Real Estate Attorney vs LegalZoom.com?

[Courtney McCoy]

I think I have it narrowed down on how I want to initially structure my new business (an LLC with S-corp destination so that I don't have to pay both Personal Income Tax on profits + Business Corporate Income Tax; I would only have to pay Personal Income Tax on profits).

It's quite a bit more expensive ($1,000-$1,500) to use Real Estate Attorney to get business started vs using LegalZoom for approx $350+State Filing Fees (for their Express Gold Service).

Two questions:

1) Do you think my structure is good (LLC with S-corp designation for tax purposes)?

2) Is it best to have an attorney do the paperwork or is LegalZoom easy to work with and won't drive me insane trying to take the lower cost route?

[Rob King]

The majority of protection that you get from an LLC is in the operating agreement. On legaldoom you get a generic operating agreement that wont protect you to a high standard. You want an extremely detailed and professional written operating agreement that protects you in the fashion you would like. Therefore I wouldn't even talk to any Bar attorney. Yet find someone who specializes in asset protection.

Most of what your paying an the professional for is going to be this operating agreement that is very tight.