LLC vs S or C corp (other than taxes)

@sagaguy879 Here is a concise and accurate response to the question:

The main differences between an LLC (limited liability company) and a Corporation are:

Ownership: LLCs have "members" who own membership interests, while corporations have "shareholders" who own shares of stock.

Management: LLCs can be managed by members or designated managers, while corporations have a board of directors that oversees management.

Taxation: LLCs can choose to be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S-corporation or C-corporation, while corporations are automatically taxed as C-corporations (unless they elect S-corporation status).

Formalities: Corporations have more formal requirements like shareholder meetings, bylaws, and issuing stock, while LLCs have more flexibility in their operations.

In summary, LLCs offer more flexibility in management and taxation, while corporations have a more standardized structure that may be better suited for businesses seeking outside investment.
 
@hecallsmehisown Agreed with everything above. I'll also add, which is typically overlooked, that corporation is likely a better fit if there will be multiple owners. There's a lot of nuance here but essentially Corps were designed for multiple owners and to last into perpetuity. LLCs were designed for single member ownership (though it's common for LLCs to have multiple owners).

Happy to expand on this if anyone asks.
 
@sagaguy879 LLC and Corporation are both legal entities. S Corp is a tax status that's layered onto a legal entity
  • LLC = usually for small, closely held businesses
  • Corporation = allows for unlimited classes of stock, int'l investors, sets the legal foundation for an IPO
Both give you liability protection, professional representation and are eligible to elect S Corp tax status
 

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