Debunking 4 Popular Myths About Business Entities

Setting up the right legal structure for your business may seem like a boring detail that you don’t need to spend much time on. But, in reality, selecting the right entity for your company is one of the most critical decisions you can make as a business owner.

That said, there are all sorts of myths surrounding business entities, and this can cause confusion and lead to costly mistakes. To this end, here are 4 of the most popular myths about business entities and how you can avoid falling for them.

Myth #1: Small businesses don’t need a business entity.

Although it’s possible to run a business without a business entity, doing so puts you—and everything you own—at risk. Without the proper entity set up, there’s no separation between your business and personal assets, so your personal assets would be at risk in the event your business goes into serious debt or gets hit with a lawsuit.

For example, if your company is structured as a sole proprietorship or general partnership and you go out of business, your business creditors would come after your personal assets to pay off your business debts. The same is true if your business is ever sued.

By structuring your business as a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, however, you can shield your personal assets from liabilities incurred by your business. When properly set up and maintained, such structures establish your company as a separate legal entity distinct from you as an individual, preventing you from being held personally liable for the company’s debts or legal disputes.

Meet with us, your Family Business Lawyer™ for help selecting, setting up, and maintaining the entity structure that’s best suited for your particular company, no matter how big or small it may be.

Myth #2: There’s no need to set up an entity for your business until it’s profitable.

It may seem like a good idea to delay setting up your business entity until you are actually earning revenue, or even making a profit, but in reality, you should have your entity in place from the very start. This is true not only because liability can arise well before you are profitable, but also because incorporating your business is likely to lead to even more income and profit.

For example, having the proper entity in place in the early stages allows you to receive credit in your business’ name, and raise money from investors. Not to mention, the act of incorporating itself shows that you take your company seriously, which can inspire increased interest from customers, vendors, and financial backers.

Myth #3: A corporate entity offers absolute liability protection.

When properly created and maintained, entities like an LLC or corporation can shield your personal assets from creditors, lawsuits, and other liabilities incurred by your business. However, the protection afforded by these entities is not absolute.

In fact, there are a number of circumstances in which a creditor can come after your personal assets to settle a claim against your business. When this happens, it’s known as “piercing the corporate veil.”

While the corporate veil can be pierced if you commit fraud or negligence, in most cases, it happens due to innocent mistakes. These errors can include inadvertently mixing your personal and business finances, personally signing off on a business loan, or failing to abide by administrative formalities. As your Family Business Lawyer™, we will support you with maintaining your business records and keeping up with the required corporate formalities. In fact, we offer special maintenance packages that make meeting these requirements a snap, while maintaining the maximum level of protection for your personal assets.

Finally, while a corporate entity can protect your personal assets from liability, these legal structures do not offer any protection for your business assets. To safeguard your business assets, you’ll need to invest in the proper business insurance, which is always your first line of defense.