First time user; should I set up an LLC as an umbrella for multiple accounts? Advice?

11 replies
Hey. I just signed up with Warrior Forum and I'm just getting started on the path to becoming an every day affiliate marketer. I€™m trying to determine some answers to questions regarding the appropriate company/LLC set-up to start marketing as a proper Affiliate.

I'd like to have all my business components set up correctly so that taxation or receiving commission checks are a centralized, straightforward, simple processes.

As stated, I'm just starting out in affiliate marketing and I'm working on promoting everything from children's toys to medical equipment as an affiliate marketer. I'm already interested in pursuing about half a dozen specialty niches now...however, I don't want to set up multiple or different companies that are attached to only one specialty niche - that would get out of control pretty fast.

What I think is the best way is to establish a single new corporate entity such as an LLC company that "houses" multiple streams and promotions for the various products, programs and campaigns within it.

What would the recommendation be to basically start a new Affiliate Marketing LLC company, where this new company manages campaigns for all the niches that you're interested in working on?

For example, let's say you set up a new LLC called "WarriorAffiliateGroup, LLC". So that would mean that your "2017 Spiderman toys", your "10-Step Financial Freedom" book series your "LifeFlex Retirement Scooter" and your "New Hope Senior Shower Chairs" affiliate programs are all contained, clustered, managed & operated under the single "WarriorAffiliateGroup, LLC" umbrella. Can you do that?

Is this the best way to set up one single, centralized affiliate marketing company for managing your entire personal affiliate marketing network? If that's true, then Amazon or ClickBank or Commission Junction would ultimately send your affiliate commissions checks simply to "WarriorAffiliateGroup, LLC", and not €œJim Bob Smith€ correct?

I'm just trying to get a feel for how to set things up properly so all my programs have a consistent implementation regardless of what thing I'm marketing.

Any advice you have on how to go about this would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Walter Johnson
#accounts #advice #llc #multiple #set #time #umbrella #user
  • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
    Banned
    The only good advice anyone can give you is to consult a local attorney to discuss your specific situation.

    You'll get lots of advice here, but I wouldn't bet MY business on any of it.

    Govern your actions accordingly. See, even I can sound like a lawyer. :-)

    Frank
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985099].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author graefika
      The problem I'm having is that I don't want to run a campaign on Amazon only to have to create an Amazon affiliate company to do it. Nor do I want to establish a Click Bank company just to manage my Click Bank offers.

      I just want to tie off or feed everything into one entity, regardless of what Affiliate program I care to join.

      That's really the essence of what I'm asking. I will start seeking legal advisement though.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985103].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
        Banned
        Originally Posted by graefika View Post

        I will start seeking legal advisement though.
        Smartest thing you can do. There are sites where you can pay an expert to answer your question for a modest sum. An actual lawyer will answer your question for around $15.

        Google is your friend.

        Frank
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985107].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
    Talk to a lawyer and accountant in your area.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985221].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
    Banned
    Anything to get that signature link seen, even at the expense of repeating the obvious.

    Shameless! lol

    Frank
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985223].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author graefika
      I followed your advice on a Ask a Law question; hopefully I'll hear something back soon. Here's my question that I had more details regarding:

      Q: Cartoon series called "The Ratman Chronicles". I buy the domain name - "www.ratman-chronicles-toys". Will I get sued?

      MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS QUESTION: I'm working to sell children's toys online as an affiliate marketer of Amazon.com.

      I am trying to determine if I'm legally allowed or permitted by The Ratman Chronicles authors/owners to feature the same words as are in the TV series title itself as a part of my domain name I purchased in order to sell Ratman toys based off the characters of the TV series itself.

      All I'm doing is including the words "ratman" and "chronicles" in my domain name to drive web traffic searching for Ratman Chronicles toys to my Ratman Chronicles toy website to make a commission from any "Ratman Chronicles" toy sales via Amazon.com.

      I do not own any Ratman toys; all Ratman sales would be transacted by the retailer - Amazon.com in this example.

      I'm not trying to suggest I own The Ratman Chronicles. I'm just using the keywords to attract Ratman Chronicles fans to my Ratman toys website to sell more Ratman Chronicles toys.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985284].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
        Banned
        Originally Posted by graefika View Post

        I followed your advice on a Ask a Law question; hopefully I'll hear something back soon. Here's my question that I had more details regarding:

        Q: Cartoon series called "The Ratman Chronicles". I buy the domain name - "www.ratman-chronicles-toys". Will I get sued?

        MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS QUESTION: I'm working to sell children's toys online as an affiliate marketer of Amazon.com.

        I am trying to determine if I'm legally allowed or permitted by The Ratman Chronicles authors/owners to feature the same words as are in the TV series title itself as a part of my domain name I purchased in order to sell Ratman toys based off the characters of the TV series itself.

        All I'm doing is including the words "ratman" and "chronicles" in my domain name to drive web traffic searching for Ratman Chronicles toys to my Ratman Chronicles toy website to make a commission from any "Ratman Chronicles" toy sales via Amazon.com.

        I do not own any Ratman toys; all Ratman sales would be transacted by the retailer - Amazon.com in this example.

        I'm not trying to suggest I own The Ratman Chronicles. I'm just using the keywords to attract Ratman Chronicles fans to my Ratman toys website to sell more Ratman Chronicles toys.
        There are many threads on this topic. Use the search function.

        The bottom-line consensus is your proposed tactic will result in a cease and desist letter at a minimum and if you don't comply you will open yourself up to a trademark infringement lawsuit. The test is whether or not the average person will be confused and make the incorrect assumption that you do have the rights to the trademark.

        Why look for trouble? How many examples on the Internet can you point to that are using your proposed scenario? The answer is none. Why do you think that is???

        Frank
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985292].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
      Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

      Anything to get that signature link seen, even at the expense of repeating the obvious.

      Shameless! lol

      Frank
      What?

      I'm repeating the obvious because it needs to be repeated - especially regarding legal advice on this forum. Questions like this are asked a lot and the answer is always the same.

      Talking to a qualified lawyer is the only way the OP can get a definitive answer. I wish the mods would make a sticky about legal advice threads or just ban them completely.

      I deleted my signature, so I have nothing to gain from posting the obvious on this thread.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985427].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
        Banned
        Originally Posted by BradVert2013 View Post

        What?

        I'm repeating the obvious because it needs to be repeated - especially regarding legal advice on this forum. Questions like this are asked a lot and the answer is always the same.

        Talking to a qualified lawyer is the only way the OP can get a definitive answer. I wish the mods would make a sticky about legal advice threads or just ban them completely.

        I deleted my signature, so I have nothing to gain from posting the obvious on this thread.
        He can't go wrong following the recommendation I made. Better safe than sorry.

        Frank
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985826].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author graefika
    Okay, then.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985306].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PinkStar
    Originally Posted by graefika View Post

    I'd like to have all my business components set up correctly so that taxation or receiving commission checks are a centralized, straightforward, simple processes.
    You're making this way too complicated.

    Register your LLC, get a tax id number, open a business account at your bank - done. Now you have a tax id and business name to use when joining affiliate programs.
    When you get checks you deposit it into this account. If you get wires you give them this account. You still have to manage other accounts such as if you choose to get paid via paypal.
    When it's time to do your taxes there are plenty of services that can help.

    Good luck.
    Signature
    Move it along folks, nothing to see here
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10985848].message }}

Trending Topics