Running several businesses, best options?

[mikej09]

I will be running 3 different websites, I was going to start an LLC.

So do I need to register the llc as my business and then just each business/website would be a part of that llc, and would each one just be a dba? and if so, could I protect that dba like a regular business name with a trademark?

Or do I just register 3 different sole props, just trying to figure out what I need to do.

If my business names are AAA , BBB, and CCC, do I just form any business name for my llc and then just put those under that? ABC LLC> aaa,bbb,ccc?

Thanks

[DerekS]

What will the websites be doing/selling? Are they related to each other in any way?

[mikej09]

I will link them of course for web traffic, but no they aren't really related.

I just heard a couple things, for example..

I read that you can have company A and company B, you hire your company b to do work for company A, deeper into this will reveal tax write-offs, low profit, etc. this isn't really my goal or even idea, just curious about it.

Basically I am going to be running 2 more websites then my one right now, My main goal is to protect its name how ever i need to, figured best way is to register as a business, and the low amount of income from affiliate programs and advertising on my 2cd site, i would rather do that income under a separate entity.

[affinity1]

bump for a great question

interested in the answer

[Encrypted]

If my business names are AAA , BBB, and CCC, do I just form any business name for my llc and then just put those under that? ABC LLC> aaa,bbb,ccc?

Thanks

I'm no expert, but I would make a single company name and then put your individual websites under it. For example, I'm starting up Vivid Growth and I'm going to be placing CodeEgg.com along with my other websites under that.

[mikej09]

I'm no expert, but I would make a single company name and then put your individual websites under it. For example, I'm starting up Vivid Growth and I'm going to be placing CodeEgg.com along with my other websites under that.

for business name protection, taxes, etc. i would disagree, just trying to decide which way to structure.

[Encrypted]

for business name protection, taxes, etc. i would disagree, just trying to decide which way to structure.

Why did you ask a question and then disagree with me response? lol In addition to that, isn't that what just about everyone else does? Yahoo owns Flickr and they are doing the same thing. The bottom of Flickr.com says Yahoo Inc. not Flickr. Justify your answer?

[mikej09]

I'm no expert, but

your right, i do agree with your response!

as far as yahoo and flickr, you are comparing start-up sole props/llc to multi billion dollar world wide corporation.

and thanks for your response, llc is a corp, a form of it.

under yahoo's corp, flickr, etc are business's of that corp.

[DPayne]

The LLC is simply an entity used for liability protection. You don't have to form any corporation (S-Corp, C-Corp, etc) or LLC to "go into business" but by default you will be treated as a sole proprietor if you do nothing.

As a sole proprietor the business is considered an extension of you and from a tax standpoint, profits are treated as income on your personal filing. From a legal liability standpoint, if someone sues your business, your personal assets are at risk as well.

As an LLC the taxes are the same as the sole proprieter unless you choose for them to be taxed at both levels (sometimes there is an advantage to that, but most of the time, you want them to passthrough to your personal income filing). The LLC will be viewed as a seperate entity from you personally should you be sued (assuming you kept business and personal seperate) and you have a sort of a veil over your personal assets should your company be sued (or vice versa).

So basically the purpose of an LLC is to allow the business owner a level of protection against lawsuits relating to the business, while at the same time providing pass through tax treatment that a C-corp does not provide.

If I was in your position, I would just file one LLC at the moment and see how these businesses do. Unless you have any assets to protect, I wouldnt worry too much about having them in seperate LLC's. If they all start producing big money for you (and hence big personal assets), i would then pay to set them up in 3 seperate entities. Don't fret so much over the structure just yet, but focus more on producing revenue at the moment.

Again, I'm no lawyer, just speaking from my very limited knowledge on the topic. Hope that helps!