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Specialty Entities
7 specialty structures

Specialty entity structures. When standard LLC won't do.

Most businesses form as an LLC or C-Corp. For specific use cases, specialty entities make sense: Limited Partnerships for investment funds, General Partnerships for traditional partnerships, Charging Order Protection LLCs (WY/NV) for asset protection, Close Corporations for small-business corporate structure with relaxed formalities, Public Benefit Corps for mission-driven businesses. We help pick and form the right structure.

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All specialty entity services.

From classic partnership structures through asset-protection LLCs through mission-driven Public Benefit Corps.

Partnership structures

LP, GP, hybrid
Limited Partnership
$399
GP + LP, classic structure
Use case: Investment funds, real estateLearn more →
General Partnership
$199
Simple multi-owner structure
Use case: Limited specific usesLearn more →

Asset protection entities

WY + NV
Charging Order LLC
$799+
WY or NV LLC
Use case: Inside liability protectionLearn more →
Wyoming Close Corp
$499
Up to 50 shareholders, no board
Use case: Small business corporationLearn more →

Mission-driven + special structures

Specific use cases
Delaware PBC
$599
Mission-driven C-Corp
Use case: Impact companies, B CorpsLearn more →

Ongoing compliance

Specialty filings
Foreign Withdrawal
$249
Terminate out-of-state qualification
Use case: Ceasing operations in stateLearn more →
CA Statement of Information
$99
Biennial SI-200 / SI-550
Use case: Every CA entityLearn more →
When specialty entities help

Right structure for the use case. Specific.

Investment funds = LP

Private equity, venture capital, hedge funds typically use LPs (GP manages, LPs invest). Decades of legal precedent, especially in Delaware. Standard fund structure.

Asset protection = WY / NV LLC

Wyoming and Nevada have charging-order-exclusive statutes that protect single-member LLCs. Anonymous LLC structures available in WY. Best charging order protection in the US.

Small business corp = Close Corp

Wyoming close corporation: corporate structure with relaxed formalities (no board required, shareholder management allowed). For small businesses wanting corp benefits without corp overhead.

Mission-driven = DE PBC

Delaware Public Benefit Corp: C-Corp that balances shareholder profit with stakeholder welfare and a stated public benefit. Same tax structure as regular C-Corp; legal cover for mission decisions. Used by Allbirds, Warby Parker, Patagonia.

Family wealth = FLP

Family Limited Partnership for wealth transfer with valuation discounts. See Estate & Asset Protection hub for FLP details.

Most clients use LLC

For 80% of business uses, multi-member LLC is the right choice. Specialty structures make sense for the other 20%. We do not push specialty entities when LLC works.

FAQ

About Specialty Entities.

What are specialty entities?
Specialty entities are business structures beyond the standard LLC and corporation, including series LLCs, professional entities, benefit corporations, close corporations, and various partnership forms, each suited to particular needs. Choosing the right one matters. We flag which specialty structure, if any, fits your situation.
When would I need a specialty entity?
When a standard LLC or corporation does not fit, a licensed profession needing a PLLC, a mission-driven business wanting a benefit corporation, real estate using a series structure, or specific partnership needs. We flag whether your situation calls for a specialty entity rather than a standard one.
What is a series LLC?
A series LLC is a single LLC that can create internal series, each able to hold assets and shield liability separately, useful for holding multiple properties or lines under one umbrella in states that allow it. We flag whether a series structure fits your assets and which states support it.
What is a benefit corporation?
A benefit corporation is a for-profit entity that commits to a public benefit alongside profit, giving directors room to weigh mission with shareholder returns, which suits mission-driven businesses. We flag whether this structure fits your goals so your commitment to purpose is built into the entity.
Do licensed professionals need a special entity?
Often yes: many states require licensed professionals to use a professional LLC or professional corporation rather than a standard entity, subject to licensing board rules. We flag whether your profession requires a professional entity so you form the correct structure for your field.
How do I choose among specialty entities?
By matching the structure to your specific need, liability separation, professional licensing, mission, or asset holding, since each specialty entity solves a different problem. We flag which structure fits your goals so you choose based on what you actually need rather than the most unusual-sounding option.
Are specialty entities more complex to maintain?
Often somewhat: structures like series LLCs and professional entities carry added setup and compliance considerations, so the benefit should justify the complexity. We flag the ongoing requirements of a specialty entity so you take one on knowing what maintaining it involves, not just its advantages.
Can a specialty entity be part of a larger structure?
Yes: specialty entities often sit within multi-entity structures, a holding company over operating entities, or property series under a parent, so they combine with standard entities. We flag how a specialty entity fits your broader structure so the pieces work together. See holding companies.
Can File.Business form specialty entities?
Yes: we form series LLCs, professional entities, benefit corporations, close corporations, and specialized partnerships, and flag which specialty structure fits your needs, so if a standard LLC or corporation is not right, your business is formed in the structure that actually fits.

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