LLC TO SELL HONEY

[slacker361]

do you all have an LLC or sole proprietorship set up?

[iddee]

No. Not needed here for farm crops. No sales tax on home grown products.

[AllenF]

Cash income.   Goes into pocket and forgotten about.   Oh, did I say that out loud?

[slacker361]

I was more worried about protection, from consumers

[iddee]

Don't sell bad honey.....

[slacker361]

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)

[iddee]

And if you have a business and insurance, they sue you. If you don't, then they sue the restaurant that does.

[joebrown]

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.

[iddee]

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.

[slacker361]

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?

[slacker361]

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?

[iddee]

The threats didn't concern beekeeping.

If you have enough ins., I'll cut my finger on the can. We'll split the take.

[sterling]

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:

[AliciaH]

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.

[slacker361]

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

[hankdog1]

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. 

[slacker361]

I am solely looking for the liability protection, is there any other way to do it besides LLC or incorporating some how?

[AllenF]

Get a million dollar umbrella insurance package that covers everything.

[slacker361]

how many american dollars does that run???

[AllenF]

No idea.   Get it with your homeowners.