How can my two entities do business with each other?

How can my two entities do business with each other?

Investor · 32211 · Member since 2018 · 100 posts · 48 votes

Good evening,

Sorry if this isn't the right thread for this question, but here goes. We are about to close on our first multifamily property on Monday. It's 11 units, and we are going to long term half and short term the other half. We formed an LLC for this property with separate bank accounts and everything. It's great, but obviously not a lot of money in those accounts right now until income starts coming in, probably in a month or two while we get everything up and running.

Here's the main question: we also own a plumbing company (S corp) and our plumbing company is going to do the plumbing work for the multifamily unit. I get the concept of having one entity sign a contract with the other, and we can do that just like we would do with any customer. Maybe we'll give ourselves a small discount, but otherwise it should be all very clear and separate. BUT the real estate can't afford to pay for the whole plumbing job right out of the gate. If we were paying another vendor for this , we might just use the HELOC, but it doesn't make sense to pay ourselves out of the HELOC and then pay ourselves back with interest.

Is this making sense? Should the plumbing company do the work and bill for it later, or accept payments over time? I'm not at all sure what tax issues I should be thinking about it, if any. 

Hopefully this makes sense, and you all have run into this kind of thing before. Any ideas are welcome! Thanks!

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  • Accountant · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @Jessica Muto

    "BUT the real estate can't afford to pay for the whole plumbing job right out of the gate."

    "Should the plumbing company do the work and bill for it later, or accept payments over time?"

    If someone approached your plumbing company for services but told you they can't afford to pay, would you set up a payment plan for them (i.e. offer credit)?

    Treat the real estate LLC like a third party in an arms-length transaction and you'll be fine. Have the real estate LLC borrow the money needed if possible.

  • Michael PlaksPro Member
    Tax Accountant / Enrolled Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    7y

    @Jessica Muto

    I'm with @Eamonn McElroy. Forget that you have a plumbing company for a minute. You bought a property which needs plumbing work. Nobody works for free. The property owner (the LLC) has to borrow money somewhere, right? And then pay the plumber, whether or not you own the plumbing company.

    Also, owning a multi-family rental with mixed use and a plumbing company, you should by now have a relationship with a tax expert, for all tax planning and advice.

    Good luck with this property.

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