Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: slacker361 on May 12, 2011, 09:09:14 PM

Title: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 12, 2011, 09:09:14 PM
do you all have an LLC or sole proprietorship set up?
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: iddee on May 12, 2011, 09:27:00 PM
No. Not needed here for farm crops. No sales tax on home grown products.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: AllenF on May 12, 2011, 10:02:49 PM
Cash income.   Goes into pocket and forgotten about.   Oh, did I say that out loud?
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 12, 2011, 10:03:55 PM
I was more worried about protection, from consumers
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: iddee on May 12, 2011, 10:13:29 PM
Don't sell bad honey.....
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 12, 2011, 10:21:29 PM
yeah of course I wouldnt, but you know in this litigious society we live in, someone taste my honey, and then go eat at a bad restaurant and get sick and they blame me....  (litigious that is my 50 cent sword of the day)
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: iddee on May 12, 2011, 11:17:23 PM
And if you have a business and insurance, they sue you. If you don't, then they sue the restaurant that does.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: joebrown on May 12, 2011, 11:22:09 PM
Iddee, that is hilarious! I do not worry about that personally! I know lots of people that sell things at farmers markets and festivals and I have never heard of them actually setting up a business. If you do however you better definitely purchase insurance.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: iddee on May 12, 2011, 11:28:51 PM
I have never purchased ins. I have been threatened with several suits until they found out I didn't have any. The lawyers won't take a case without ins. or a very rich person. Neither applies to me. Not hilarious, but very serious.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 12, 2011, 11:42:53 PM
hmm maybe a way around this is sell the honey container, and give the honey away.... 5 dollars for the container and the free honey , what ya think?
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 12, 2011, 11:46:46 PM
Quote from: iddee on May 12, 2011, 11:28:51 PM
I have never purchased ins. I have been threatened with several suits until they found out I didn't have any. The lawyers won't take a case without ins. or a very rich person. Neither applies to me. Not hilarious, but very serious.

I have to ask why are you threatened?
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: iddee on May 12, 2011, 11:49:02 PM
The threats didn't concern beekeeping.

If you have enough ins., I'll cut my finger on the can. We'll split the take.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: sterling on May 13, 2011, 03:10:18 PM
Around here people who raise milk goats sell goats milk and cheese, but they label it for pets only. :shock: I suppose to protect themselves for that from that litigious thing you are talking about. :shock:
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: AliciaH on May 13, 2011, 05:18:17 PM
I tried to set up my honey business under an existing s-corp, but the accountant says the two businesses are too different.  She recommended an LLC.

You don't have to have a business to sell honey in WA state, but she made the recomendation for "liability" reasons.  Her concern is more from the bee side of things, not the honey, oddly enough.

I'm looking into it, but I'm still trying to figure out if it's really necessary.

Just for kicks and giggles...what could someone sue me for?  Worse case scenario, the person down the street is allergic and gets stung?  She'd have to prove it was my bee, right?  A swarm takes residence in someone's wall and they have to make repairs, same answer, I think.

Sorry to sound so cold hearted about it, but I'm getting a bit tired of the "chasing my tail" feeling.

Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 13, 2011, 05:48:46 PM
aliciaH  I agree 100 %  but there is always someone wanting to ride the backs of others.. Just trying to protect my assets that me and my wife have worked for , for many years
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: hankdog1 on May 13, 2011, 06:26:54 PM
Question is it worth 50 bucks a year to be incorperated as an LLC?  Not to mention the 500 to a lawyer to get it done?  Reporting all transactions?  Another tax return to file?  Payroll taxes if you hire someone or pay yourself?  Alot of head ache if your just doing a few thousand dollars worth of business.  It has benefits too but only if you are grossing a sizeable number from year to year. 
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 13, 2011, 08:44:47 PM
I am solely looking for the liability protection, is there any other way to do it besides LLC or incorporating some how?
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: AllenF on May 13, 2011, 08:49:52 PM
Get a million dollar umbrella insurance package that covers everything.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 13, 2011, 09:02:13 PM
how many american dollars does that run???
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: AllenF on May 13, 2011, 09:07:20 PM
No idea.   Get it with your homeowners.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 13, 2011, 09:10:33 PM
see you guys are geniuses , I just looked a couple of different places and I found that it can be as little as $40.00 per year.....

thanks for the proper direction .....again LOL
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: AliciaH on May 13, 2011, 09:35:47 PM
So, Slacker, did you actually call your insurance company and ask them about this?  Just curious because liability is why the accountant is pushing (and I do worry about those things, too), so I'm wondering what your company had to say about it all.
Title: Re: LLC TO SELL HONEY
Post by: slacker361 on May 13, 2011, 09:42:13 PM
I will try and call tomorrow, but i did look on line , and saw another post that stated a hobby farmer rider on a policy was only $40 / year, not sure what it all covers , but like I said I will find out tomorrow.....