BiggerPockets

i'm creating a llc and was wondering what address should i use for it? should i get a po box or can i use my home address for now?

dang nick your quick son! where have i been? i've been at home studying! i'm taking my state and national test tomorrow @130 after that i'm done

definitely. hey could you email what forms i need to file my llc? i'm on the secretary of state's page trying to figure it out

Another young eager mind of tomorrow Nick? How do you find the time!

Jason,

I am going to go against the grain probably and suggest you have an attorney file your paperwork, especially for your first LLC (assuming that is the best entity for your goals). My attorney (well, one of them) files the paperwork for the LLC with the state as a courtesy and does not charge for doing the docs for me. Of course they do charge for other things such as drafting an operating agreement, reviewing contracts, etc. My point being my attorney is the registered agent and point of contact for my LLC. My name doesn't appear on any state filings so who actually owns, controls or is a member of my LLC is not public information. So any problems that may come up, (knock on wood) my attorney will know about it before I do and we would go from there.

Between that and a PO box for LLC mail, I have total anonymity and it would take some work to find out whom actually controls the LLC. Not that I am trying to hide or doing anything I shouldn't be, but I like to keep a low profile and don't want my business in the public sphere. That may seem paranoid to some but in this day and age, almost anything is possible so as the Boy Scouts say, "Be prepared."

Let me give you an example of why this is or could become important. I have some friends who own maybe 5 properties plus a putt-putt and an independent Dairy Queen. Who filed their LLC paperwork with the state? Me, because even after trying to convince them of the wisdom of having an attorney do it and prepare a proper operating agreement, they still wouldn't do it and thought it was a "waste of money," even after I told them how much is cost me to have an attorney do it. Ironically, this attorney was recommended to me by the brother in law of one of these guys, the one who thinks he is a business genius (I am not making this up). So these two pals have no written agreement of any kind other than a 50/50 split of LLC ownership. Will it become a problem some day? Time will tell. Penny wise and pound-foolish IMHO. Can you tell why I would never do business with them even though they are very good friends? Caveat Emptor.

Good luck in your investing.

Mike C

My bad. My name is on the receipt which is on the online system. I knew and don't care about the registered agent being accessible.

Bummer. I nominate myself dunce of the day.

Mike C

"Penny wise and pound foolish" is the perfect quote here.

Why people who want to own hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of real estate try to save pennies by forming their own LLC is beyond common sense.

A good attorney will make and save you money in the long run.

What do you guys think of using legalzoom.com to form an LLC?

My first post! no more leeching.

I have one rental and am looking to get another one. Gonna pay cash so I am planning on holding title in an LLC(single member).

Has anyone thought of using the address from one of your rentals for your LLC address? Angry tenants would show up at some other tenants address. You could even put a lockable mailbox for rent deposits out there.