Five Ways to Sabotage Your Liability Protection After Incorporation


Many new business owners understand that incorporating or forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) helps shield a business owner against being held personally responsible for their company’s liabilities and debts. This is known as the corporate shield or corporate veil as it separates your personal assets from those of the business.

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However, did you know that even after incorporating or forming an LLC, you can still be personally liable?

Liability protection is not absolute and there are several instances where a business owner can be personally liable in business despite the fact he or she created a business entity.

Here are five of the most common ways this can happen:

1. Negligence and Personal Liability

In many situations, the limited liability protection from an LLC or corporation will not shield you from being liable for your own personal negligence. A person is typically liable for his or her own personal conduct when that conduct injures someone else. For example, if an electrician installs some wiring in a customer’s home and forgets to cap a live wire, the electrician can be personally liable if someone gets electrocuted. Likewise, if you’re driving to a client meeting in a company car and are negligent and hit someone, you can be personally liable for any injuries and damages.

2. Fraud

If you make untrue claims about a product or service, this is considered fraud. For example, if you’re marketing a milkshake supplement and guarantee that customers will shed 20 pounds per month just by drinking it, this could be a clear case of misrepresentation or fraud. If you claim that your glass container is BPA-free (when actually it does contain BPA), this also is fraud. In such cases, both the manufacturer as well as the company selling the product may be liable.

3. Personal Guarantee on Business Loans

When you first start your business, many third parties and creditors won’t be willing to do business with your LLC or Corp, as the entity is brand new and probably does not have a lot of assets or hasn’t built its own credit history yet. As a result, a bank or landlord may require the business owner or LLC member to “personally guarantee” a loan or lease. If you sign such an agreement, then you will be personally liable for those specific obligations.

4. “Piercing the Corporate Veil”

Many new business owners form an LLC or Corporation and then continue to operate their business as if that business entity didn’t exist. It’s very important that you follow through with all corporate formalities required for your LLC or corporation. For example:

  • Pay your business’ state and federal taxes
  • Don’t commingle your personal and business finances
  • File your annual report (if required by the state)
  • Keep up to date with your corporate minutes and resolutions (if necessary)
  • Record any changes with ‘Articles of Amendment’ (if necessary)
  • Have a board of directors and hold annual meetings of shareholders (if necessary)

You’ve got to make sure that your corporation or LLC remains in good standing. Why? Because if your business happens to be sued and the plaintiff shows you haven’t maintained your LLC/Inc to the letter of the law, your corporate veil is pierced and you can be personally liable again.

5. Conducting Business Out of State 

If you’ll be conducting business in a state other than the state where you formed your corporation or LLC, you will need to obtain authority to do so. In most cases, this entails qualifying as a Foreign Corporation or LLC within the state that you will be doing business. Specific licenses and permits may also be required for certain types of businesses as well.

For example, let’s say you run a small software development company based in Nevada and your company serves clients located outside Nevada. At this point your company is most likely not considered to be operating out of state. However, once you open a small development office with a few employees in California, your business will probably be considered to be doing business in California and you will have to file a Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation form with California.

As a small business owner, your schedule is invariably busy. However, being mindful of this list can help you keep your LLC or corporation’s limited liability protection intact. Stay informed about your state’s ongoing compliance requirements and get your paperwork in on time. Don’t engage in any fraud and consult a lawyer if you have any specific questions or concerns.

A little proactive maintenance will help ensure your LLC or corporation remains in good standing and continues to shield your personal assets for years to come.

Sabotage Photo via Shutterstock

CorpNet offers business formations, filings, state tax registrations, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Express and 24 hour rush filing services available upon request. Click here to learn more.


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Nellie Akalp Nellie Akalp is a passionate entrepreneur, recognized business expert and mother of four. She is the CEO of CorpNet, the smartest way to start a business, register for payroll taxes, and maintain business compliance across the United States.

4 Reactions
  1. Nellie–
    WOW! These are good to know. I think a lot of people will assume they’re protected under the LLC, so it’s good that you outlined situations where that’s not the case. Great post!

    SUsan

  2. Susan – thank you so much for reading my post and for the support! 🙂 – Nellie

  3. Can a LLC evolve if a business changes? If you start out doing “in state” then move to interstate?

    • Hi Ben,

      LLCs are always filed on a state level. If the company expands and opens branches in additional states, that’s when the company is generally required to “foreign qualify” in those new states. If you have any additional questions or need assistance with filing a foreign qualification, please contact Katie Hendrix in my office at 888.449.2638 x110.