In Progress

Business Foundations

LLC vs C-Corp decision

Building a business in the U.S. as an international founder is a game of Legal Tetris. You can have a great product, but if your foundation isn't solid, you risk your company and your visa. Think of these steps as the bones of your business. If the bones are strong, the business can grow as large as you want.

Choosing your business structure is the first big fork in the road.

The LLC (The "Flex" Choice): Best for: Small teams, bootstrapped startups, or service businesses.
- It is cheaper to set up and has fewer rules (like mandatory board meetings). Taxes pass through to you, meaning the company doesn't pay its own income tax.
The C-Corp (The Scale Choice):
- Best for: Tech startups that want to raise Venture Capital (VC) or give stock options to employees.
- The Why: Investors only invest in C-Corps (usually registered in Delaware). It allows for "Double Taxation" but is required if you want to go public or be acquired by a giant company.
The "State" Secret: If you want to raise money, choose Delaware. If you want low fees and privacy, choose Wyoming.

Free Resource: C Corp vs. LLC: Which Is Better for Early-Stage Entrepreneurs?

Resources

Record your progress

Mark this subsection complete to track your progress.