Overview of Limitations for a Limited Liability Company
There are certain disadvantages that may exclude the LLC from consideration
as the best organizational entity:
1. The LLC is not always available to the sole proprietor: Several states
require two or more members to form a limited liability company. So, on
occasion, a sole proprietor may not be able to form an LLC. A carefully
drafted grantor trust could therefore serve as a second member for the
LLC. An additional benefit to this arrangement is that having a second
member would also reinforce the limited liability aspect of the LLC, as
we've discussed earlier. Its income would be reported on the owner's
1040 Schedule C income tax return.
2. The LLC is not always available for the professional practice: Many
states prohibit an LLC for such professionals as physicians and attorneys.
Don't form a limited liability company to operate your professional
practice before you check with your state licensing agency or an attorney
familiar with your state's professional regulations.
3. Questionable estate tax benefits: The limited liability company may
not save you estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, then it may be
safer to use the family limited partnership if you want a discounted valuation
of your estate. Your limited partnership may, however, own one or more
LLCs, which would enable you to capture the estate tax discounted valuation.
4. The dissolution dilemma: You may also require the unanimous vote by
all LLC members to continue the LLC after the death, bankruptcy, retirement,
etc. of one member. One member can then possibly become a holdout and
make unreasonable demands on the remaining members to vote to continue
the LLC. You can avoid this holdout problem if your LLC operating agreement
requires only a majority vote to continue the company.
YES, YOU CAN LOSE EVERYTHING!
You may think that your wealth is safe and that you don't need protection.
But don't delude yourself and accept reality — for every 60
minutes you spend making money, spend 60 seconds thinking about how to
protect it!