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One LLC can operate multiple business lines, subject to its governing documents and the rules for each activity and location. A new brand or DBA does not create a separate entity or isolate that activity’s debts from the LLC’s other assets.Choose between one LLC with brands, a recognized series structure, or separately formed subsidiaries by comparing ownership, risk, financing, and... Read more >

Illinois charges LLCs $75 to file their annual report. It's due before the first day of your LLC's anniversary month. That's when you first organized in the state. Miss that date and the fees start stacking fast. The Illinois Secretary of State's Department of Business Services runs this filing. Filing confirms the state has your current registered agent and business address on file. Read more >

An LLC capital contribution is money or property a member transfers to the company as equity. The operating agreement can set required contributions at formation or explain when members may be asked to contribute more.A contribution is different from a loan, reimbursement, or payment for services. Identify the transaction before money or property changes hands because each has different approval,... Read more >

To start an LLC for a towing company, form the business under state law and separately secure the approvals needed for your towing operations. The LLC filing alone does not authorize your trucks, drivers, storage yard, or services.Define your service area and equipment before spending on trucks or premises. Towing, roadside assistance, vehicle transport, and nonconsensual storage can have... Read more >

LLCs are usually governed by an operating agreement rather than corporate bylaws. The agreement is a private contract that sets the company’s financial and functional rules, while the Articles of Organization create the entity under state law.A strong agreement cannot override mandatory state rules, and a template written for one state or ownership structure may not fit another. This guide... Read more >

How an LLC owner takes money out depends on the LLC’s federal tax classification, its operating agreement, the approval required for the payment, and the company’s cash needs. A single-member LLC, a multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership, and an LLC taxed as an S corporation can use different labels and reporting rules.Before moving cash, identify whether the payment is an owner draw or... Read more >

You may be able to form an LLC without an SSN, but state formation, the company’s EIN, and your personal tax identification are separate matters. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ITIN guidance explains that an ITIN is available for a federal tax purpose when you are not eligible for an SSN, rather than simply because you want an LLC. Read more >

To start an LLC in Massachusetts, you file a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division. Mail or in-person filings cost $500. Online or fax filings cost $520. Massachusetts LLCs also owe a $500 annual report every year. It's due on the anniversary of your original filing with the state. This covers forming a new domestic LLC in Massachusetts. If... Read more >

You can reserve an available business name before forming a Nevada LLC, but the reservation is optional. Nevada holds a reserved name for 90 days and charges $25; the reservation does not create the company [1]. Reserve a name when you need time before filing. If you are ready to form the LLC, file its Articles of Organization instead. Read more >

An LLC annual report is a state-required filing that updates your company's contact details, registered agent, and ownership information, and missing the deadline can trigger fines or even dissolution. As a corporate attorney who has guided over 50 LLCs through annual compliance filings across multiple states, I know exactly where owners run into trouble. This guide covers what the report... Read more >

A Nevada series LLC lets you run multiple businesses or investment properties under one parent LLC — each with its own liability protection, assets, and tax treatment. After helping structure over 40 series LLCs across Nevada in the past 6 years, I've seen firsthand which steps trip up new owners and which advantages make this structure worth the added complexity. This guide covers formation... Read more >

To look up an LLC in Maryland, search the Maryland Business Express Entity Search. SDAT, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, runs that tool. It's free, and you don't need an account to use it. SDAT, rather than the Secretary of State, handles Maryland's business filings. The Secretary of State's office runs a separate registry instead. It covers state trademarks, which this guide... Read more >