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LLC pass-through taxation means your LLC doesn't pay federal income tax itself — the profits pass straight through to your personal tax return, and you pay the tax there.As a corporate attorney who has advised over 40 LLC owners on pass-through structures in the past 5 years, I'll walk you through exactly how it works, who benefits most, and where owners most often get it wrong. Read more >

An LLC member is a vital component of a Limited Liability Company, holding ownership and decision-making power within the business structure.Over the past 9 years consulting on business formation, I've structured and managed LLCs for more than 200 clients — helping them with membership agreements, ownership transfers, and liability questions.In that time, I've identified the 4 membership... Read more >

Divorce is messy enough on its own. When an LLC is involved, the financial fallout gets a lot more complicated — and a lot more expensive if you're not prepared. Your LLC can get caught up in divorce proceedings through property division, taxation of business income, and alimony calculations. Each one can hit hard depending on how your business is structured and when it was formed. If you and... Read more >

A Delaware Series LLC is a single LLC that holds multiple independent series — each with its own assets, liabilities, and members.To form one, you file a single Certificate of Formation with the Delaware Secretary of State, pay a $90 filing fee, and set up a separate operating agreement and bank account for each series.I've helped over 25 clients structure their businesses this way over the... Read more >

The official title of limited liability company owners can be altered to reflect the specific role that characterizes the position. Our legal research panel at Venture Smarter has hands-on experience guiding LLC owners through the formation process and helping them structure their roles and titles to match their business needs. In this article, we aim to provide you with a thorough understanding... Read more >

You dissolve an LLC in South Carolina by filing the Articles of Termination form, and the filing fee is just $10. This guide walks through voluntary dissolution for a domestic South Carolina LLC you formed inside the state. Members agree to close the business, wind down its affairs and file the paperwork that ends its legal existence.A foreign LLC works differently. One registered to do... Read more >

At some point, a member of a limited liability company partnership may opt to get out of the entity for personal reasons. There are corresponding steps to be taken by the withdrawing member for the process to be legal and fair to all concerned.Our team at Venture Smarter has spent over a decade guiding LLC members through withdrawal processes, from drafting exit agreements to navigating state... Read more >

To start an LLC in West Virginia, you file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The form is called Form LLD-1, and the fee is $100.Step 2 holds West Virginia's biggest quirk: a registered agent is optional, not required. Every LLC still owes a $25 annual report by July 1.This guide walks you through forming a new LLC in West Virginia, from picking a name to what happens after... Read more >

An LLC business name is your company's official registered title with the state, while a trademark protects your brand identity nationwide through the USPTO​.Last year alone, I've guided 70+ entrepreneurs through LLC formations and trademark registrations, clarifying these differences to avoid costly overlaps.This guide breaks down the distinctions, registration steps, and protections to... Read more >

Dissolving an Iowa LLC takes two separate filings with the Secretary of State. You start with a $5 Statement of Dissolution, which posts instantly online through Fast Track Filing with no state review.Once you've paid debts and split what's left, you file a second $5 Statement of Termination to close it for good. That filing doesn't carry a tax-clearance certificate requirement, either.This... Read more >

New York charges $200 to file the Articles of Organization. That one filing creates the LLC. A separate $50 fee covers the Certificate of Publication.The publication rule is the part that catches people off guard. State law makes every new LLC print a notice in two newspapers for six weeks straight, and each paper sets its own price. Budget $400 to $800 total in many upstate counties. Budget... Read more >

If you're a business owner, you may want to change the ownership percentage of your LLC at some point, whether adding new members or adjusting current ownership stakes. Luckily, this process is relatively easy. Our team of attorneys and legal advisors at Venture Smarter have personally guided business owners through LLC ownership changes and have hands-on experience with the operating agreement... Read more >