Like many serial entrepreneurs, Andrew Pierce (our CEO!) didn’t realize that a side project would become his main gig when it started. But after starting a jet ski company, a plant nursery, a restaurant, and a heavy equipment rental company, he found a business that stuck–helping other small business people form their companies without the red tape and headaches of hiring an attorney.
LLC Attorney was born of Andrew’s own experiences.
“When I had the equipment leasing company, I found that you could register equipment in whatever state you wanted since it was interstate equipment. Just because I lived in Florida at the time didn’t mean I had to register my business in Florida,” Andrew says. “I lived in the Caribbean for a while and got used to looking at which islands had better laws for businesses and which states are the same. That’s what attracted me.”
After looking at business formation laws across the country, Andrew found that Wyoming offered many benefits for small business owners, saving them time, money, and hassle.
“I started Wyoming LLC Attorney with my dad. I agreed to take it on as a marketing project at first, but when I was actually writing the copy for the website, I read a lot about Wyoming companies and realized there were a lot of advantages to forming in Wyoming,” Andrew says. “I found I didn't just want to market it. I wanted to market it and then help grow it from there. So it was kind of accidental as a marketing side project that I became passionate about and then expanded from there.”
Ten years later, Andrew is more committed to LLC Attorney than ever. More than 100,000 companies have used LLC Attorney, the evolution of Wyoming LLC Attorney, to form their businesses. Along the way, Andrew says that he bootstrapped the business, growing from working within a law firm to creating a sleek, no-fuss, user-friendly platform specifically created for small businesses.
Faster, Better, Stronger
Although Andrew and his partners had momentum behind them, they still had a learning curve when it came to creating a scalable business. After originating as a division of a law firm, they started creating the online architecture that would define them.
“Even though I had owned other companies, developing software was completely new to me,” says Andrew. “If you look at the current ownership of the company, almost everyone has owned a small business at some point. Compared to the big guys, who are usually professional managers with MBAs, I feel like we understand our clients a little better. We’ve been in their shoes and seen those struggles. We try to have the software and the service really reflect that.”
That perspective has allowed LLC Attorney to create an interface that makes sense for small business owners and prioritizes speed and clarity, with the added assurance of legal help on call if needed. Since there’s no legal obligation for business owners to contract with a lawyer in most cases, creating a digital platform that unifies all documentation and simplifies the process saves time and costs for businesses just starting out.
Keeping the Bottom Line Low
So how does LLC Attorney keep fees reasonable? Andrew says that the independent spirit is still strong.
“We’re very much a bootstrapped company. We focused on our margins and doing things quickly and efficiently,” Andrew says. “Once you have the order, you can immediately submit it. We just realized there was no reason to make clients wait.”
Andrew says that many law firms charge garbage fees to cover higher margins to cover their costs, often charging a retainer for their expertise. The standard attorney-administered package promises an LLC within 30 days, a time period that Andrew finds ridiculous.
LLC Attorney’s software offers the opportunity to file all paperwork without needing a lawyer, all while still meeting state requirements. With high hourly fees, minimum retainers, and the hassle of scheduling time with a lawyer, forming an LLC with a brick-and-mortar firm can run into thousands of dollars.
Since separating from its law firm origins three years ago, LLC Attorney has offered a choose-your-own-adventure model of business formation. Business owners may file using only the website and customer service. If they have more in-depth questions, they can book time with an attorney within 24 hours, starting at $100 per half hour.
“A lot of law firms will take a couple of days or a week to get on the calendar. They only book one-hour minimums, and their hourly rates are a lot higher,” Andrew says. “For as little as $100, our clients can speak to a lawyer or just our intake specialists. We ensure that everyone on our team specializes in small business.”
As the software has become more sophisticated, LLC Attorney has been able to handle even more complex business structures, such as holding companies and subsidiaries, while maintaining privacy. Andrew says that as the business grows, they are excited to meet new challenges and continue to make business formation the least confusing part of starting a small business.
“We pride ourselves on being one of the only software companies that try to keep the legal aspect front and center,” Andrew says. “Instead of being conversion-focused or focusing on what looks good. We just focus on compliance and results.”
As LLC Attorney continues to grow, Andrew and his team are excited to see what’s next–here’s to the next 100,000 dreams becoming reality.
