Beginning Farmer & Land Access
Farm Business Entity Selection Guide
A guide to choosing a business structure for a farm. It lists the questions a new farmer should answer before talking with an attorney or accountant.
Download free PDF1 page, US Letter, prints clean in black and white
GuideBeginning Farmer & Land AccessFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Sole proprietorship basics
- Partnership basics
- Limited liability company basics
- Corporation basics
- Liability protection questions
- Tax treatment questions
- Ownership and succession goals
- Registration steps in your state
How to use this guide
Pin it up in the shop or barn. The numbered steps are a short reminder, and the notes lines are for details specific to your operation.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with SBA and IRS.
For more in this area, see the farm finance explained. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including Fancy on the Farm Just Fails, and agribusiness farm stories.