Choose the Optimal Business Structure

Corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship…what's the difference, and which one is best for you? Experienced corporate attorney Michael Spadaccini answers those questions and provides all the tools you need to select, plan, organize, form, operate and maintain a business. Real-world scenarios help you analyze your business and evaluate the pros and cons of each business type. A complete reference section compares and contrasts the legal requirements, filing fees, taxation requirements and maintenance requirements for all 50 states. Spadaccini goes beyond choosing a structure to offer formation guidelines and maintenance requirements, ensuring your business' success.

Spadaccini covers:

• Seven steps to forming a partnership
• 13 steps to incorporation
• 10 steps to organizing an LLC
• Costs and features of each business type
• State-specific information on staying in compliance with statutes in all 50 states
• Maintaining liability protection

Selecting the appropriate structure can spell the difference between success and failure. Structure your venture for success with this professional guidance.

Sample Documents on CD-ROM!

Partnership Forms

• Sample General Partnership Agreement
• Partner Ledger
• Minutes of Partnership Meeting
• Action by Written Consent of Partners

LLC Forms

• California LLC Articles of Organization
• Operating Agreements for Member-Managed LLC
• Membership Ledger
• Investment Representation Letter
• Call for Meeting of Members
• Resolution Authorizing Manager to Transfer Property
• Notice of Year-End Distribution

Corporation Forms

• Sample Articles of Incorporation
• Sample Corporate Bylaws
• Share Transfer Ledger
• Call for Special Meeting of Shareholders
• Minutes of Annual or Special Meeting of Shareholders
• Action by Written Consent of Shareholders
• Call for Special Meeting of Directors
• Sample Plan of Merger
• Sample Certificate of Dissolution
• Sample Stock Subscription Agreement

For 30 years, Entrepreneur has provided the most trusted business advice available to business owners. Our legal guides continue that tradition by offering current and cost-effective legal advice so you can resolve the business and legal issues you face on a daily basis. We also help you identify when it's in your best interest to seek the personalized advice and services of a practicing lawyer.

This book exists so LLC owners and their advisors can finally get answers. It is, we believe, the only detailed exploration of equity compensation in LLCs available. The book starts with a general description of LLCs and an overview of the ways to share equity. Chapter 2 explores alternative approaches to designing plans. Chapter 3 provides more detail on the specific ways to share equity in an LLC, with a particular focus on tax issues. Chapter 4 describes the accounting issues. Chapter 5 describes equity sharing methods available in S or C corporations so readers can judge whether the broader range of choices for such corporations justifies switching from LLC status. Finally, the appendix provides a model LLC equity compensation plan, which is included in word-processing format on the book's CD-ROM.