A few bookkeeping Q's (from a beginner)

[CL Ziegler]

Greetings!

As a landlord, do I need a business license? Several people around here (Georgia) have said it’s a must. As a sole proprietor with a few houses, do you really need a business license?

How important is the LLC thing? I see people discussing it, but I've heard the taxes will go up under an LLC; is this true? Can someone sketch me a few pros and cons of LLCs?

Is business checking necessary? I can bank at the credit union for free with no minimums or limits. Another local bank offers a business account though I don’t even understand the difference, really. What does a business account gain you that you can’t get from a regular account?

Thanks everyone!