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Kickstart your business in minutes

LLC

The simplest way of structuring your business to protect personal assets.

Start my LLC

From + state filing fees


Corporation

Plan to issue shares, go public, or go global? Go there as a corporation.

Start my corporation

From + state filing fees


Nonprofit

Create an organization to give back and be eligible for tax breaks.

Start my nonprofit

From $99 + state filing fees


Doing business as

Go by a different business name without creating a new company.

Start my DBA

From $99 + state filing fees


Find out what business type is right for you.
Start for free

Set up your business for success

Discover special offers from our trusted partners to help you make it happen.

It's simple to get started

  1. Choose your business type
  2. Answer a few questions
  3. We'll complete and file your paperwork

Business types at a glance

How it protects you

Limited liability protection
This ensures you or other partners aren't personally on the hook for company debts and liabilities.

How it's managed and maintained

Flexible management structure
Corporations require a board of directors, annual meetings, record keeping, and more. LLCs and sole proprietorships have rules too—but they're less strict.
State compliance requirements
After you form, there are annual requirements to keep your business in good standing.

How it's taxed

Taxed
LLCs and corporations have multiple tax options.
Tax exempt
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are exempt from federal income taxes.

How it can grow

Flexibility to raise capital
Get access to funds from banks, venture capital firms, and foundations.
Able to IPO
Only corporations can sell shares on the stock market.
C corp only

Frequently asked questions

  1. Both protect owners so they're not personally on the hook for business liabilities or debts. But, key differences include how they're owned (LLCs have one or more individual owners and corporations have shareholders) and maintained (corporations generally have more formal record-keeping and reporting requirements). Even though LLCs are considered easier to start and maintain, investors tend to prefer corporations.

  2. The way you're taxed.


    C corporation income is taxed twice—the business pays taxes on its net income, and then the shareholders also pay taxes on the profits they receive. With S corporation income, only the shareholders pay taxes on profits received.

  3. Personal liability protection. An LLC protects owners from being personally on the hook for business liabilities or debts. A sole proprietorship doesn't.

  4. LLCs, S corporations, and sole proprietorships are taxed once on profits received. C corporations are taxed twice; the business pays taxes at the corporate level, and shareholders pay taxes on income received. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are exempt from federal income taxes.

  5. LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits. You don't get personal liability protection with sole proprietorships or DBAs.

Meet our customers

McCall's Meat and Fish Co.

McCall's Meat and Fish Co.

"We've used [LegalZoom] for quite a few things over the years, and overall it's gone very smoothly. They've been easy to work with and very affordable."

Karen Yoo, LLC customer

Kylie's Consulting Services

Kylie's Consulting Services

"The process was so simple, and [LegalZoom] walked me through every step of the way. In just a few weeks, Kylie's Consulting Services was official. And the best part? My DBA gives me the credibility to run my business well, and the flexibility to grow later on down the line. So, if Kylie's Consulting Services outgrows that name, LegalZoom will have a resource for me to tackle that easily and painlessly."

Kylie Hodges, DBA customer

Birdie

Birdie

"[My sister and I] are both entrepreneurs who have started many companies. For our first venture together, we chose LegalZoom. It's an easy, time-saving solution for the legal paperwork required of a start-up. LegalZoom freed us up to focus on our new business!"

Ali Peters, LLC customer

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