Thank you for checking for me. I didn't know if I was crazy or what.
Okay, so filing in Mass is SO out!! I am skeptical filing in another state. I don't know, it seems shady to me. Has anyone else filed in another state?

We move alot (travel bug ) so are filing in a state that we don't currently live in - after the LLC Basics chat Lily hosted (archived here) I felt like this was the best option to go with (Delaware) - and at first I wasn't even sure if I could legally register *anywhere* if we didn't have a truly permanent address. Turns out it's just fine.

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Congrats! Goddess on your beginning! Can I ask how do you get so many hits on your website and how do you know how many?

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http://www.Virtual-MyGirlFriday.net

Great info! Thank you. I received a quote of $900 from an attorney to set up a LLC. I'll definitely be looking elsewhere and I'll start with the state website. Thank you!!

The fees vary by State, I know in Texas the filing fees start at $750.00, but they don't have State income tax so they have to make their money up some how. You should definitely be careful when setting up your company in another state. Read the rules very carefully for your state of residence as well as the state your setting it up in, because if the state you are registering in is not your state of residence you may still need to file as a forein business to conduct business in your actual state of residence. There could be extra taxes/fees involved. Such as Sales Tax, Franchise Tax, Personal Property Taxes, etc. In most cases if you register in another State you have to have a registered agent who is a resident of that State.

You also need to check the sales tax rules for each State. Here in OK we don't charge sales tax on services, but in TX you do. I've had to register companies in several different states and the rules can be very confusing, and even if you call to talk to someone at the Secretary of State's office (Comptroller's office in some States), everyone you talk to will tell you something different.

The rules vary by state and even though the rules in one state say it's ok to do something the rules of your state of residence may say different.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Something else to consider, if you have a business in a State other than the one you live, then the profit would be considered "non-resident" income for income tax purposes which is a much higher rate than "resident" income taxes. Also, you will have to file returns in both States.

I know, I know, all these freaking tax laws... they get so confusing!!!

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Rebecka, do you know how difficult it is to 'move' business registration from one state to another?

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I think you just have to file a dissolution form (for a fee) in the state you want to close and then register it in the new state.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Thanks Rebecka! I caught legalzoom in time to just cancel the order for registration where we are and re-file for Washington - where we'll be living...phew! But this is still good info to have.

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Originally Posted by mis4ta

Congrats! Goddess on your beginning! Can I ask how do you get so many hits on your website and how do you know how many?

I have 2232 hits as of today I placed a hit counter on the bottom of the first page of my website. I actually had someone tell me they contacted me partly because of the quantity of posts on this forum and partly because of the number of hits on my website!

I have networked out the wazoo to get people to come look at my site. I have posted listings on every free ad site I could find, sent out postcards to local start-up businesses, put up postcards at whole foods and other local bulletin boards, placed my website address in the signature of every forum I have joined, and left my business card in free lunch bowls across the county.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"