Consultant · $140K rev · year 2 LLC
+$8,800 / yr
S-corp election filed retroactive to January. Reasonable comp set at $85K. Solo 401(k) opened. Accountable plan for home office + phone + internet. Year-one savings $8.8K, recurring.
Who we help · Single-member LLC · Operations done right
You formed the LLC. Now what?
Forming the LLC is 5% of the work. The other 95% is what nobody walked you through — sole-prop default vs. S-corp election, accountable plans, owner draws vs. distributions, bookkeeping setup, quarterly estimates that don't ambush you, hiring your first contractor or employee. This is the segment page for owners who got past the formation step and are figuring out the operational basics on the fly.
$5K–$18KYear-one savings · typical
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This is you if
Your LLC situation looks like one of these. The basics haven't been set up.
- You formed an LLC in the last 1–3 years and your CPA is still filing it as a sole prop
- You filed the LLC paperwork yourself (LegalZoom, ZenBusiness) and nobody walked you through what comes next
- You're earning $80K+ net through the LLC and the S-corp election conversation hasn't happened
- You take owner draws whenever you need money and have no idea if there's a better way
- Your bookkeeping is in a notebook, a spreadsheet, or your bank account — depending on the month
- You've been thinking about hiring help (W-2 employee or contractor) but don't know what the tax implications look like
- You finally crossed $100K in revenue and want to operationalize before the IRS notices
- You formed multiple LLCs for different bets and now have 2–3 single-members and no coordination
What you're done with
Three real LLC owners. Same three patterns.
Single-member LLC owners come to us with three core problems: an S-corp election that should have happened, bookkeeping that's improvised, and looming hiring decisions they don't know how to handle.
"I formed my LLC in 2023. I make about $140K through it. My CPA still files it on Schedule C. I asked about S-corp once and he said 'too small.' I think he's wrong."
Consultant · year 2 · Apr 2026
"I have no real books. I have a separate bank account for the business and I just transfer money to my personal account when I need it. April hits and my CPA pieces it together from bank statements."
Freelance designer · $95K rev · Mar 2026
"I want to hire my first contractor. I have no idea what that means tax-wise. Do I need a W-9? Do I send a 1099? What about payroll? My CPA bills for every question."
Solo coach · year 4 · Feb 2026
None of this is complicated. It just has to be set up correctly once — then it runs itself. S-corp election + Kick bookkeeping + accountable plan templates + quarterly estimate calendar. Most LLC owners are 8 hours of setup work away from never thinking about this again.
What we'd actually do for you
Six moves. The single-member LLC standard playbook.
- 01
S-corp election decision (and timing)
Single-member LLCs default to sole-prop tax treatment. Once net income clears ~$80K, S-corp election typically saves $5K–$15K/yr in SE tax. Below that threshold, S-corp is a money-loser. We model your specific numbers and decide — including late-election remedies if you missed the window.
- 02
Bookkeeping setup in Kick
Most single-member LLCs run on bank-statement summaries at year-end. Bank-feed setup in Kick with AI-assisted categorization changes year-end from a 3-day reconstruction to a 1-hour review. Plus you can actually see your business in real time, not just at tax time.
- 03
Owner draws + distributions done right
Single-member LLCs taxed as sole prop have a simple draw structure. Once S-corp-elected, the rules change — reasonable comp through payroll, distributions outside payroll, no commingling. Most owners don't know the difference. We set up the right structure for whichever election you land on.
- 04
Accountable plan + home office + vehicle
Common deductions most single-member LLCs miss or mishandle: home office (simplified vs. actual), vehicle (mileage vs. actual), phone, internet, professional dues. Properly documented under an accountable plan, these can be tax-free reimbursements from the business. Templates provided.
- 05
First contractor / first employee setup
When you hire your first 1099 contractor or W-2 employee, the operations get real fast. W-9 collection. 1099-NEC at year-end. Payroll registration. Workers' comp (W-2 only). We walk you through it the first time so you don't have to figure it out under deadline pressure.
- 06
Quarterly estimates that don't ambush you
Single-member LLCs (sole prop default) pay quarterly estimates 4× per year. Most owners use the IRS safe-harbor default — which is wrong for growing businesses. We model your real income trajectory + set estimates accordingly so April lands at zero balance, not a $20K surprise.
Recent single-member LLC outcomes
Three real owners. Three real outcomes.
Freelance designer · $95K rev
Books rebuilt + April surprise eliminated
Kick + bank-feed setup deployed mid-year. 18 months of historical transactions cleaned + categorized. Quarterly estimates rebuilt against real income trajectory. First April without a surprise tax bill in 4 years.
Solo coach · first contractor hired
Setup done · ongoing peace
First contractor W-9 collected, ICA signed, contract policy templated. Gusto contractor management deployed. Year-end 1099-NEC filing automated. Future contractor hires now plug-and-play.
Which tier fits
For most single-member LLCs, Standard is the right starting point.
Recommended for this segment
Tax Analysis · Standard tier
$2,500 flat
3-year scope · S-corp election analysis · bookkeeping setup in Kick · accountable plan · quarterly estimate plan · home office / vehicle / phone deductions · ranked next-step list.
If you have multiple LLCs or you're moving toward multi-entity structure: Comprehensive ($5K). Pre-revenue LLC owners: Tax Review ($1K).
Common questions
What LLC owners ask before engaging.
Do I need an LLC if I'm just a freelancer / consultant?
Probably yes, but for asset-protection reasons more than tax reasons. Tax treatment of a single-member LLC and a sole prop is identical by default. The LLC gives you liability protection and a separate identity for banking. The tax savings come later — when you S-corp-elect or stack retirement vehicles. See business formation.
When does S-corp election make sense?
When net business income clears ~$80K–$100K and is expected to stay there or grow. Below that threshold, the payroll-tax savings don't outweigh the cost of running payroll. We model your specific numbers — the threshold isn't a magic line, it depends on income volatility and what other income you have.
What if my LLC has $0 in revenue still?
Pre-revenue LLC: minimal tax work needed. You'll file Form 1040 with no Schedule C activity. Annual state filing (e.g., Texas franchise tax PIR) still required. Tax Review at $1K covers pre-revenue setup, formation review, and getting ready for first-year revenue.
Should I have multiple LLCs for different bets?
Sometimes. Multiple LLCs make sense when (a) you want asset protection between activities, (b) different activities have different partners, or (c) you're planning to sell one piece later. Sometimes one LLC with two "DBA" registrations is simpler. We model the decision before you file more paperwork.
Next step
One 15-minute call. We scope your LLC and what comes next.
Bring last year's net business income, your current bookkeeping method (or lack thereof), and what's coming up — hiring, equipment, partnership additions. We'll quote the right tier and timeline before any work begins.
See if you're overpaying →