FORMING AN LLC THROUGH BLG
Introduction
At Buchanan Law Group, we offer a Basic Formation Package that provides new business owners with all of the documents and guidance they need to quickly get up and running as a California LLC. Designed to be as turnkey as possible, this service typically costs between $1,500 and $2,000. However, because we bill this process at our standard hourly rate, costs can be significantly higher in cases involving complex tax or financial issues, extensive negotiation, or non-attendance by one or more members at the formation meeting. In certain situations, overall costs may be lower than the estimated cost. In addition to our hourly charges, the above estimate includes the following hard costs (a total of approximately $305):
- California Secretary of State filing fee for The Articles of Organization and Statement of Information
- Fees associated with hand-delivery of all necessary documents to the California Secretary of State
- Department of Corporations filing fee
- One-time client setup fee with BLG
- LLC Minute Book to house all official company documents
Articles of Organization
In this phase, we prepare The Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) for the new entity and submit them to the California Secretary of State’s office. Upon receipt of the documents, we prepare and submit the IRS Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) for the new entity.
Formation Meeting
The next step is the Formation Meeting. This is the first meeting of the members of the LLC. It is at this initial meeting that contributions to the LLC are approved, certificates are issued to members, managers and officers are elected (if applicable), an operating agreement is adopted, and other housekeeping matters are handled. To keep costs down for our clients, we typically conduct this meeting at our offices, but by special arrangement we can also meet at their place of business or by telephone conference. It is important to note that costs can rise dramatically if all members are not present at this meeting, primarily because coordinating all of the necessary signatures becomes much more difficult and time-consuming.
Before the meeting, BLG will prepare the following documents for client review and comments:
- Transfer documentation (Bill of Sale, Assignments)
- Waiver of Notice of First Meeting of Members
- Minutes of First Meeting of Members
- Basic Operating Agreement
- LLC Certificates of Unit Ownership (including appropriate legends) for members
After the Formation Meeting
Next, we will prepare duplicate copies of the formation documents and send them to each of the members. If appropriate, we will prepare and submit a Form §25102(f) Statement on behalf of our clients and submit it to the Department of Corporations, with confirmation going directly to the clients. This statement enables LLCs with fewer than 35 members to issue stock.
Finally, we will prepare and send the LLC Operations Memorandum to the client, which contains advice and guidance on the LLC’s ongoing operations. We also prepare and submit the Statement of Information to the California Secretary of State’s office along with the appropriate filing fee.
Additional Information
Understanding the Taxation of LLC's
Different tax laws apply to different types of LLCs. For example, for purposes of federal income taxation, single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietors. In these cases, all income and deductions are declared on the individual’s IRS Schedule C form. However, when an LLC involves two or more members, federal and state tax laws can classify it as either a partnership or a corporation—and the default provision is taxation as a partnership. BLG can address any tax issues that the client has and ensure that the LLC is taxed appropriately.
The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Buchanan Law Group (BLG) expressly disclaims all liability for anything the reader chooses to do or to omit doing in reliance upon the contents of this document. Posting and receipt of this information is not intended to create, nor does it create or constitute, an attorney-client relationship between BLG and the reader. No client or other reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any matter contained on this website without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice based upon the particular facts and circumstances at issue