I've started taking on enough side work and want to launch a couple side projects, so it's come time to form an LLC.<p>What's the best way to do so? Any guides or advice one could offer? Just don't want to miss any essential steps and have it kick me in the ass later.
I've started two LLCs in Virginia. It's very straightforward, although maybe I've just been lucky. Both were fairly low-risk ventures. I'm pretty sure I just went to the VA Small Business Administration page, downloaded the application PDFs, and mailed them in with a $100 check. I think that was the extent of it. No lawyers.<p>You'll have to jump through some more hoops to get your EIN from the IRS (which you'll need to open up a company bank account), but, again, it's not too bad. From what I gather, Virginia's one of the easier states, especially if it's just you as the owner.
I've started a consulting shop here in VA, and initially did it through one of the cheaper online one-stop-legal-shops (I think I used LegalZoom) -- and initially formed as an LLC. We later, after getting our feet under us and actually consulting a lawyer (I can recommend a good law firm with strong tech background in NoVA, if that's where you are) we ended up re-organizing as an S-corp (not an LLC) for several reasons.<p>Long story short: I'd spend a couple hundred bucks to get a lawyer's input on your own situation and make sure you're getting set up right out of the gates.