Guide to Setting up an LLC for Investments

Limited Liability Companies, How They Work, and How to Create One

You can invest without owning a single stock or bond. Owning a limited liability company (LLC) is a popular way to hold ownership stakes in a family business or startup.

There are unique benefits and protections afforded to LLC owners which make it easy to understand why they are so highly favored. As a new investor, it's important for you to understand why you should care about LLCs, their different types, and the tax implications.

This collection of LLC articles is your guide to limited liability companies, beginning with an overview of the term and including reasons and techniques for you to start one yourself.

01 of 06

What Is an LLC?

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A limited liability company combines the benefits of a corporation with the benefits of a limited partnership. LLC owners are called "members," not "partners," but they are treated like partners for tax purposes. As with shareholders of corporations, their liability is limited. The most notable advantages of LLCs include:

  • Pass-through taxation
  • Asset protection
  • Limited compliance rules
  • Less-rigid structures for management

The meeting requirements for LLCs are also far fewer than for corporations, and they're easier to set up, too.

If LLCs have sparked your interest, take some time to learn the pros and cons, as well as other considerations, before deciding to buy equity in one or to form your own.

02 of 06

What to Know About LLC Operating Agreements

Limited liability companies are governed by a contract that the investors sign prior to the company's formation. This contract is known as an "LLC operating agreement," and it provides vital information about the company's policies, priorities, and procedures. Many states require it to be presented with the application for incorporation. Here are just a few of the important provisions you are likely to see in a standard LLC operating agreement:

  • Ownership and members
  • Profit and loss allocations
  • Dividends and distributions
  • Restrictions
  • Dissolution plans

Before investing through an LLC, review the operating agreement so that you can anticipate future scenarios. A good attorney can help.

03 of 06

Why So Many Investors Love Nevada LLCs

Over the past 20 years, the state of Nevada has been working hard to attract businesses and corporations to incorporate within its borders and set up shop. Its pro-business campaign has been a success. Many lawyers and financial advisers now espouse the benefits of using a so-called Nevada LLC to hold family businesses, investments, or other assets—even if these businesses are based elsewhere. The benefits include:

  • Asset privacy
  • Favorable tax laws
  • Shareholder anonymity
04 of 06

The Many Benefits of Delaware LLCs

A Delaware LLC also offers would-be business owners a lot of advantages. In fact, investing through a Delaware LLC is often a top choice for many professionals, and it had been before Nevada changed its laws to compete with them. Here are just a few reasons you may want to consider incorporating your business or holding your investments through a Delaware LLC:

  • Low taxes
  • Asset privacy
  • Low annual filing expenses
  • Easy start-up processes
  • Asset protection from creditors

Your business doesn't need to be based in Delaware to take advantage of the benefits.

05 of 06

How Families Can Invest Together With an LLC

To take advantage of economies of scale, families will often pool their money together to form small businesses, invest in shares of stock, bonds, or mutual funds, develop real estate, or partake in any other business or investment venture. How these family LLCs operate will be defined in their operating agreement.

Walton Enterprises, LLC, is one example of a famous family limited liability company. Through this LLC, members of Sam Walton's family control Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a regional bank named Arvest, and other investments. Find out whether a family limited liability company is the right choice for you.

06 of 06

Another Option: Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (LLLPs)

To help make limited partnerships as appealing and useful as limited liability companies, roughly half of the states in the U.S. have allowed for the creation of an entity known as a "limited liability limited partnership" or "LLLP." It functions similarly to an LLC but has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Find out how this new legal entity works and whether it is right for your family business or investments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why would you want to put an investment property in an LLC?

One benefit of putting an investment property in an LLC is personal liability protection. If any incidents occur on the property and spark lawsuits, those lawsuits can only target the LLC; owners cannot be held personally liable.

What is a registered agent for an LLC?

A registered agent serves as the point of contact for the LLC. The registered agent receives legal paperwork and other official documents on behalf of the company. Registered agents must live in the state where the LLC is registered, but they don't have to be a member of the LLC. Many business owners simply pay a registered agent service to fulfill this role.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Small Business Administration. "Choose a Business Structure."

  2. Small Business Administration. "Basic Information About Operating Agreements."

  3. Nevada Secretary of State. "The Nevada Advantage."

  4. The Delaware Code Online. "Chapter 18: Limited Liability Company Act."

  5. Securities and Exchange Commission. "Proxy Statement: Wal-Mart Stores."

  6. Small Business Administration. "Register Your Business."

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