Forming a separate legal entity is a smart move when it comes to developing credibility,
lowering your audit risk and protect your personal assets. Most people do not complete the
transition and are still operating part of their business as a sole proprietorship and part as a new entity.
This creates a lot of problems as you can imagine including exposure to your personal assets when
you probably thought you were protected.
Below is a checklist that will help you double check to see if you are on the right track with your
business entity.
___1. Form a separate legal entity. The most common choices are either a corporation or LLC. A corporation
may be taxed as a regular corporation or an S corporation. An LLC can be taxed as a disregarded entity, an
S or C corporation or a limited partnership. All choices have advantages and disadvantages. An LLC has
an extra layer of protection called the ?charging order? that protects the ownership interest if a partner is
sued personally for something unrelated to the operating company.
___2. Obtain a NEW EIN number (each separate legal entity requires a new EIN number).
___3. Obtain a corporate or LLC record book with the proper bylaws or operating agreement. If an LLC, the
operating agreement should match the number of members (owners) and the taxation type. For example,
a two-member LLC taxed as an S corporation has a different operating agreement than a single-member
LLC taxed as an S corporation.
___4. Obtain support with the completion of the corporation or LLC record book with both online support
and live offi ce support. When you work with NCP, our staff will schedule a 30-minute record book review
with you and you will have full access to our NCPmembers.com members area.
___5. Open a new bank account in the name of the corporation or LLC (even if you have one with a similar
business name as a DBA, you will need a new one under the corporation or LLC and the EIN number.
If you have a DBA name now linked to the corporation or LLC (that is key), you may have the new
corporation or LLC name and DBA name on the new checking account.
___6. Capitalize the new corporation or LLC. This means you will put money in the new bank account in
exchange of ownership interest in the corporation or LLC. This may be $1,000.00 or more of capitalization
to get the company started. A husband and wife with a two-member corporation or LLC should each
capitalize the corporation or LLC separately.
___7. Obtain a business debit and credit card. The business debit card will be automatic. The business credit
card you will need to apply for. Ask the banker where they pull your personal credit (which bureau) and
what the minimum your personal credit score has to be. Also ask what your revolving debt level has to be
and if you have any major derogatories, if those will be an issue before you apply.
___8. Move your merchant account to the name of the corporation or corporation or LLC (if you accept
credit cards in your business). Most in network marketing are processing their orders on credit cards to
the main company for processing. If you do accept credit cards directly, make sure you complete a new
merchant application in the name of the corporation or LLC and point that revenue to the new bank account
under the EIN number of the corporation or LLC.
___9. Transfer any business assets to the corporation or LLC. This may involve any equipment or tools
of your business. Check with your CPA fi rst to determine if any assets have been depreciated or written
off that may create a taxable event moving to the entity. It may make sense in some cases to leave the
business assets in your name. This is a case by case basis that will require more professional help.
___10. Obtain a new business license in the name of the corporation or LLC. You should check on local
requirements to determine if you are required to have a business license for a home-based business. You
may live in an area that does not allow home-based businesses, which may force you to hang a business
license as an offi ce location (if required).
___11. Establish a 5-year business plan (avoid being classifi ed as a hobby).
___12. Set up the chart of accounts for the new entity with some type of accounting software.
___13. Use a payroll service when it comes time to start payroll. NCP recommends ADP for payroll nationally
and we have a resource for you. You may also want to check with your accountant and attorney for any
legal and tax implications from hiring employees.
___14. After everything is up and running with the new LLC/Corp, close out the bank account to your sole
proprietorship and dissolve the DBA name linked to you personally. A common mistake is to continue
operating the sole proprietorship at the same time you are operating the new corporation or LLC.
___15. Update any contracts, agreements, insurance, and licenses in your name personally as to which ones
need to be transferred over or redone in the name of the corporation or LLC.
___16. Update your status with your networking company that future commissions be paid to the
corporation or LLC under the EIN number, not to you personally any more.
___17. Update all your sources of income with the new Tax ID number of the new entity. Your goal is
to avoid receiving unnecessary 1099?s (meaning you want the money, just not to yourself individually
anymore) for affi liate or referral fees by the end of next year. Make sure all your affi liates are updated
with the new entity information.
___18. Update any insurance to now be in the name of the corporation or LLC. Make sure this does not
change your policy or premiums (and coverage).
___19. Get new business cards. Don?t be cheap even if the only difference in the name of your company is
?LLC? or ?Corporation.?
___20. Check with your attorney or CPA for any steps missed at the state level, involving sales tax, or any
other state compliance issues.
___21. A Nevada corporation or LLC and you live in another state. The corporation or LLC should
foreign register to do business in the state where you live and operate your business. If you formed a
corporation or LLC in your home state, this step is not necessary.
Need more support? Looking to transition from a sole proprietorship and form an entity to help protect your personal assets?
Call my company, Nevada Corporate Planners, Inc.? today at 1-888-627-7007 for a free consultation to help
determine what may be best for your situation. Don?t just click online and pick and entity and hope it was the best choice for you.
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