How LLCBC Makes Money & Why It Matters to You
We believe trust is earned through honesty. Here is exactly how we fund this blog, which services we affiliate with, and why our reviews stay independent — even when it costs us money.
FTC Disclosure: We Are Required to Tell You
Under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, we must disclose any relationship that could influence our content. This page fulfills that legal requirement — and our personal commitment to transparency.
⚖️ Legal RequirementLLCBC participates in affiliate marketing programs. When you click certain links on our site and make a purchase or sign up for a service, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We are also a participant in the Google AdSense program.
This disclosure applies to all pages, posts, guides, and recommendations published on LLCBC. We do not publish sponsored content, paid reviews, or "native advertising" disguised as editorial content.
Two Ways We Fund This Blog
We deliberately limit our revenue to two transparent channels. This keeps our incentives aligned with yours: we only succeed when our content genuinely helps you make better decisions.
Google AdSense
Google places contextual ads in designated slots (header, mid-content, footer). We do not choose which ads appear, nor do we sell direct ad space to LLC formation services, banks, or tax companies.
Affiliate Commissions
When we recommend a service we have tested, we use tracking links. If you choose to sign up through our link, the provider pays us a referral fee. You pay the same price — sometimes less with our discount codes.
✓ What This Means for YouOur affiliate relationships do not increase your cost. In many cases, our links unlock exclusive discounts (e.g., free registered agent year, waived state fees). We only affiliate with services we have personally paid for and tested.
Our "No" List: What We Refuse to Do
We have turned down revenue opportunities that would compromise our independence. Here is our permanent rejection list:
Sponsored Reviews
We do not accept payment to review a service positively. Every review is based on our own testing.Paid Placements
No company can pay to appear in our "Best Overall" or "Top 5" lists. Rankings are data-driven."Preferred Partner" Deals
We do not sign exclusive agreements that would prevent us from recommending competitors.Selling Reader Data
Your email, location, and browsing behavior are never sold to third parties. See our Privacy Policy.Undisclosed Affiliate Links
Every affiliate link is marked with (affiliate) or uses a redirect page that discloses the relationship.How Affiliate Services Are Selected
Not every service we review becomes an affiliate partner. Our selection process is strict:
We Pay First
We use our own money to test the service. No free accounts, no demo access, no PR packages.We Document Everything
Screenshots, timelines, support interactions, and hidden fees are recorded before we write.We Rank Objectively
Services are scored on price, speed, support quality, and non-resident friendliness — not commission size.We Negotiate for Readers
If a service passes our test, we negotiate affiliate terms. If they refuse transparency, we walk away.📊 Current Affiliate Partners (2026)Northwest Registered Agent, Incfile (Bizee), ZenBusiness, Doola, Mercury, Relay, Wise Business, Firstbase.io. We test competitors quarterly and add or remove partners based on performance — never commission rates.
How to Identify Affiliate Links
We believe you should always know when a link may earn us money. Here is how we mark them:
| Link Type | How It Looks | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Affiliate Link | Marked with "(affiliate)" after the text | Start with Northwest (affiliate) |
| Discount Code Link | Includes "Save X%" or "Free Y" | Get 1 year free registered agent |
| Comparison Table Button | Orange CTA button in tables | "Get Started →" button |
| Non-Affiliate Link | Plain text link, no marking | IRS Form SS-4 instructions |
| AdSense Ad | Labeled "Advertisement" above the unit | Google-placed contextual ad |
When in doubt, hover over any link. Affiliate URLs typically contain parameters like ?ref=, ?affiliate=, or ?utm_source=llcbc.
You Are Always in Control
You are never obligated to use our links. Here are three ways to support us — or bypass affiliate tracking entirely:
Use Our Links (Supports the Blog)
Costs you nothing, helps us fund testing and monthly updates. Often includes exclusive discounts.Go Direct (Bypass Tracking)
Type the company URL manually. You pay the same price, we earn nothing. Your choice entirely.Use Ad Blocker (Removes All Ads)
Blocks AdSense and some affiliate banners. We respect your right to browse ad-free.🤝 Our PromiseWhether you use our links or not, our content remains identical. We do not publish "affiliate-only" discounts, hide negative reviews behind paywalls, or throttle free content to push paid referrals.
Contact Us About This Policy
If you believe we have violated this disclosure policy, or if you have questions about a specific link or partnership, contact us directly:
Email: transparency@llcbcnews.blogspot.com
Response Time: Within 48 hours
Anonymous: You may use a pseudonym. We do not require personal information to investigate concerns.
We review this policy quarterly and update it whenever we add or remove affiliate partners. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
Ready to Explore Our Guides?
Now that you know how we operate, browse our independently tested recommendations for LLC formation, tax compliance, and US banking.
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