Advisory package for startups

Research summary and findings for: 'Advisory package for startups' (target audience: US business owners, LLC founders) Steps taken (tools & approach): - Performed broad web search and extraction focused on advisory/formation packages, federal compliance, state-specific filing/ongoing obligations, and commercial provider offerings (search_and_extract_tool and extract_engine_tool). - Scraped and compressed authoritative federal resources (FinCEN, IRS, SBA) to capture current compliance rules and recent regulatory changes. - Collected state-level source material from Secretary of State / Division of Corporations websites for Delaware, California, Florida, and general state guidance. - Gathered commercial examples and pricing from providers and law-firms (Stripe Atlas, Sunder Legal, CommlawGroup, StartupTechLaw and others) to produce realistic package components, price ranges, and templates.

Key findings (concise): 1) Typical advisory package components for startups (recommended items to include): - Entity selection guidance (LLC vs. S-Corp vs.

C-Corp) and state-of-formation discussion. - State formation filing (Certificate of Formation/Articles of Incorporation) and filing fee handling. - Operating Agreement (LLC) or Bylaws (Corp) and initial corporate minutes/resolutions. - Founder documentation: Founder stock/subscription agreements, IP assignment, Confidential Information & Invention Assignment, 83(b) election guidance and template. - EIN application assistance and instructions (IRS SS-4 / online EIN assistant). - Registered agent service for the state of formation (first year usually included in many packages). - Compliance calendar and annual filing support (annual reports, franchise taxes, state notices). - Tax registrations and basic payroll setup guidance (federal and state withholding, unemployment). - Banking checklist and sample corporate resolutions for account opening. - Cap table setup and initial capitalization documentation. - Standard commercial templates (NDAs, contractor agreements, offer letters, subscription agreements). - Optional add-ons: ongoing legal advisory hours, bookkeeping/CPA onboarding, fundraising/cap table advisory, registered agent renewals, foreign qualification assistance. 2) Compliance & regulatory must-knows (federal): - Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting: As of March 26, 2025 FinCEN issued an interim final rule that exempts U.S.-formed companies and U.S. persons from BOI reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act; the rule narrows reporting to certain foreign-formed entities registered to do business in the U.S. (FinCEN alert and deadlines for affected foreign entities). - EIN: Founders should form the state entity first, then obtain EIN from IRS online (free).

IRS EIN assistant is the recommended path; beware of third-party EIN fees. - Form 1099-K / payment reporting: Recent IRS guidance (Nov 2025) restored the Form 1099-K reporting threshold to $20,000 and 200 transactions — important for merchant sellers and when advising clients on expected information reporting.

Research summary and findings for: 'Advisory package for startups' (target audience: US business owners, LLC founders) Steps taken (tools & approach):

1) Typical advisory package components for startups (recommended items to include):

- Founder documentation: Founder stock/subscription agreements, IP assignment, Confidential Information & Invention Assignment, 83(b) election guidance and template. - EIN application assistance and instructions (IRS SS-4 / online EIN assistant).

2) Compliance & regulatory must-knows (federal): - Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting: As of March 26, 2025 FinCEN issued an interim final rule that exempts U.S.-formed companies and U.S. persons from BOI reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act; the rule narrows reporting to certain foreign-formed entities registered to do business in the U.S. (FinCEN alert and deadlines for affected foreign entities).

- Form 1099-K / payment reporting: Recent IRS guidance (Nov 2025) restored the Form 1099-K reporting threshold to $20,000 and 200 transactions — important for merchant sellers and when advising clients on expected information reporting.

• Performed broad web search and extraction focused on advisory/formation packages, federal compliance, state-specific filing/ongoing obligations, and commercial provider offerings (search_and_extract_tool and extract_engine_tool).
• Scraped and compressed authoritative federal resources (FinCEN, IRS, SBA) to capture current compliance rules and recent regulatory changes.
• Collected state-level source material from Secretary of State / Division of Corporations websites for Delaware, California, Florida, and general state guidance.
• Gathered commercial examples and pricing from providers and law-firms (Stripe Atlas, Sunder Legal, CommlawGroup, StartupTechLaw and others) to produce realistic package components, price ranges, and templates. Key findings (concise):
• Entity selection guidance (LLC vs. S-Corp vs. C-Corp) and state-of-formation discussion.
• State formation filing (Certificate of Formation/Articles of Incorporation) and filing fee handling.
• Operating Agreement (LLC) or Bylaws (Corp) and initial corporate minutes/resolutions.
• Registered agent service for the state of formation (first year usually included in many packages).
• Compliance calendar and annual filing support (annual reports, franchise taxes, state notices).
• Tax registrations and basic payroll setup guidance (federal and state withholding, unemployment).
• Banking checklist and sample corporate resolutions for account opening.
• Cap table setup and initial capitalization documentation.
• Standard commercial templates (NDAs, contractor agreements, offer letters, subscription agreements).
• Optional add-ons: ongoing legal advisory hours, bookkeeping/CPA onboarding, fundraising/cap table advisory, registered agent renewals, foreign qualification assistance.
• EIN: Founders should form the state entity first, then obtain EIN from IRS online (free). IRS EIN assistant is the recommended path; beware of third-party EIN fees.

State-level highlights and where to direct founders (examples)

- Delaware: Popular for corporations (investor-friendly law, Chancery Court); file annual franchise tax report and pay taxes; Division of Corporations provides online services including annual report, registered agent listings, and filing guides. - California: SOS BizFile handles entity registration; high state-level fees and additional tax obligations may apply; founders should review CA processing times, filing methods, and local licensing. - Florida: Sunbiz is Florida’s portal — quick online filings, clear guidance for annual reports and helpful consumer notices about BOI scams. - (Recommendation) For other states: link to each state SOS/Division of Corporations and the state Dept of Revenue for sales tax/withholding rules; include a quick reference table listing typical state items: formation fee, annual report due date, franchise tax (if any), and registered agent requirement.

Pricing & market examples (observed ranges)

- Stripe Atlas: $500 one-time setup (Delaware incorporation, EIN, 83(b) filing, templates) + $100/yr registered agent after first year; includes partner credits and product discounts. - Law-firm / bespoke packages: wide range — examples collected include $1,200 (StartupTechLaw package), $1,500–$3,000 (Sunder Legal formation tiers), $1,999 one-time + $300 annual for ongoing compliance (CommlawGroup example), up to $7,450 for full-service startup packages (Machat Law). - Takeaway: Basic formation+documents typically range from several hundred dollars (DIY + registered agent fees) to $2–4k for more hands-on legal packages; premium full-service packages can be materially higher. 5) Practical guidance & recommended deliverables for a compliance-focused advisory package (actionable): - Deliver a startup 'Welcome' checklist and timeline: decide structure -> reserve name -> file formation -> get EIN -> open bank account -> draft operating agreement/bylaws -> issue founder equity -> file any immediate tax elections -> register for state tax accounts -> set up payroll (if hiring) -> add to compliance calendar for annual reports and renewals. - Provide state-specific one-paragraph notes (or a 50-state quick reference table) covering: formation filing name and fee, annual report due date, franchise tax basics, sales tax nexus link, and where to file. - Templates to include: Operating Agreement or Bylaws, Minutes/Resolutions, Founder Stock Purchase/Subscription, IP Assignment, Employment/Contractor agreements, 83(b) election sample, banking resolution, compliant 1099 contractor checklist. - Compliance calendar items: EIN issuance, federal & state tax registrations, sales tax permit, payroll withholding registration, annual report filing, franchise tax payment, registered agent renewal, state business license renewals, periodic tax filings and information returns (1099s). - Scams & cautions: warn clients about fraudulent BOI notices (FinCEN notes scam attempts and that there is no fee to file BOI with FinCEN); caution against paying third-parties for EIN applications. 6) Draft pricing model to offer to clients (suggested tiers): - Basic ($299–$799): Name reservation, state filing (pass-through of state fees), statutory formation document, basic operating agreement template, EIN instructions, 30-day phone/email support, compliance calendar (self-serve). - Standard ($999–$2,499): Everything in Basic + tailored operating agreement/bylaws (founders up to 2), initial resolutions/consents, EIN filing help, registered agent (1 year), cap table setup, 1–3 hours attorney/CPA consult, state tax registration checklist. - Premium ($2,500+): Everything in Standard + bespoke founder agreements, IP assignment, 83(b) election assistance, bookkeeping/CPA onboarding, ongoing monthly advisory retainer or annual compliance service, foreign qualification help. Recommended next steps to finalize content for the blog/newsletter: - Build the blog draft using the components and templates above; include a 50-state quick-reference table or at least highlight the most-commonly-used states (DE, CA, NY, TX, FL). - Embed authoritative links (FinCEN, IRS EIN, IRS Form 1099-K guidance, SBA, each state's SOS) and cite provider examples for pricing. - Add downloadable checklist and template samples (Operating Agreement template, 83(b) sample, compliance calendar). Caveats & items to monitor: - Regulatory items (BOI, 1099-K thresholds) changed in 2024–2025; continue to monitor FinCEN and IRS pages for future rulemaking or reversal. - State fees and due dates change frequently; recommended to link authoritative state pages dynamically or instruct readers to verify current fees on SOS sites.