If I am a handyman and want to protect my assets from any potential liability, should I go with an LLC, sole proprietorship, etc?
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If I am a handyman and want to protect my assets from any potential liability, should I go with an LLC, sole proprietorship, etc?
I am retired, drawing a pension and social security. I have been performing odd jobs for folks and, well, I tend to be ‘passed around’ to various people as they like my handyman work(manship). I want to continue…but am concerned over liability issues that may crop up. I am trying to keep this simple and not costly but don’t want to become bankrupt over something stupid that could happen (e.g. lawsuit over whatever). And, regardless of the legal form, what kind of insurance should I be looking at?
Asked on March 11, 2014 under Business Law, Kentucky
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
1) A sole proprietorship provides *no* protection against liability, while an LLC provides strong, but not complete or absolute, protection (there are some causes of action or claims which the LLC will not protect you against, such as a tort, or injury claim, if you personally did something to injure another, even if you did that while working for your LLC--you can be sued as the injury-causing person). Therefore, you should have an LLC. As an additional benefit, if you keep the LLC accounting, bank accounts, checks, etc. fully separate from your personal, it is somewhat easier to take business deductions since you can prove them more easily.
2) You should have general liability insurance for at least $250,000 and property coverage for your tools of the trade and supplies. You also need to make sure that if you use your car for work, that your insurer knows that--they'll probably charge you a little more, but you'll be covered for a car accident while at work.
3) Note that your pension and social security are already highly protected from any claims; the above protection is for any assets of yours (like cars, tools, real estate, boats or ATVs, etc.) and any other sources of income.
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