Form a Series LLC in Puerto Rico

Because the series LLC is still relatively new in some states, we get a lot of questions about what exactly the series LLC is, and how you can form one. That’s why we decided to write these articles, which break down how the series LLC formation process works in each jurisdiction.

If you’re interested in forming a series LLC in Puerto Rico, read on to find out how it’s done.

IMPORTANT Note: While the series LLC can make a lot of sense in theory, it has its own pros and cons. We recommend speaking with an attorney before setting up a series LLC in Puerto Rico.

That said, if you’re looking for a time-tested way to protect yourself and personal assets as a business owner, the traditional LLC is the way to go. You can either form it yourself or through an LLC formation service.

What Is a Series LLC?

Let’s start by briefly covering what a series LLC actually is. In general, a series LLC is exactly what it sounds like ― it’s a collection of LLCs that operate under the umbrella of a master LLC.

While each LLC in the series is part of the larger company, this business structure also keeps each LLC financially insulated from the others. In theory, this means that a lawsuit against one of the LLCs should have no effect on the others in the series.

Each LLC in a series has the same limited liability protections that a standard LLC has, meaning that if you’re sued, creditors can only come after your business assets rather than pursuing your personal possessions. While a series LLC does still protect your personal car, house, bank accounts, etc., it also protects the other LLCs in the series from the lawsuit.

In other words, creditors can only pursue the assets of one LLC, rather than the entire series.

How Can I Form a Series LLC in Puerto Rico?

Choose a Name for Your Series LLC

The first step to forming any type of LLC is to first select a name for your new business. You should choose a name that is memorable, and also one that briefly describes what your business does, or what your organization stands for. You will also need to run a business name search to make sure your chosen name is available in Puerto Rico, and isn’t already being used by another company.

Also, you’ll need to include either the phrase “limited liability company” or the letters “LLC” in your business name. Finally, you cannot include any terms that refer to specific business types ― like “bank” or “hospital” ― unless you actually run one of those businesses, and you also can’t use any words that refer to other business types, such as “incorporated” or “inc.”

Additionally, it’s important to note that in Puerto Rico, each segment of your series LLC must include the parent LLC’s name. However, each LLC in your series must have a different name from the others. For example, if your parent LLC is called “Scott’s Foods,” and you want to differentiate your fine-dining LLC from your fast-casual LLC, you could name these segments “Scott’s Foods Dining LLC” and “Scott’s Foods Fast LLC.”

For more info on naming an LLC ― whether that’s a series LLC or a traditional LLC ― check out our comprehensive guide to naming an LLC.

Designate a Registered Agent

Next, you’ll need to choose a registered agent (For more information, please see our what is a registered agent page) (also referred to as a resident agent in Puerto Rico) for your series LLC. The registered agent must have an office located in Puerto Rico, and they must be available to receive document deliveries from the state during all standard business hours.

You don’t need to worry about designating different registered agents for each segment of the LLC, as you can have the same registered agent for every LLC in the series if you want to.

Prepare and File the Certificate of Formation

Some jurisdictions have different forms to fill out to create a traditional LLC and a series LLC, but in Puerto Rico, entrepreneurs for either business type can fill out the “Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company.” This is a relatively simple form that requires you to share some basic information about your business.

You’ll need to inform them of the name and address of your business, the purpose of your company (this is where you can indicate that your LLC is a series), and the name and address of each person who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of your business.

Then, you should designate whether your business has a predetermined dissolution date, decide when you want your formation to take effect, and have your LLC organizer sign the form. Once you’ve finished preparing this document, you can file it with the Puerto Rico Department of State, along with your $250 formation fee.

Acquire an EIN

Next, you should obtain a federal tax ID number known as an Employer Identification Number (What is an EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service for each LLC in your series. The EIN is essentially a Social Security Number for your business, as it is a nine-digit numerical code that you can use to identify your business on tax forms, and it also helps you open business bank accounts and hire employees.

It’s quite easy to get an EIN from the IRS. All you need to do is fill out the free form located on the IRS website, and you’re good to go. You will receive your number immediately upon filing.

Draft a Series LLC Operating Agreement

Puerto Rico doesn’t strictly require that every series LLC creates an operating agreement, but we strongly recommend that you draft one. An operating agreement describes many aspects of how your series LLC will operate. In this agreement, you’ll outline what the different segments of your series LLC are, indicate the roles of each member/owner, detail the owners’ voting rights, and explain the financial contribution and allocation plans.

You should also indicate whether you want your business to be managed by its members or by a manager, discuss how an owner can be replaced if necessary, and outline a dissolution procedure in case you ever need to close up shop.

In addition, the operating agreement is a great place to describe the purpose of each individual LLC in your series. You probably don’t need to create a separate operating agreement for each LLC, but it’s a good idea to explain what each one is for in this document.

Create a Financial Infrastructure

It’s crucial for any LLC to open a business bank account, as this helps you maintain the separation of personal and business finances that is required of all formal business entities. However, there’s an extra layer to this step for series LLCs, as you’ll need to open a bank account for the series’ parent LLC, as well as for each of the separate LLC segments under its umbrella.

If you fail to open a separate bank account for each segment, you will run the risk of losing the isolated liability of each LLC in the series. You need to be able to prove that these segments are truly separate if you want to maintain the liability shields between them.

In addition, this would be a good time to either hire an accountant or purchase accounting software for your series LLC. For traditional LLCs that don’t have particularly complex accounting needs, it’s usually sufficient to use accounting software, but a series LLC is a bit more complicated, and we therefore prefer hiring an accountant to make sure everything is done correctly.

Obtain Licenses and Permits

Puerto Rico doesn’t have a general business license that all companies operating in this territory need to acquire. However, they do have municipal tax licenses that are required to conduct business in this jurisdiction, so you’ll need to contact your local government to acquire this license.

For more information about business licensing in Puerto Rico, check out the territory’s Department of State website.

Understand Maintenance Requirements

All LLCs (including series LLCs) are required to file annual reports by April 15th of each year with the Puerto Rico Department of State.

This is a simple report which keeps the state updated regarding some crucial details of your business, like your business name and address, and the names and addresses of your owners or managers. Once you’re ready to file the report, you can submit it and your $150 filing fee to the Department of State.

Can I Hire Someone to Form My Series LLC?

When forming a series LLC in Puerto Rico, you generally have two options. You can tackle the DIY route, or you can hire an attorney. In some other jurisdictions with series LLCs, you can form one by using Northwest Registered Agent’s formation service, but unfortunately they do not offer this service in Puerto Rico.

Of these two options, we prefer hiring a lawyer. Yes, this can be an expensive route, but the series LLC is rather complex, so we think it’s definitely a good idea to hire a reputable business attorney to create your formation documents.

If you’re supremely confident in your abilities to form a compliant series LLC, we won’t stop you from giving it a shot. However, for the vast majority of our readers, hiring a lawyer is the smarter option.

In Conclusion

The process of forming a series LLC in Puerto Rico isn’t too terribly different from the formation process for a standard LLC. However, you do need to make sure that you indicate that your LLC is a series in your Certificate of Formation and your operating agreement.

At the end of the day, if you want to skip the hassles and worries that come with forming your own Puerto Rico series LLC, you always have the option to hire an attorney to handle it for you.

We hope this article helped you develop your understanding of how to form a series LLC in Puerto Rico!