Module 0: Start Here

What This Course Covers

An LLC — a limited liability company — is the most common way small business owners separate their personal finances from their business. This course walks you through the entire formation process yourself: deciding if an LLC is right for you, picking a state, filing the paperwork, getting your tax ID, handling licenses, and running it correctly so the liability protection actually holds up.

By the end, you'll have a filed LLC, an EIN from the IRS, a registered agent in place, and a clear picture of your ongoing obligations — annual reports, taxes, and the formalities that keep your personal assets separate from business debts.

How to Use This Course

Each module has three short lessons. Read a lesson, mark it complete for XP, then take the module quiz to lock in the concepts. The build brief prompts ask for your specific situation — your state, your business type, your timeline. Answer them as you go; they collect into a PDF you can download at the end.

Important: This course teaches the process, not legal advice. Every state has different fees, forms, and timelines, and the course points you to your state's official sources at each step. If your situation is complicated — multiple owners, investors, unusual liability exposure — talk to a business attorney before filing. The course will help you understand exactly what to ask them.

Work in order. Module 1 helps you decide if an LLC is even the right choice; don't skip it and file blindly.

Time and Cost

The course itself takes about four hours. The actual formation timeline depends on your state — some approve filings in days, others take weeks. Budget two to four weeks from decision to done in most states.

Costs: state filing fees range from about $50 to $500 depending on where you file. Your EIN from the IRS is free — never pay a service for it. A registered agent service runs roughly $100–300/year if you don't serve as your own. The course shows you exactly where each dollar goes so you don't overpay middlemen for things you can do yourself in twenty minutes.