Starting up a Home Inspection business

[crogers2]

Thanks for the information. I'm in Austin, Texas. Let me ask you about registering with the county; I plan on servicing Austin and San Antonio area, do I need to be registered if im DBA with every county in which I am doing business in?
I'm trying to dot all my i's and cross all my t's in setting my business up, every little bit helps. Thanks!

[Bruce Thompson]

Originally Posted by crogers2

Thanks for the information. I'm in Austin, Texas. Let me ask you about registering with the county; I plan on servicing Austin and San Antonio area, do I need to be registered if im DBA with every county in which I am doing business in?
I'm trying to dot all my i's and cross all my t's in setting my business up, every little bit helps. Thanks!

I'm fairly certain you only register in one county. It's not too realistic to drive around to 254 county seats if you wanted to work state wide. However, just call the Travis county clerk and ask them.

[kweiss]

You have to register in each county you wish to operate in, if you wish to try and "control" the name you are using. Additionally you can register the name with the state.

In the end though, it is rather futile since none of these agencies will actually ENFORCE the ownership of the name. So if and when someone decides to create the same name company or something very similar you are reduced to threats or civil legal action to fight them.

[John Safstrom]

Cody, I filed my LLC on my own through the state of Texas in Sept. They called 2 days later and said I had to make my inspection company a PLLC since we are 'licensed professionals'. I disagreed on the PLLC, but they said that was the way it was going to be.

I went the LLC (PLLC) route basically because I feel I can present myself more professionally as a registered business in the state and put it on my company checks and business cards, etc.

[Bruce Thompson]

Originally Posted by jsafstrom

Cody, I filed my LLC on my own through the state of Texas in Sept. They called 2 days later and said I had to make my inspection company a PLLC since we are 'licensed professionals'. I disagreed on the PLLC, but they said that was the way it was going to be.

I went the LLC (PLLC) route basically because I feel I can present myself more professionally as a registered business in the state and put it on my company checks and business cards, etc.

That's an interesting response. The state certainly hasn't taken that route in the past. I specifically asked them about PLLC and home inspectors and was told I could NOT register that way.

[John Safstrom]

That's what I thought too. I told them I did not know of any other HI companies that were PLLC and the lady checked with a supervisor and called me back later saying I had to be a PLLC.

[Nick Gromicko]

Take the PLLC.

[Eric C. Van De Ven]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

You're absolutely right Bruce, people think LLC and a well written inspection agreement is all you need to start an inspection business. B.S. I have 2 S Corps in Illinois and pay less in annual report filing fees than if I had 1 LLC.

I am in Florida, but I am a "S" corporation and I did it through AmeriLawyer.com. The fee was $200.00 if I remember right and the annual report fee is $150.00.

I was told to do it that way for the deductions and it has worked out very well for the last 16 years.

[Bruce Thompson]

Originally Posted by evandeven

I am in Florida, but I am a "S" corporation and I did it through AmeriLawyer.com. The fee was $200.00 if I remember right and the annual report fee is $150.00.

I was told to do it that way for the deductions and it has worked out very well for the last 16 years.

To whom do you pay the annual fee? Your state?

I see you are incorporated which is different than an LLC and each state has their own rules on LLC's.

[Eric C. Van De Ven]

Yes, it is paid to the State and you have until May 1st, I think, or it goes up to $400.00. If you fail to pay it by September, your company is automatically dissolved, but I think you have two years to re-instate it.

I never understood the advantage of an LLC and am not familiar with it. does it have something to do with each State?

[Bruce Thompson]

Originally Posted by evandeven

Yes, it is paid to the State and you have until May 1st, I think, or it goes up to $400.00. If you fail to pay it by September, your company is automatically dissolved, but I think you have two years to re-instate it.

I never understood the advantage of an LLC and am not familiar with it. does it have something to do with each State?

I merely chose LLC because it cost less to form than incorporating (not much, but a little more). As I said previously, an LLC (or a corporation for that matter) will not protect you from negligence. However, if you have others who invest in your corporation (or LLC), those people are protected from your negligence.

Knowing now what I didn't know then, I would've just done a DBA. Though at the time, I wanted to protect my name.

[Nick Gromicko]

You don't have to incorporate in the state you live/work in BTW.

[John Cahill]

It's a question of asset protection.

1 - If your personal assets are minimal then ask a lawyer about just buying insurance.
2 - If you have assets then consider the shield of a LLC and insurance.
3 - If your wealthy what the heck are you doing in home inspection? Go to a beach.