Can I set up an LLC without a lawyer?

An LLC can be set up without the help or assistance of an attorney - this is known as self-organization. An obvious advantage to self-organization is that it is much cheaper for you since you are not paying any attorneys fees. But there is also some risk here, because if you don’t know all of the relevant laws, you may miss some step or do something inappropriate which could cause trouble down the road. Obviously, having an attorney set up your LLC helps minimize this risk.

There is a middle-ground choice, however, between self-organization and having an attorney do it for you. Many organization services offer organization kits, which include basic boiler-plate documents and some helpful guidance on what steps you need to file. This is obviously better than simply organizing on your own, but still not as advantageous as hiring an attorney, because the kits do not help you fine tune anything to your precise requirements nor do they help you with any of the issues that may come up after the LLC is first set up.

Ultimately, it comes down to a determination of how much you are willing to spend and how much time and effort you personally want to put into the process. Where it can be afforded, you will always be better off using an attorney. However, if need be, you can set up an LLC on your own as long as you are diligent in complying with the relevant laws and requirements.