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This isn’t particularly helpful for the OP, so sorry tlhunter, but for anyone else reading, please don’t bother with Stripe Atlas or a Delaware company. Just f

This isn’t particularly helpful for the OP, so sorry tlhunter, but for anyone else reading, please don’t bother with Stripe Atlas or a Delaware company. Just form your private business with your local corporation commission. You need to understand basic corporate operations to do business, and jumping immediately into all of this extraneous work is completely unnecessary for small private businesses.

billwear 4y ago
this. i had a small business through 2007 as a copywriter. subprime crisis killed the customers, but i was only incorporated locally, through my state. all it cost me was $25 to dissolve the corporation, a simple postcard. my only real admin job was keeping my quarterly taxes up to date, which wasn't difficult. don't go large to start.
brudgers 4y ago
A sole proprietorship is the simplest thing that might work. I know it is not a popular suggestion, but it can be a good choice when there’s not a whole lot of uninsurable liability, few assets, and limited working capital. Since anyone can sue anyone for anything anyway. YMMV…but YAGNI also often applies.
- mattbrewsbytes 4y ago
  When investigating such things for a solo software business I read that you can even just claim additional income on your taxes and call it a hobby until you get sufficiently big enough and then pay an attorney and accountant to figure out the best path forward. There is some risk about liability but for small revenue software its unlikely someone wants something beyond a 100% refund.
  - brudgers 4y ago
    I am neither an accountant nor attorney. The way I do it is using Schedule C and the relates forms. Banking is one thing a sole proprietorship simplifies because all you need is a separate personal account to use for the business and banks are happy to set one up. If the business doesn’t generate much income you might even get away with not paying out taxes quarterly and use additional withholding instead.

billwear 4y ago

this. i had a small business through 2007 as a copywriter. subprime crisis killed the customers, but i was only incorporated locally, through my state. all it cost me was $25 to dissolve the corporation, a simple postcard. my only real admin job was keeping my quarterly taxes up to date, which wasn't difficult. don't go large to start.

brudgers 4y ago

A sole proprietorship is the simplest thing that might work. I know it is not a popular suggestion, but it can be a good choice when there’s not a whole lot of uninsurable liability, few assets, and limited working capital. Since anyone can sue anyone for anything anyway. YMMV…but YAGNI also often applies.

mattbrewsbytes 4y ago
When investigating such things for a solo software business I read that you can even just claim additional income on your taxes and call it a hobby until you get sufficiently big enough and then pay an attorney and accountant to figure out the best path forward. There is some risk about liability but for small revenue software its unlikely someone wants something beyond a 100% refund.
- brudgers 4y ago
  I am neither an accountant nor attorney. The way I do it is using Schedule C and the relates forms. Banking is one thing a sole proprietorship simplifies because all you need is a separate personal account to use for the business and banks are happy to set one up. If the business doesn’t generate much income you might even get away with not paying out taxes quarterly and use additional withholding instead.