Business Entity Comparisons — LLC vs Corp vs S-Corp vs DBA

Side-by-side comparisons across taxes, personal liability, ownership rules, fundraising fit, and ongoing compliance burden — with state overlays where the answer changes by jurisdiction.

Entity comparisons cut through the marketing copy of formation services. The right entity depends on three things: how you want profits taxed (pass-through vs. corporate), how you plan to raise money (bootstrap, partners, angels, VC), and how much paperwork you're willing to file every year. The comparisons below isolate one decision at a time so you can answer each in turn.

For state-specific cost differences (e.g., California's $800 LLC franchise tax versus Wyoming's $0), pair a comparison with the appropriate state hub.

Last updated: June 9, 2026

C-Corp vs S-Corp: Which Tax Structure Wins? Double taxation, QBI deduction, ownership limits, and when each election makes sense in 2026.
LLC vs Corporation (C-Corp): Which Is Right for Your Business? Compare LLC and C-Corporation on taxation, liability, ownership, compliance burden, and best-fit use cases — updated for 2026.
LLC vs Corporation in Delaware: Which to Choose? Delaware-specific comparison — Franchise Tax, Court of Chancery, VC preferences, and when a Delaware LLC beats a Delaware C-Corp.
LLC vs DBA: When Is a Trade Name Enough? A DBA is just a trade-name registration — not an entity. See when you need an LLC and when a DBA is sufficient.
LLC vs S-Corp: Tax Election vs Entity Type Explained LLC is an entity; S-Corp is a tax election. Learn when to elect S-Corp status on your LLC and what it saves in self-employment tax.
LLC vs Sole Proprietorship: Should You Formalize? Personal liability, taxes, cost, and ongoing compliance — compared for freelancers and solo founders considering an LLC.