I filed my LLC paperwork last year and when everything came back I just stuffed it in a drawer. Now I need to send copies somewhere and I'm digging through a mess of envelopes. If anyone is just getting their documents now, please scan them or at least put them somewhere you will remember. I did not and I'm paying for it.
LLC
I wish I had backed up my LLC documents when they arrived
Mine sat in a grocery bag for months. It's just paper until you need it, right? What actually got me organized was naming a folder after the filing date so I could find it later.
Do you have the original stamped copy from the state? Some places will not accept a scanned print. Make sure you keep the original safe and only scan a copy.
I used a free scanner app on my phone. Quick and it saved saved me a lot of stress later.
Not to hijack, but does anyone keep physical originals in a fireproof box? I have been meaning to get one for the LLC binder.
Physical copies are still necessary for bank accounts and leases. I keep ours in a plain three-ring binder with tabs. It is not fancy but I can find what I need in under a minute.
I made the mistake of only keeping digital files. Then a laptop died and the cloud account was tied to an old email. Had to request duplicates from the state andd that took weeks. Keep both if you can.
Is there a standard list of what to back up? Articles of organization, EIN letter, operating agreement. Anything else?
Annual reports and any amendments too. Those can matter when you need to prove good standing tbh.
I would skip the grocery bag next time. A simple accordion file makes a difference.
One more thing: if you do scan, name the files clearly and put a copy somewher that is not only on one device. I learned that the hard way.