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Name that skydiving business

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So I've decided to incorporate my schedule C business (skydiving) as an LLC and need a name for it. The first thing that came to mind was "Cloud 9 Skydiving", but I've been told that's "pretty gay". Since we've done "Name that pet" hundreds of times here and gotten skydiving themed names, it should be a breeze for you people to come up with something good. Ideas?

Blues,
Dave
"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

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If it's a dropzone, I say "The Fandango School of Skydiving".

Make sure you get permission. :D



Liking that general direction but not wanting to pay royalties, I went to the anagram page. For fandango they gave "fan a dong", "gonad fan", and "and no fag". :D:D:D

Blues,
Dave
"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

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1. Operating as an LLC is not a bad idea, as it gives you certain protections from personal-asset liability that you don't have as a sole proprietorship. Educate yourself carefully and/or consult an attorney to make sure you establish and maintain, on an ongoing basis, all the necessary formalities of operation, the better to protect yourself from potential creditors who might try to go after you personally by "piercing the corporate veil." (Formalities such as separate bank accounts, not co-mingling personal and LLC funds, maintaining formal corporate records such as minute books and bylaws, any periodic "meetings" required by your state's laws, etc.)

2. Do (or get a lawyer to do) an exhaustive search to see whether whatever trade name you're considering is being used by any other business. This is standard procedure whenever a business incorporates, or adopts a trade name, etc. The reason for this is to avoid using the same or very similar trade name as one already being used by someone else, who will then claim first dibs, get a lawyer to send you a nasty letter, etc.

At the very least, have this search done in your home state. Different states have different variations, but every state will have names of corporations, LLCs, LLP, partnerships, etc. registered, usually with each state's Department of State. Many states also let people/companies register trade names, although it's usually not required to do so. This search is fairly easy to do on a state-by-state basis. Unfortunately, I know of no national databases (other than a generic Google-type search) that collect all of this info into a single searchable resource.

3. If you haven't already done so, double-check with an accountant as to the comparative tax consequences of the various business entity types available in your state (Subchapter S corporation, LLC, LLP, etc.)

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Thanks for all the advice. I have asked a CPA about tax effects, and he said that a sub-S and an LLC are basically the same from a tax perspective. I've also been advised that the LLC better separates me from my business. Apparently my next steps are to register my business name with the secretary of state & pay a lawyer to draw up articles of incorporation. It's currently a sole proprietership and I'm not planning on taking on any partners, though I suppose I probably could if there was some significant advantage to doing so.

Blues,
Dave
"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

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Thanks for all the advice. I have asked a CPA about tax effects, and he said that a sub-S and an LLC are basically the same from a tax perspective.


This is not true
Quote

I've also been advised that the LLC better separates me from my business.


Also not true
Quote

Apparently my next steps are to register my business name with the secretary of state & pay a lawyer to draw up articles of incorporation.


Depending on your state law (I don't live there) the process may be much easier than that. I know that in CO I could do it in less than an hour and for about $25 (unless they are running the $.99 internet special)
Quote

It's currently a sole proprietership and I'm not planning on taking on any partners, though I suppose I probably could if there was some significant advantage to doing so.


A single member LLC is a disregarded entity and will be reported on your sch. C exactly as you are doing now.

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So I've decided to incorporate my schedule C business (skydiving) as an LLC and need a name for it. The first thing that came to mind was "Cloud 9 Skydiving", but I've been told that's "pretty gay". Since we've done "Name that pet" hundreds of times here and gotten skydiving themed names, it should be a breeze for you people to come up with something good. Ideas?

No comment about the "pretty gay" part, but one other thing that comes up is where is the location of the dropzone? Scenery? Which locale? Etc. That could all influence the name...

(i.e. Skydive The Farm, Lost Prarie, MOAB, etc.)

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No comment about the "pretty gay" part, but one other thing that comes up is where is the location of the dropzone? Scenery? Which locale? Etc. That could all influence the name...



It's not a dropzone. Though I have one "primary" DZ I work at all summer, I train students at a few different dropzones, so I can't really tie my name to one specific location.

Blues,
Dave
"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

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Thanks for all the advice. I have asked a CPA about tax effects, and he said that a sub-S and an LLC are basically the same from a tax perspective.


This is not true

I dunno; I ain't no stinking CPA

Quote

I've also been advised that the LLC better separates me from my business.


Also not true

Dunno from a tax perspective, but from a liability perspective, a sub-S is good protection (just observe all corporate formalities); and in some states an LLC is just as good, while in other states the protection is less than a sub-S


Quote

Apparently my next steps are to register my business name with the secretary of state & pay a lawyer to draw up articles of incorporation.


Depending on your state law (I don't live there) the process may be much easier than that. I know that in CO I could do it in less than an hour and for about $25 (unless they are running the $.99 internet special)
Quote



$25 is a pretty good deal. Most states charge around $100 to file articles of incorporation. In most states, articles of incorporation are a 1 or 2-page form that's downloadable from the Sec'y of State's website. Some states let you fill it out as a PDF or electronic form & file it electronically. Either way, whether you'd fill it out yourself or get a lawyer to do it depends on your own comfort level. Often, filing the Arts of Inc. registers the business name; however in some states you need to file a separate Registration of Fictitious Name. Check your state. Better yet, don't be a cheap bastard. Lawyers' kids gotta eat, too. ;)



It's currently a sole proprietership and I'm not planning on taking on any partners, though I suppose I probably could if there was some significant advantage to doing so.



One obvious advantage is having a co-investor in the business. The disadvantage is not having 100% control over the business.

From standpoint of liability, having a partner means he'd probably get sued, too if a student Lutzes. That can be good as far as having another pocket to pay a judgment, but bad in that if the partner is the instructor on a jump that goes tits up, you get sued, too.


A single member LLC is a disregarded entity and will be reported on your sch. C exactly as you are doing now.



Search me; I'm no bean counter. You'd be well advised to check out (maybe from a different CPA) whether this is the case.

From a liability standpoint, an LLC is better than not being incorporated at all.

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