BLOGGER to BLOGGER: Benefits of Forming a LLC

I’ve been keeping this idea under wraps, but today I’m unveiling a new aspect I’ll be incorporating into Living In Color Print’s content: BLOGGER to BLOGGER! This will be a once a month piece of true honesty when it comes to blogging; inspired by questions I myself had when I began LICP, questions I still ask myself today, and inquiries I receive from others. I do not claim to be an expert by any means on every subject of the blogosphere, trust me there are still ideas I bounce off my friends, boyfriend, and mom for guidance! I’m beyond flattered when bloggers ask me for advice, so my hope is that by sharing my experiences {the good and the bad} will help in terms of guidance if you’re a ‘newbie’ or maybe shed light on some new ideas you haven’t thought of!

My first subject happens to be near and dear to my heart, but I’ll get to that in a minute:

Even if you’re a newbie blogger, don’t make a ton money from your site, don’t have advertisers, or are a blog pro – forming a LLC will only benefit you and your {hopefully} growing business.

True story: when I began blogging the notion of forming a LLC around my blog crossed my mind, but then I thought ‘No, I don’t really make enough money to have a LLC’. That was me personally. But then I began working more and more with brands and found a couple of them asking for my EIN for compensation. EIN, what the heck is that and why don’t I have it?! Ok ok, so I knew what it was but I honestly became really embarrassed to say I couldn’t provide one. Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly obtain payment through your name and SS number, I just found it to be far less professional and more complicated to coordinate. Needless to say, I decided to look into the idea of a LLC and came across The Company Corporation via a family friend’s recommendation. My rep talked me through the process {which was super easy} and advised me on the benefits and next steps I would need to take following the formation.

Let’s cut to the chase and talk benefits. Now I’m not an attorney or accountant on the subject, but these are the 4 main reasons I’m sure of when forming a LLC around your business:

1. Additional Credibility: I personally think this is key for bloggers specifically. You present yourself as put together, organized, and professional. If blogging is considered a business for you, treat it as such.
2. Tax Savings: filing as a LLC gives you the potential to receive tax breaks on income made each year through what the government calls ‘flow-through taxation’
3. Protection of Personal Assets: forming a legal entity, such as a LLC, around your blog adds an additional layer of protection and separates your personal assets from your business.
4. Less Risk of an Audit: Individuals who file their taxes as a LLC, compared to an individual/sole proprietor and 10x less likely to be audited: according to the Wall Street Journal.

After forming my LLC through The Company Corporate I was approached to become a representative to assist in educating bloggers on these benefits and get them signed up properly and in a timely fashion. I can do so in all 50 states – If you would like to take that next step for your blog and form a LLC please contact me directly at [email protected]
I can get you squared away and answer any questions you may have!

2017 UPDATE: I am no longer freelancing for TCC, however you can reach out to Incorporate.com directly for assistance 877-885-7913 – they’ll take good care of you! It’s quick + painless. Plus their system sends you email updates when paperwork/filing is due each year, which I find super helpful. Unfortunately the LICP exclusive discount code is no longer available.

If you’re a blogger and would like to submit a comment or question for me to consider talking about for BLOGGER to BLOGGER, shoot me an email at [email protected] or leave a comment below – I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts!

This is NOT a sponsored post: I have not been compensated to write about this subject matter – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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