Seattle, WA asked in Business Formation and Business Law for Washington

Q: I have a sole proprietorship business but would be safer to have an LLC for liability reasons?

I have a sole proprietorship plumbing business but have been told by other business owners lately that I should have gone with an LLC. I am fully insured, bonded, and licensed but I want to make sure that will protect my personal assets if something does happen one day. I have been researching how to switch but I’m seeing I would have to dissolve the company, close accounts, and more in order to do this and I’m wondering if that is the way to go. Thank you.

1 Lawyer Answer

A: An LLC can certainly provide an additional level of protection for your personal assets, when properly set up and properly run. But, as you pointed out, you would likely need to open a new bank account and set up your license, insurance, bond, etc to reflect the LLC. Some of those things you might be able to update to reflect the change to an LLC, and some you will need to start new.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.