Starting an LLC - looking for some advice

The little economic starlet just announced they won't be handing out immediate fines anymore, supposedly giving people a chance to fix mistakes first. I honestly can't tell if they've actually started following through on that promise. At the end of the day, the government lives off taxes and penalties...

PANENIĆ ANNOUNCES NEW INSPECTION RULES: ‘Minor violations will no longer be penalized as they were before’

Why couldn't you just sweep the evidence under the rug? A little dust and suddenly there's no proof anything even happened.

Man, I am so sorry for your loss.

I guess this is exactly why anyone with half a brain tries to avoid starting a business here in the States if they can help it, and why everyone just sticks to under-the-table cash deals. It's everywhere.

Honestly, you end up dealing with people who don't have a clue how to do their actual jobs, and then they still charge you full price because they honestly think they have no idea what they're doing.

Question for the OP: why are you even bothering with an LLC when you could just go the sole proprietorship route?

So from what I’ve gathered, the complications are actually way bigger than I thought.

Jessica Murphy61 said:😁

So get this, I called the county economic development office today—or whatever they call it—and I ended up talking to this super nice lady. I laid out my whole situation, and she actually went ahead and called a bunch of different places herself just to see if there were any specific rules for running a sand quarry.

She reached out to everyone from the state administration offices down to environmental inspectors and stuff.

And honestly? Turns out nobody has a clue what’s going on. 😁

I guess I'll just stick to the basics for now—you know, having the right certifications, an evacuation plan, fire extinguishers, all that. If an inspector shows up and finds something wrong, I'll just fix it then.

The only things I'm still stuck on are whether I actually need to file for a zoning change, and if I really need industrial-grade power just to run two 150W lamps.

You definitely need to rezone that space for commercial use.
That’s where your business activity officially lives.
As the owner, you can lease the space to your LLC, but you can only legally operate within designated commercial zones.
And a commercial space won't be running on a standard residential power connection.

I'm not sure which city you're in, but try finding a local independent accountant. Someone working out of their own home office would be perfect. They'll know exactly what they had to do to get their own business up and running.

Honestly, I think this whole thing is just total nonsense.

I mean, what good is a higher amperage rating anyway? I’m only ever running two lamps in my workshop, so there's really no point.

Plus, since nobody from the local building department will actually give me a straight answer, I’m going to save whatever response I eventually get. That way, when the inspectors show up, they can just read their own people's official word.

Anyway, what’s the actual process for changing a commercial space? Do I have to hire someone to measure everything, draw up blueprints, and create a full project just to change the zoning? And man, how much is that even going to run me?

Jessica Murphy61 said:Honestly, I think this whole thing is just total nonsense.

I mean, what good is a higher amperage rating anyway? I’m only ever running two lamps in my workshop, so there's really no point.

Plus, since nobody from the local building department will actually give me a straight answer, I’m going to save whatever response I eventually get. That way, when the inspectors show up, they can just read their own people's official word.

Anyway, what’s the actual process for changing a commercial space? Do I have to hire someone to measure everything, draw up blueprints, and create a full project just to change the zoning? And man, how much is that even going to run me?

The issue isn't about power capacity. Residential users get certain rates up to a point, but industrial electricity is priced differently. For a commercial space, you have way more utility providers to choose from than a standard household.
It’s about the price, not the wattage.

As for rezoning, you'll need to check with your local City Hall or the County Clerk's office.
Your local municipal building department or the county seat should be able to walk you through the whole process.
If you're planning something messy, you've got waste disposal and sewage issues to consider...
Plus, if a neighbor decides to report you, you might be forced to install heavy-duty ventilation or air purifiers to handle airborne particles...

It might seem weird to you, but you've bitten off a massive unknown 🙂
In the real world, there are a thousand ways they can fine you...
Did you really register the business before you even had the full picture?

What kind of dirty job is that? I work indoors, wearing a full suit with its own oxygen supply.

So, zero outdoor pollution. Plus, I’m not even dealing with sand; I use copper slag, which is becoming the standard since it doesn't kick up dust.

Anyway, I'll get all this sorted eventually, since I'm not planning on jumping into it right away. I'm still getting my workspace ready for another two weeks, then I'm heading over to work for a different company.

Once I'm home, I'll probably tinker with this stuff in my free time until it really takes off.

And look—I only started the business to cover myself while doing roles involving equipment and stuff, plus some other side gigs I handle. 😁 😁

Jessica Murphy61 said:Honestly, I think this whole thing is just total nonsense.

I mean, what good is a higher amperage rating anyway? I’m only ever running two lamps in my workshop, so there's really no point.

Plus, since nobody from the local building department will actually give me a straight answer, I’m going to save whatever response I eventually get. That way, when the inspectors show up, they can just read their own people's official word.

Anyway, what’s the actual process for changing a commercial space? Do I have to hire someone to measure everything, draw up blueprints, and create a full project just to change the zoning? And man, how much is that even going to run me?

Don't be naive. You aren't going to get anything in writing from those bureaucrats looking to protect their cushy jobs 🙂

Running your own business in Rhode Island is basically a lottery. You just have to expect it. I made an agreement with my partners that we’ll stay completely above board with our taxes and fees. If they try to squeeze us for some irregular fee, and if that amount is more than what $67 would pay, then we just let the 🙂 go into bankruptcy)

Yeah, every bureaucrat is terrified of their own signature.

Back in the day, I called the IRS, and some clerk tells me I don't even need to pay taxes up to a certain amount. I call back later to double-check, and this guy goes, "Who told you that? Give me your account number, your reference code, everything." Turns out, whatever some lazy paper-pusher told me meant absolutely nothing. If it isn't stamped and official, it doesn't exist.

That’s why from now on, I’m sending every single inquiry via certified mail. I figure they’ll be forced to stamp the response, and then I actually have something that holds weight if I ever end up in court...

Yeah, so they actually confirmed today that I’m eligible for that $4,000 startup grant since I'm setting up my own LLC.

But here's the thing... I'm technically not supposed to have the business active yet, but I already registered it just so I could get an EIN to order some equipment. 🤦

I actually reached out to the Department of Commerce and pulled a few strings, so maybe they'll still let me grab that subsidy.

Anyway, big question here:

I'm not planning on using a formal POS system or anything; I'd rather just handle everything through invoices. Honestly, I'm probably looking at maybe one or two clients a day max, so if that even happens, I'll be stoked. 😁

So, this might sound a little weird to people—say someone drops off some rims for powder coating, I'd just write up an invoice and tell them to pay via bank transfer.

Is it possible to, I don't know, take cash upfront from customers and then just write my own check later to deposit it into my business account?
I'm guessing Chase or similar banks don't really care who the actual sender is, so I'd just list the client's name as the payer on the deposit slip, even if I'm the one physically handing it over.

Jessica Murphy61 said:What kind of dirty job is that? I work indoors, wearing a full suit with its own oxygen supply.

So, zero outdoor pollution. Plus, I’m not even dealing with sand; I use copper slag, which is becoming the standard since it doesn't kick up dust.

Anyway, I'll get all this sorted eventually, since I'm not planning on jumping into it right away. I'm still getting my workspace ready for another two weeks, then I'm heading over to work for a different company.

Once I'm home, I'll probably tinker with this stuff in my free time until it really takes off.

And look—I only started the business to cover myself while doing roles involving equipment and stuff, plus some other side gigs I handle. 😁 😁

You’re far too young and naive for this. 🙂

Sandblasting and grinding are messy jobs. Once you start stripping away patina, rust, or old paint, you’re left with waste that needs proper disposal to protect the environment from all that dust and smoke.
Working in this industry gives you so many reasons to feel frustrated; you’re constantly tripping over red tape, and if you don't meet every single tiny requirement, they just hit you with fines. It's honestly exhausting. 🙂

Once, a woman at the office sent me an email listing everything I needed to bring, so I just kept a printed checklist on hand.
I gather everything up and bring it all in, only for her to ask: "Wait, where's the official stamp from the county office on this form?" Even though she’s holding the receipt right in front of her face! It’s like someone else still needs to verify that the tax was paid before they'll finally authorize it with a stamp.
Of course, she left that part out...

Head straight to the Department of Commerce first. Get that sorted as soon as possible, because otherwise, you're just letting business expenses pile up while you're stuck waiting. You can't officially launch until everything is legal—if you start operating without all your permits in place, the penalties could be brutal.
I just hope you're living somewhere a bit more laid-back, where knowing the right people can actually help things move along. 🙂

Yeah, I'll be there. I've still got a good month of downtime to get everything sorted out.

Man, this is such a tiny town, it's basically nothing.

And those guys over at the EPA? They act like they don't have a clue what the requirements even are 😁

Like, they aren't even sure if we need ventilation or anything. I'm not gonna stress about it too much though, just taking it easy.

They won't help you either, honestly. They'll just hit you with a massive fine and leave you to deal with the mess alone. ☕

Jessica Murphy61 said:Yeah, I'll be there. I've still got a good month of downtime to get everything sorted out.

Man, this is such a tiny town, it's basically nothing.

And those guys over at the EPA? They act like they don't have a clue what the requirements even are 😁

Like, they aren't even sure if we need ventilation or anything. I'm not gonna stress about it too much though, just taking it easy.

Oh, and make sure to leave some kind of radio running in the workspace, even a broken one.
Just enough so Zamp can come knocking to collect those copyright fees.😁

transistor 😁😁

Man, I’m really stressing over this whole failed grant situation. I'm just waiting on an answer, but if it doesn't go through, I might just shut down the business, head to the unemployment office, and then start up a brand new 😁😁

I guess I'll be eating a $567 loss if I actually land that 25,000

Jessica Murphy61 said:transistor 😁😁

Man, I’m really stressing over this whole failed grant situation. I'm just waiting on an answer, but if it doesn't go through, I might just shut down the business, head to the unemployment office, and then start up a brand new 😁😁

I guess I'll be eating a $567 loss if I actually land that 25,000

And listen, to get that 25 grand, you have to commit to keeping someone on full-time payroll for a whole year, pre-allocate every single cent of where it’s going, and then stick strictly to that plan—nothing else. Double-check every tiny detail before you make a move 😉 ... because heaven forbid you miss one obscure requirement. You’ll end up paying those salaries all year, and then on top of that, you'll be stuck paying back the entire amount plus interest...

Watch your step!

Honestly, I don't even care anymore. I think they finally cut those subsidies, or at least that's what I heard...

🤦

http://www.bls.gov/default.aspx?id=32866

While I'm waiting on some paperwork from the Census Bureau, I've got three questions:

1.) I’m meeting with my architect tomorrow to work on rezoning a space from industrial to commercial, so I can hopefully snag a building permit for business use. Does anyone know how much it costs just to get the permit issued? I already know what the architect is charging, so that part's fine.

2.) There's a house right next to the commercial space, maybe 15 feet away. I'm thinking about having her rezone that one to mixed-use too, so we have the restroom situation sorted out immediately + my girl wants to start a jewelry business or something, so it would be handy. Is that actually doable?

3.) Do I really need to hire an accountant, or can I handle the books myself? I mean, I won't be doing it totally solo—I'll have someone helping me—but I'm planning on running the show myself.

Jessica Murphy61 said:Honestly, I don't even care anymore. I think they finally cut those subsidies, or at least that's what I heard...

🤦

http://www.bls.gov/default.aspx?id=32866

While I'm waiting on some paperwork from the Census Bureau, I've got three questions:

1.) I’m meeting with my architect tomorrow to work on rezoning a space from industrial to commercial, so I can hopefully snag a building permit for business use. Does anyone know how much it costs just to get the permit issued? I already know what the architect is charging, so that part's fine.

2.) There's a house right next to the commercial space, maybe 15 feet away. I'm thinking about having her rezone that one to mixed-use too, so we have the restroom situation sorted out immediately + my girl wants to start a jewelry business or something, so it would be handy. Is that actually doable?

3.) Do I really need to hire an accountant, or can I handle the books myself? I mean, I won't be doing it totally solo—I'll have someone helping me—but I'm planning on running the show myself.

Turns out they stopped taking new applications because the budget ran dry... though apparently, everything already in the system will still be processed normally, if you believe the official line. :-/

So I talked to the project manager today, and she’s charging $10 per square foot for everything—from fire safety plans to basically the whole works.

And get this—she tells me that once we have the blueprints plus the electrical and plumbing certifications, she has to head down to City Hall to get our commercial occupancy permit.

Then, apparently, we take that permit and apply for an actual operating license. But she claims we can't even touch the operating license until the building looks finished on the outside, like the siding or stucco is all done.

Is that actually how it works?