LLC Formation & Business Plan Series
This program is free but individuals must apply and be accepted to attend. Applications must be received by July 12, 2023.
Are you starting a business?
Have you been operating as a sole proprietorship or a partnership for a while?
Is it time to take the next step and create a formal business structure and business plan to protect you and your work?
Learn about best practices and start your LLC with Lawyers for the Creative Arts!
Join LCA, attorneys from DLA Piper, Illinois Tool Works, and business experts from SCORE this summer for a five-part series of seminars, mentoring, and clinics on LLC formation and business planning. After two introductory seminars on LLC formation and business planning, you will be mentored one-on-one by a business expert from SCORE as you draft your LLC business plan and prepare your business pitch. The series ends with an LLC Formation Clinic, where you will work one-on-one with attorneys from DLA Piper and IL Tool Works to complete the documentation required to form your new company in Illinois. The series is hybrid in-person and on Zoom.
Application Requirements:
- Applicants must plan to form a new LLC to operate an arts-related business in Illinois in the near-term.
- Prospective owners of the new LLC must have an average annual household income that falls within 300% of the federal poverty guidelines
- Applicants must commit to attending all Zoom and in-person meetings of this program and participating in out-of-session assignments and responsibilities.
*Upon receipt of your application and determination of eligibility, LCA will contact you. Once your application has been approved by LCA and DLA Piper, we will notify you about the location of the in-person meetings, etc. Please block off the dates and times for the series on your calendar immediately.
Important Dates:
- Wednesday, July 26, 1:00 - 3:00pm CT - Crafting Your LLC Business Plan (in-person in Downtown Chicago)
- Schedule TBD at mutually agreeable times - One-on-One Business Plan Mentoring with SCORE (on Zoom)
- Thursday, August 3, 12:00 - 1:30pm CT - LLC Formation Basics (on Zoom)
- Wednesday, August 30, 1:00 - 3:00pm CT - LLC Business Plan Pitch Clinic (in-person in Downtown Chicago)
- Thursday, September 7, 11:00am - 3:00pm - LLC Formation Clinic (in-person in Downtown Chicago)
About SCORE:
SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses plan, launch, manage and grow. SCORE is a nonprofit organization that is driven to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and educational workshops. Since its founding in 1964 as a resource partner for the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE has helped more than 11 million current and aspiring entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business through mentoring, resources and education. Score.org
About DLA Piper:
DLA Piper Pro Bono - Courage. Compassion. Commitment.
DLA Piper’s pro bono mission is to pursue justice in our communities and around the world by advancing gender and racial equality, advocating for children, and combating hunger. DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising. dlapiper.com
About Illinois Tool Works:
Founded in 1912, ITW is a global industrial company built around a differentiated and proprietary business model. The company's seven industry-leading segments leverage the ITW Business Model to generate solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns. We are committed to executing our enterprise strategy to deliver differentiated performance over the long term and firmly establishing ITW as one of the best-performing, highest-quality and most-respected industrial companies. itw.com