Overview of Limiting your LLC Liability
Limited liability company managers and members have limited liability.
The limited liability company compares to a corporation. However, several
states are less protective of LLC's. A one-member limited liability
company may expose the single member to the debts of the limited liability
company, much as a general partner would incur liability for the debts
of a limited partnership. Moreover, this one member/manager must have
sufficient personal assets (set by state law) to meet the foreseeable
obligations of the limited liability company.
Every business has its lawsuit risks. Your business may default on a debt,
an employee may have a car accident, a customer may be injured, or a disgruntled
ex-employee may sue for discrimination. You'll want to protect your
personal wealth from these and other potential business risks, and want
to organize your LLC in a state that insulates the LLC manager from personal
liability.
Fortunately, most states limit the manager's personal liability. They
give outside protection for LLC's managers and members, as the corporation's
protects officers, directors, and stockholders. However, you must follow
formalities. Only then would the limited liability company's assets
be exposed to its creditors and lawsuits and the LLC manager's and
member's personal wealth would remain untouchable.
Before you form a corporation, consider the limited liability company
with your professional advisor. You will have limited liability and obtain
more protection for your ownership interest than you would as a corporate
stockholder.
Because a member, manager, agent, and employee of an LLC would not ordinarily
be personally liable for the debts, contracts, or liabilities of the LLC,
(and would have basically the same protection as corporate officers, directors,
and stockholders or outside protection), they can lose only their investment.
However, as with both the corporation and family limited partnership,
you have personal liability for torts (negligence, etc.) that you commit
personally, as well as contracts you guarantee and debts where managers
have statutory liability.
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!