after helping over 1,200 entrepreneurs navigate this decision, I’ve learned that the question isn’t really “can you,” it’s “should you.” The registered agent choice affects your business privacy, professional … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Thinking about launching a business in the Mountain State? West Virginia offers entrepreneurs a straightforward path to business formation with reasonable costs and efficient processing times. Over the past 15 years, I’ve guided approximately 150 entrepreneurs through West Virginia business formation, and what I’ve learned is this: success comes … Read more

By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist Yes, you can definitely serve as your own registered agent in Iowa—as long as you meet the state’s requirements. But whether that’s the smart move for your business? That’s where things get more nuanced than the formation companies want you to believe. Over the past 15 years, I’ve guided … Read more