Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up for a service through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue providing educational content. Thank you for your support.

Deciding whether to act as your own **registered agent** or hire a professional service can make or break your LLC's privacy and legal protection. In this episode, host Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) breaks down the hidden risks of the DIY route, how it impacts your personal asset protection, and how to choose the best option to safeguard your growing business.

Form Your Corporation with Bizee: https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

Form Your Corporation with LegalZoom: https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Curated Business Resource Finder: https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP: https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 What is a Registered Agent?

00:44 Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

01:10 Registered Agent Requirements

01:38 How to Keep Your LLC Address Private

02:15 Benefits of a Registered Agent Service

03:00 How to File Articles of Organization

03:40 Can a Friend Be My Registered Agent?

04:05 How to Protect Your Personal Assets

04:30 How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?

04:45 What is Foreign Qualification?

05:35 How to Change Your Registered Agent

06:00 Registered Agent vs DIY LLC

#DBA #businesslicense #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up for a service through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue providing educational content. Thank you for your support.

Discover exactly **how to get a business license** and local permits so you can legally run your business without facing expensive fines or shutdown orders. Host Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) breaks down the zoning rules, application steps, and renewal tips you need to keep your new enterprise fully compliant.

Form Your Corporation with Bizee: https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

Form Your Corporation with LegalZoom: https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Curated Business Resource Finder: https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP: https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 How to Get a Local Business License

00:54 SBA Business License Directory

01:14 What Permits Does My Business Need?

01:52 Do I Need a Zoning Permit?

02:22 Home Occupation Permit Requirements

02:44 Documents Needed for Business License

03:13 How to Get a Seller's Permit

03:33 Multiple Business License Locations

03:52 Business License Renewal Guide

#DBA #businesslicense #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up for a service through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue providing educational content. Thank you for your support.

Learning how to register a business name is the critical first step to legally protecting your brand and launching your dream company. If you skip the proper registration steps, you risk losing your name to competitors or facing massive legal and banking headaches.

In this video, Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) walks you through the exact process of securing your business name, conducting a thorough trademark search, and choosing the right legal registration method for your structure. You will learn the difference between LLC registration, DBAs, and federal trademarks so you can build your business on a solid legal foundation.

Form Your Corporation with Bizee: https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

Form Your Corporation with LegalZoom: https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Curated Business Resource Finder: https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP: https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 How to Register a Business Name

00:20 What is a DBA Business Name?

00:43 How to Do a Business Name Search

01:13 How to Reserve a Business Name

01:34 Business Name vs Trademark

01:54 How to File Articles of Organization

02:27 How to Open a Business Bank Account

03:13 How Long Does a DBA Last?

03:31 How to Get a Federal Trademark

#DBA #businessname #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up for a service through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue providing educational content. Thank you for your support.

Wondering **what is a DBA** and whether your new small business actually needs to register one? In this video, host Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) breaks down exactly how a "Doing Business As" name works, its legal limitations, and how you can use one to legally accept payments under your brand name.

Form Your Corporation with Bizee: https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

Form Your Corporation with LegalZoom: https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Curated Business Resource Finder: https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP: https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 What is a DBA?

00:48 Is a DBA a separate legal entity?

01:12 When does a sole proprietor need a DBA?

01:38 Can an LLC have multiple DBAs?

02:00 Does a DBA protect your business name?

02:34 How does a DBA work in real life?

03:00 How to register a DBA business name

03:25 How to open a bank account with a DBA

03:45 What is a DBA publication requirement?

04:12 How long does a DBA registration last?

#DBA #businessname #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up for a service through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue providing educational content. Thank you for your support.

Do you actually need an **LLC operating agreement** if you are the sole owner of your business? In this video, Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) explains why skipping this critical document could legally ruin your business and put your personal assets at risk. Learn how to structure your internal management, protect your limited liability status, and set up your business for long-term growth and bank funding.

Form Your Corporation with Bizee: https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

Form Your Corporation with LegalZoom: https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Curated Business Resource Finder: https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP: https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 What is an LLC Operating Agreement?

00:50 Do I need an Operating Agreement?

01:25 How to protect your personal assets

01:50 Member managed vs manager managed LLC

02:40 How do LLC capital contributions work?

03:15 How are LLC profits distributed?

03:40 LLC voting rights and decisions

04:10 What happens when an LLC partner leaves?

05:10 How to change an LLC agreement

05:40 Why banks need an operating agreement

#LLC #operatingagreement #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.

How Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase or sign up for a service through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue providing educational content. Thank you for your support.

Learning how to file Articles of Incorporation is the first critical step to protecting your personal assets and legally launching your new C-Corp or S-Corp. In this video, host Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) breaks down the entire filing process—including how to structure authorized shares, define stock par value, appoint a registered agent, and draft corporate bylaws—so you can set up your business successfully without expensive legal mistakes.

Form Your Corporation with Bizee: https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

Form Your Corporation with LegalZoom: https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Curated Business Resource Finder: https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP: https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 What are Articles of Incorporation?

00:46 How to choose a corporate name

01:21 What is a corporate purpose statement?

01:43 Do I need a registered agent?

02:18 How many shares of stock to authorize?

02:50 Authorized vs issued shares explained

03:32 What is stock par value?

04:15 What does an incorporator do?

04:30 What to do after filing articles?

05:13 How to write corporate bylaws

05:37 How to open a business bank account

06:01 How to file an S-Corp election

#SmallBusiness #zenbusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.to File Articles of Incorporation by Katie St Ores CFP

Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links to products and services we recommend. If you use these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this channel.

Learn how to file Articles of Organization properly in this comprehensive, step-by-step guide hosted by Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent). You will discover what your state requires to form an LLC, how to protect your personal home address from public records, and the key steps to take immediately after your business is approved.

*Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, the channel may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our channel so we can continue creating free educational resources for business owners.*

Form Your LLC with Bizee:** https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

File Online with LegalZoom:** https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

Business Resource Finder:** https://go.saintores.com/Resource

Subscribe to Katie's Channel:** https://go.saintores.com/Sub

St Ores Wealth Management:** https://go.saintores.com

Chapters

00:00 What are Articles of Organization?

00:41 How to Choose a Registered Agent

01:05 LLC Member Managed vs Manager Managed

01:34 How to Keep Your Home Address Private

02:18 Who is the Organizer of an LLC?

02:40 How to File Articles of Organization Online

02:59 LLC Articles vs Operating Agreement

03:26 What to Do After LLC Approval

03:52 How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC?

04:19 LLC Publication Requirements Explained

04:36 Best LLC Filing Services for Beginners

05:01 Step by Step LLC Checklist

#SmallBusiness #zenbusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.

Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links to products and services we recommend. If you use these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this channel.

What is a registered agent and why is your LLC legally required to have one? In this video, Katie St Ores (CFP® and Enrolled Agent) breaks down the critical legal rules you must follow, the serious privacy risks of using your home address, and how to choose the best option to keep your business in good standing.

* **Form an LLC with Bizee:** https://go.saintores.com/Bizee

* **Form an LLC with LegalZoom:** https://go.saintores.com/LegalZm

https://go.saintores.com

* **Subscribe to Katie St Ores CFP:** https://go.saintores.com/Sub

Chapters

00:00 What is a Registered Agent?

00:41 What Does a Registered Agent Do?

01:14 Registered Agent Requirements

01:50 Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

02:18 Risks of Being Your Own Agent

02:54 How to Keep Your LLC Address Private

03:30 Registered Agent Service Cost

04:19 LLC Foreign Qualification Rules

04:54 What If You Don't Have an Agent?

05:28 Best Registered Agent Services

#bizee #legalzoom #SmallBusiness #zenbusiness #Entrepreneur #katiestores

Other small business videos:

LLC vs C Corp Explained: Taxes, Protection & Setup

Choosing a Business Structure: LLC or Corporation?

DBA vs LLC: Which is Best for Your Small Business?

Don't Choose a DBA or LLC Until You Watch This Guide

Financial Disclaimer: Katie St Ores is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. However, the content in this video and description is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This information should not be construed as personalized tax, legal, or financial advice. Every business and individual financial situation is unique. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific tax or financial circumstances before making any decisions or taking action.