Document Preparation and More!
925 526-6331
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Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda only
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610 Court Street, Suite 101 * Martinez
Located across from
Of all the choices you make when starting a business, one of the most important is the type of legal structure you select for your business.
Business Services
There are four common methods of business ownership: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation and Limited Liability Company. The type of business entity you choose will depend on three primary factors: taxation, liability, and record-keeping.
Your decision will have an impact on how much you pay in taxes, it will affect the amount of paperwork your business is required to do and your ability to raise money. It may also affect the personal liability you face when running your business.
Attorney Consultation Available * Business Formation Services * Flat Fee Pricing
Formation/Corporations/LLC/LLP
Partnership/Operating Agreement
Promisory Notes/Bill of Sales/Demand Letters
DBA-ficticious business name
Terminations/Mergers/Dissolutions
$599
$749
$199
$175
$499
Service of Process
Includes three attempts at one address. Plus we file the proof
of service.
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Domestic Violence Restraining Orders.....................................
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Personal.......................................................................................
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By Mail.........................................................................................
Court Filings ($50 - $75 + 25¢/pg. copy cost)
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Drop Box.....................................................................................
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Counter Service..........................................................................
E-Filing ($40 first document + $15 each additional document)
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Mobile Notary.............................................................................
Records Retrieval From File Unit..............................................
E-Recording Services................................................................
$200
$175 +
$40 + postage
$75
$100
$200 +
$125 + fees
$49 + Recording Fee
Professional and experienced legal document preparation service, conveniently located across from Contra Costa Superior Court.
Sole Proprietorship
A sole proprietorship is the most common form of business organization which usually involves just one individual who owns and operates the enterprise.
The advantage to a sole proprietorship is that it is easy to form and offers complete managerial control to the owner. The tax aspects of a sole proprietorship are especially appealing because income and expenses from the business are included on your personal income tax return. This is important because business losses you suffer may offset income earned from other sources.
The disadvantage to a sole proprietorship is that the owner is personally liable for all financial obligations of the business. As a result you are placing your own assets at risk, and they could be seized to satisfy a business debt or legal claim filed against you.
Partnership
A partnership occurs were two or more people agree to do business together sharing in the profits and losses.
Partnerships come in two varieties: general partnerships and limited partnerships. In a general partnership, the partners manage the company and assume responsibility for the partnership’s debts and other obligations. A limited partnership has both general and limited partners. The general partners own and operate the business and assume liability for the partnership, while the limited partners serve as investors only; they have no control over the company and are not subject to the same liabilities as the general partners.
A primary advantage of a partnership is that it does not pay tax on its income but “passes through” any profits or losses to the individual partners. At tax time, each partner is only taxed at the personal income tax rate.
A big disadvantage to doing business as a partnership is liability. Each partner is personally liable for the financial obligations of the business.
Corporation
A corporation can be one or more persons who form an entity, separate from those who founded it, that handles the responsibilities of the organization. Corporations come in two varieties: S corporation and C corporations. The S corporation is more attractive to small business owners than a standard C corporation. With an S corporation, income and losses are passed through to shareholders and included on their individual tax returns. As a result, there is just one level of federal tax to pay.
The key benefit of corporate status is the avoidance of personal liability. A major difference between a standard C corporation and an S corporation is that an S corporation can be owned by individuals, estates and certain types of trusts.
The primary disadvantage of forming a corporation is the expense to form the corporation and the extensive record-keeping that is required. Also, there is the matter of double taxation. Not only is the corporation subject to corporate income tax at both federal and state levels, but any earnings distributed to the shareholders in the form of dividends are taxed at individual tax rates on their personal income tax returns. Additionally, with an S corporation, the entity is restricted to 75 shareholders and issuance of common stock.
Limited Liability Company
A limited liability company is a hybrid form of a partnership and a corporation, bringing together some of the best features of partnerships and corporations.
The advantages of a limited liability company is that profits and losses can be passed through to owners without taxation of the business itself while owners are shielded from personal liability.