There are several ways to keep your company ownership private:
- Use a Holding Company: Create a holding company that owns your business, which can be owned by a trust or another legal entity that is not publicly traded.
- Limit Shareholders: Have a small number of shareholders who are not publicly traded.
- Register in Certain States: Register the company in a state where the ownership does not have to be disclosed, like Minnesota, to help keep your ownership private.
- Anonymous Limited Liability Company (LLC): Create an anonymous LLC in a state that allows for hiding ownership information.
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By setting up an anonymous trust correctly, it can effectively hide ownership of your company and prevent you from being sued.
- A private company typically goes public by conducting an initial public offering (IPO) for its shares.
- Conversely, when a buyer acquires the majority of a public company’s shares, the company transitions to private ownership.
If you want to hide ownership of your company:
- Register Your Business Anonymously: Move your assets into the anonymous business.
- Use an Anonymous LLC: Create an anonymous LLC and use a different person to register it.
- Use Professional Services: Consider a registered agent or virtual office service to list their address instead of your own.
- Set Up an Anonymous Trust: List the anonymous trust as a member of the LLC.
To remove your name from the company, take the following steps:
- Set up a series of companies to protect your privacy.
- If you need to remove yourself from an LLC, you will need to check the operating agreement or your state’s rules if the agreement lacks procedures.
While anonymity can prevent lawsuits by hiding assets, there are ethical, legal, and tax considerations. It is important to consult experts to ensure proper compliance and protection.