Build It Like a Business: Why Every Athlete Needs an LLC

You’re the Brand — So Why Are You Still Moving Like an Employee?

Let’s get something straight right now.

If you’re an athlete getting NIL money, brand deals, speaking gigs, or merch revenue — and you don’t have an LLC?

You’re hustling backwards.

You’re the business.
Your name has value.
Your image is currency.
Your influence moves markets.

But if you’re getting paid under your personal name, with no legal structure, no tax protection, and no financial infrastructure — you're leaving money on the table. Worse, you’re setting yourself up to get finessed by the system you should be mastering.

This ain’t about being “corporate.”
This is about being intentional.
This is about protecting what you’ve built and setting yourself up to own the lane you’re paving.

So let’s talk about it.

Why every athlete — high school, college, or pro — needs to start treating themselves like a business.
And why it starts with three letters: LLC.

What Is an LLC — and Why You Need One Yesterday

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company.
It’s a legal entity that separates you from your business — financially, legally, and for tax purposes.

When you form an LLC, you’re not just an athlete getting paid anymore.
You’re a business receiving income through a structured system.

Here’s what that means in real life:

• If someone sues your business, they can’t touch your personal bank account.
• You can open a business bank account, build business credit, and apply for loans under your brand.
• You can write off expenses legally — saving thousands in taxes each year.

Let me repeat that.

The game doesn’t just pay the prepared — it protects them.

If you're still collecting money in your personal name, you're doing business on rookie difficulty. The real moguls? They’re playing this game on a pro level — and they started with structure.

Why the IRS Loves Unstructured Athletes (and How to Never Be One)

You’re probably getting 1099s or flat cash payments. That’s self-employed money — and here’s what most athletes don’t realize:

The IRS sees self-employed people as businesses — whether you’re structured or not.

But without an LLC, you have:

• No organized way to track write-offs
• No tax buffer
• No business credit
• No ability to separate expenses
• No protection if something goes wrong

And worst of all? You end up overpaying taxes.
Not by a little — by tens of thousands over time.

The IRS doesn't care how athletic you are.
They care if you file right.
They care if your records match.
They care if you tried to move like a boss, or if you let them treat you like bait.

No structure = no protection.

What You Can Write Off (That You're Probably Paying For Out of Pocket)

The moment you become a legal business, you unlock tax write-offs that can completely change your net income.

Here's what athletes running their LLCs can write off:

• Training expenses
• Nutrition and supplements
• Flights to games or events
• Lodging for sports-related trips
• Gear and uniforms
• Photography, video, and media expenses
• Website costs
• Logo/branding design
• Phone bill (partial)
• Laptop, camera gear
• Travel meals
• Even a portion of your rent or home gym if you shoot content there

Let’s say you made $50K in NIL money.
If you had $20K in legit business expenses and ran it through your LLC — now you're only taxed on $30K.

That’s the game.

You don’t just make money. You keep more of it.

How to Start Your LLC — Step by Step

Don’t overthink it.
You don’t need a lawyer or a fancy office.

You need action.

Step 1: Choose Your LLC Name

Use your name or brand:

• “John Taylor Enterprises LLC”
• “No Excuses Athletics LLC”
• “JT Elite Branding LLC”

Make sure it’s available in your state. Google “YourState LLC Search.”

Step 2: Register It

Go to your Secretary of State website and file your Articles of Organization.
Cost ranges from $40 to $300 depending on where you live.

Step 3: Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number)

This is your business’s Social Security number. Free from the IRS at irs.gov.

You’ll need this to open a bank account.

Step 4: Open a Business Bank Account

Go to a bank or credit union with your EIN, LLC docs, and ID.
Only use this account for business money. Keep it clean.

Step 5: Start Using It

Get a debit card. Track expenses. Pay yourself from it.
Don’t co-mingle funds. Respect the structure — and the IRS will too.

That’s it. You’re now a business.

And guess what?
Now you’re ready to scale.

Building Business Credit Like a Pro Athlete CEO

Here’s the next level most athletes never reach — but should:

Business credit.

Yes, your LLC can get its own credit score.
It can get its own Amex. Its own lines of credit.
Its own relationships with banks and lenders.

And you can use that without touching your personal credit.

Imagine funding a merch launch, a production studio, or a travel series — all with business capital.

Here’s how to build it:

1. Register with Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number)
   This is like your business’s FICO score.
2. Get a business phone number and email
   (Even Google Voice + Gmail works — just use your domain.)
3. Open net-30 accounts (Uline, Quill, Grainger)
   Buy basic supplies, pay them back monthly. Reports to your business credit file.
4. Apply for business credit cards once you’ve got 3–6 months of activity

Treat your business like a grown man.
And soon, the banks will treat you like one too.

What Happens When You Don’t Do This

Let’s keep it raw.

If you:

• Don’t start an LLC
• Don’t separate your money
• Don’t track your income
• Don’t pay your taxes
• Don’t write off your expenses...

You will end up:

• Overpaying the IRS
• Getting audited
• Paying late fees and penalties
• Losing leverage with banks
• Burning opportunities
• Having to clean up chaos later (if you even get the chance)

You trained too hard to get here just to fumble the backend.

This is the part that determines if your success was temporary or transferable.

3 Strategic Mindset Shifts That Separate the Pros from the Amateurs

This ain’t just paperwork.
This is how moguls are made.

So let’s end with three real mindset shifts:

1. Stop Thinking Like an Endorsement — Start Moving Like a Platform

You’re not here to get picked.
You’re here to build something they can’t ignore.

The LLC is just the start.
The endgame? Owning your narrative, your brand, your business.

Be the story. Be the structure. Be the source.

2. You’re Not Just Playing the Game — You’re Owning the Table

Too many athletes still move like players waiting for a check.
That’s not wealth. That’s dependency.

You build an LLC to stop being used — and start being the one who signs the checks.

Moguls don’t wait for permission. They write invoices.

3. Your Money Moves Are Your Legacy Moves

It’s not about being flashy.
It’s about building something bigger than you.

You want to change your family tree?
You want to hire your friends legally?
You want to invest in your future kids’ future?

Then this is the blueprint.
You build the machine. You run the plays. You keep the profits.

Final Word: The Game Isn’t Just Physical — It’s Financial

Talent gets you seen.
Discipline gets you paid.
Structure keeps you wealthy.

You already know how to perform under pressure.
Now it’s time to perform under paperwork.

You are the product.
You are the platform.
You are the business.

So build it like one.

Written by Artizsoul Newsroom

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