Legal & Compliance

Business Structure & Entity Selection

Choose the legal structure that protects your assets and lowers your tax bill.

12 lessons4 modules9h 0m durationbeginner level

Instructor: StretchLearn Faculty

About this course

The entity you choose shapes how much tax you pay, whether your house is exposed if the business is sued, and how easily you can raise money or bring on partners. This course breaks down sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, and C-Corp into plain language, with real tax math, the IRS forms involved, and the dollar thresholds where switching structures starts to pay off. By the end you will know which structure fits your stage today and what triggers a change later.

Curriculum

Module 1: The Foundations: Liability, Pass-Through, and the Four Structures3 lessons

Why Your Entity Choice Matters More Than You ThinkPreview45m
Liability Protection: The Corporate Veil Explained🔒45m
Legal Entity vs Tax Classification: The Key Distinction🔒45m

Module 2: Sole Proprietorship and the LLC: The Starting Structures3 lessons

The Sole Proprietorship: Simple, Cheap, and Exposed🔒45m
The LLC: Liability Protection With Pass-Through Taxes🔒45m
Forming an LLC: Steps, Costs, and the Operating Agreement🔒45m

Module 3: The S-Corp Election: Cutting Self-Employment Tax3 lessons

How S-Corp Taxation Works: Salary Plus Distributions🔒45m
The Reasonable Salary Rule and S-Corp Compliance🔒45m
When the S-Corp Pays Off: Thresholds and Worked Math🔒45m

Module 4: The C-Corp and Choosing Your Structure3 lessons

The C-Corp: Double Taxation and Why Startups Choose It Anyway🔒45m
The Decision Framework: Matching Structure to Stage and Goals🔒45m
Implementing and Changing Your Structure Over Time🔒45m