There are a lot of services out there that are eager to "put an LLC after your company name." I suppose that fine. It's sort of like putting that J.D. after mine. After we get past those couple of letters, people just call me "Chris." Entities, such as corporations and LLC's, are tools and these tools can be used to accomplish different things. I often have clients come to me as they are about to start a business with the idea that they need an LLC. Why? What purpose will it serve? Annoyingly simple questions that are often rather difficult to answer. Sometimes, there are legitimate liability concerns. Under the right circumstances, an entity might be a good tool to create some tax efficiency for the business or its owner. Compartmentalizing certain capital or real property assets from the liability of a company's operations is occasionally the subject of discussion. In my practice, I will not form an entity for a client until I understand what it is the client intends to accomplish. The type of entity is then selected to best accomplish that objective and is structured in a manner to support that goal. Later today, I will spend a little time with a client who wants to form a new LLC. The plan is to record our time together so that a video can be shared here. I look forward to hearing from you and welcome any questions you might have. It is time I get myself another cup of coffee and see about getting myself busy with work. Chris

I have spent over 30 years in the practice of law, learning what was not taught in law school and debunking a lot of nonsense taught in hotel conference room seminars and now on the Internet. Until today, my work has been largely performed one-on-one with clients who pay for my counsel and advice. Not only do they appreciate the cost savings of working with me from the start, but they rest a lot easier because they now understand how to use business structures, contracts, and other tools to protect and operate their business. It is my pleasure to welcome you to this community. Allow me to share what you can expect as we close out 2025. This community will not officially "launch" until after the new year. Consider this the "pre-launch" phase of our community. My hope is to see the nucleus of our community begin to come together as "Founding Members." Right now, there is nothing to buy. You are encouraged to make yourself at home and let me and the others know how we might help you. Yes, we will have community guidelines or rules, which first need to be thought through and published. For now, what I ask is to behave as though you were invited to someone else's house. Keep the shoes off of the furniture! This is a metaphor for not using this community as a place to promote other communities, websites, your business, etc. Be kind. Be generous. I think we will be alright. I look forward to meeting you, so drop a post and introduce yourself. My intention is to respond to everyone, for as long as that is possible. Welcome to the community! Chris

If you are here, you are likely doing something that matters: trying to turn an idea, a skill, or a side effort into a business that actually works in the real world. That takes more than motivation. It takes structure, discipline, and a willingness to learn how businesses are built and operated day after day. This community exists to support that work. Built to Operate is not about shortcuts, hype, or chasing someone else’s version of success. It is about understanding the practical realities of running a small business — forming the right foundation, putting basic systems in place, avoiding common mistakes, and making steady progress even when things feel uncomfortable or uncertain. Here you will find discussion and guidance on topics such as: - How to think about business entities and formal setup - Basic accounting, financial organization, and tax concepts - Contracts and risk awareness at a practical, educational level - Using AI and technology responsibly in a small business - Building repeatable systems instead of constantly improvising This is a learning community. No individualized legal, tax, or accounting advice is given here. My role is to share experience, frameworks, and perspective that help you think more clearly and operate more intentionally. When professional advice is needed, that should always happen through proper, formal channels. What I ask of you in return is simple: - Show up with a willingness to learn - Ask thoughtful, practical questions - Be respectful of others who are at different stages of the journey - Understand that progress is often uneven, and that setbacks are part of building something worthwhile If you are willing to do the work, stay consistent, and improve one step at a time, you are in the right place. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get to work!