Choosing the right business structure is a crucial decision for solo licensed clinical social workers in California. The choice of business entity determines how the licensed clinical social work practice is taxed, the extent of personal liability protection and personal asset protection available to the licensed clinical social worker, and the administrative requirements the licensed clinical social worker will need to manage in operating the licensed clinical social work practice.

A future article titled “What are the Business Structure Options for Licensed Clinical Social Work Group Practices in California?” will discuss the additional options available when two or more licensed clinical social workers start practicing licensed clinical social work together, however, for licensed clinical social workers practicing licensed clinical social work solo in California, the options are limited to sole proprietorships and California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations.

This article provides an overview of the various business structure options available to licensed clinical social workers practicing licensed clinical social work solo in California, helping these licensed clinical social workers to make an informed choice that aligns with their professional goals and liability concerns in the most tax efficient format possible with respect to the requirement to pay income tax as well as to pay state taxes on California business.

Executive Summary: Putting the Conclusion First for Busy Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Summary of Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

The primary benefit of a sole proprietorship for licensed clinical social workers is its simplicity. There are few legal formalities to establish a sole proprietorship and tax reporting is equally straightforward. However, a sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity, which means that licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors are personally liable for all debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments (including malpractice liability) against their licensed clinical social work practice. The lack of a separate legal entity also means there is no distinction between personal and professional business assets for licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors, so the debts, liabilities, and legal judgments for which the licensed clinical social worker sole proprietor is liable are satisfied from the personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker.

Summary of Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

While inherently more complex than licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships, the complexity of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation may be reduced by working with the experienced corporate attorneys at San Diego Corporate Law. As a separate legal entity, California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations significantly reduce liability risks and are more tax efficient for most licensed clinical social workers. For licensed clinical social workers in high-liability practices, this reduction in risk can be substantial. The separate legal entity status of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations also means there is a distinction between personal and professional business assets for the licensed clinical social worker, meaning the debts, liabilities, and legal judgments against the licensed clinical social work practice are not generally satisfied from the personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker.

Choosing Between a Sole Proprietorship and a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

For most licensed clinical social workers, the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is the right choice because the tax benefits coupled with limited liability protection and ability to separate personal assets from professional business assets far outweighs the increased administrative complexity compared to practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietorship.

Contact San Diego Corporate Law for Assistance Selecting and Forming the Best Business Structure for Your Licensed Clinical Social Work Practice

Take the next step toward securing the ideal business structure for your licensed clinical social work practice, whether that is a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation or another business structure. Contact the experienced corporate attorneys at San Diego Corporate Law today to schedule a consultation and receive personalized, expert guidance tailored to your needs. Our team is here to help you make informed decisions with confidence.

Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

Practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor is the simplest and most straightforward business structure for solo licensed clinical social workers in California. It requires minimal paperwork to set up compared to other business entity options and offers flexibility in managing the licensed clinical social work practice. However, along with these advantages come distinct disadvantages that licensed clinical social workers must consider carefully before considering sole proprietorship as the business structure for their licensed clinical social work practice.

Administrative Requirements of Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

One of the primary benefits of a sole proprietorship for practicing licensed clinical social work is the simplicity of establishing a sole proprietorship and the continued simplicity of operating as a sole proprietor.

Sole proprietorships require minimal effort to establish, with few legal formalities involved. Typically, the initial steps of setting up a sole proprietorship include obtaining a local business license to operate legally in the municipal jurisdiction in which the practice will operate and, if applicable, registering a fictitious business name (often referred to as a d/b/a).

Unlike other business structures, there is no need to file complex paperwork or create a formal business entity, which saves both time and money, but as discussed below, there are tradeoffs in exchange for this simplicity.

Taxation of Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sole Proprietors

Tax considerations are a critical aspect to be examined when planning to practice licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor. Sole proprietors are subject to business income taxation, self-employment taxation, and additional Medicare taxes. Understanding how these taxes apply to licensed clinical social work practices is essential for licensed clinical social workers when choosing a business structure in which to operate their licensed clinical social work practice.

Business Income Taxation When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

For licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors, business income taxation is both simple and straightforward compared to that of other business entities. Sole proprietors report their business income and expenses on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) to their personal income tax return, using Internal Revenue Service Form 1040. This allows licensed clinical social workers to consolidate both personal and business income on a single tax form.

Self-Employment Tax When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

While simple and straightforward, taxation of licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors is not tax efficient. One significant consideration for licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors is self-employment tax. Since a sole proprietor does not receive a salary from their business, they are responsible for paying self-employment taxes to cover Social Security and Medicare contributions. This self-employment tax is reported on Schedule SE, with the current rate at the time of this writing totaling 15.3% of net profit in addition to federal and state income taxes (however, a sole proprietor can deduct half of the self-employment tax paid as an adjustment on their tax return, which provides some financial relief).

Additional Medicare Tax When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

High-earning licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors may also be subject to the Additional Medicare Tax. This tax applies to individuals whose income exceeds certain thresholds, which are determined based on filing status. For licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors filing as single, the threshold is $200,000, while it is $250,000 for licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors filing a joint tax return with a spouse. The Additional Medicare Tax rate is 0.9% and applies only to the earnings above the specified threshold. Sole proprietors must calculate and report this tax on Form 8959, ensuring compliance with Internal Revenue Service requirements. It is important for high-earning licensed clinical social workers to account for this additional tax in their financial planning to avoid unexpected liabilities.

Conclusions About Taxation of Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sole Proprietors

Understanding the tax implications of a sole proprietorship is integral when deciding which of the available business entities will be the most tax efficient, and understanding self-employment and the Additional Medicare Tax liabilities is the first step in planning and efficiently managing future tax liabilities.

Personal Liability Protection and Personal Asset Protection When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

Practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor, while simple, also comes with challenges regarding personal liability protection and asset protection because a sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity, and thus does not offer a legal distinction between the licensed clinical social worker and the licensed clinical social work practice.

Personal Liability for Licensed Clinical Social Workers When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

One of the primary risks faced by licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors is personal liability. The lack of distinction between the licensed clinical social worker and the licensed clinical social work practice means that the licensed clinical social worker sole proprietor is personally liable for all debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments incurred by the licensed clinical social work practice personally, including claims for professional negligence, better known as malpractice, for errors and omissions.

Personal Asset Protection for Licensed Clinical Social Workers When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as Sole Proprietors

The lack of distinction between the licensed clinical social worker and the licensed clinical social work practice that makes personal liability a primary risk to licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors also means that all assets of the licensed clinical social worker, be they strictly personal assets or assets used in the licensed clinical social work practice, are subject to claims by creditors and legal claimants against the personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker (such as homes, bank accounts, investments, and other property).

Conclusions About Personal Liability and Asset Protection for Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sole Proprietors

The exposure to personal liability for debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments (including those for professional negligence) coupled with the inability to separate personal assets from professional business assets underscores the importance for licensed clinical social workers choosing a business structure for their licensed clinical social work practice to understand liability risks and take proactive measures to safeguard their personal wealth and future earnings from such claims.

Conclusions About Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Sole Proprietor

When deciding whether to practice licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor, it is essential to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of this business structure. While licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships offer simplicity to licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships come with significant risks and limitations. The advantages and disadvantages of practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor are compared below together with a recommendation for when a sole proprietorship is the best legal structure for practicing licensed clinical social work.

Advantages of Sole Proprietorship for Licensed Clinical Social Workers

The primary benefit of a sole proprietorship for practicing licensed clinical social work is its simplicity. There are few legal formalities to establish a sole proprietorship and tax reporting is equally straightforward.

Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorship for Licensed Clinical Social Workers

While sole proprietorships are simple to establish, they carry significant risks and are not tax efficient for most licensed clinical social workers.

A sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity, which means that licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors are personally liable for all debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments (including malpractice liability). For licensed clinical social workers in high-liability licensed clinical social work practices, this risk can be substantial.

The lack of a separate legal entity also means there is no distinction between personal and professional business assets for licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors, meaning the debts, liabilities, and legal judgments for which the licensed clinical social worker sole proprietor is liable are satisfied from the personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker.

When is a Sole Proprietorship the Right Business Structure for Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work?

A sole proprietorship can be an ideal option for licensed clinical social workers starting small-scale licensed clinical social work practices with the expectation of low net profit and low liability risks. However, before choosing to practice licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor, it is essential to weigh the benefits of simplicity against the risks of personal liability and the future growth of the licensed clinical social work practice. For licensed clinical social workers in high-risk licensed clinical social work practice areas or those who anticipate growth in their licensed clinical social work practice may want to avoid practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietorship in favor of a business entity that is more tax efficient and provides limited liability protection together with the separation of personal assets from professional business assets.

For a more detailed understanding of the differences between professional sole proprietorships and California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations and when a sole proprietorship is the best choice of business structure for licensed clinical social work practices, see “When Not to Use a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation” for more information.

Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

Practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is not as simple or straightforward as practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietor, however, a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation provides the tax efficiency, limited liability protection, and separation of personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker from the professional business assets of the licensed clinical social work practice that licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships lack.

Administrative Requirements of Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

In order to enjoy the tax efficiency, limited liability protection, and separation of personal assets a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation provides, licensed clinical social workers are faced with the complexity of establishing a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation. While this formation process is complex, licensed clinical social workers may rely upon the experienced corporate attorneys at San Diego Corporate Law to draft and file all the required legal documents for the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, leaving licensed clinical social workers with essentially the same tasks they would undertake to establish a sole proprietorship. It is also worth noting that legal fees and costs of forming a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation are usually qualified business expenses that are tax deductible.

In addition to the initial formation of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, every year after the initial formation of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation a Statement of Information must be filed with the California Secretary of State and a shareholder and board of directors meeting must be held. Just as with the formation of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, San Diego Corporate Law can assist in the annual requirements of practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation.

Despite the additional administrative requirements of practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation compared to practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietorship, an experienced corporate attorney can make the difference in requirements comparable.

For a more detailed understanding of the administrative requirements for forming and maintaining a California Corporation, see “The 7 Steps for Forming a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation” for more information.

Taxation of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations

As with licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships, tax considerations are a critical aspect to be examined when planning to practice licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation. While licensed clinical social workers practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation are subject to business income taxation, payroll taxes for wages, and franchise taxes paid to the California Franchise Tax Board, licensed clinical social workers practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation are not subject to self-employment taxation or additional Medicare taxes. Understanding how these taxes apply to licensed clinical social work practices is essential for licensed clinical social workers choosing a business structure in which to operate their licensed clinical social work practices.

Business Income Taxation When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

A California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is by default taxed as a personal service corporation (sometimes referred to as a professional service corporation), which is essentially a C Corporation (commonly referred to as a C-Corp) wherein corporate taxes applied to corporate profits are taxed directly at the federal and state levels at the corporate income tax rate, and any distributed dividends are subject to taxation again against the individuals receiving the dividends (referred to as “double taxation”). However, a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation may (and almost always should) elect to be treated as an S Corporation (commonly referred to as an S-Corp), which fundamentally changes how income is taxed. This article will focus on S Corporation taxation of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations.

Electing S Corporation status alters the tax treatment by enabling pass-through taxation. This means the profits and losses of the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation after payment of a reasonable salary to the licensed clinical social worker are passed directly to the licensed clinical social worker as the shareholder who in turn reports those profits on their personal income tax returns to pay federal income tax and state income tax on the net profit of the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation to pay personal income tax of the net profits of the licensed clinical social work practice.

For more information about the election of S Corporation status for a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, see “Can a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation Be an S-Corp?” for more information.

Self-Employment Tax When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

Unlike licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships, which require the licensed clinical social worker sole proprietor to pay self-employment tax on the entire net profit of the professional practice, the licensed clinical social worker-shareholder of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is not subject to self-employment taxes.

Instead of self-employment taxes on the entire net profit of the licensed clinical social work practice, with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation employee and employer contributions to payroll tax are only paid on the reasonable salary of the licensed clinical social worker. While the sum of the employee and employer contributions total 15.3% (the same percentage as self-employment tax), the calculation of the tax is based upon the reasonable salary of the licensed clinical social worker only and not the net profit of the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, which may result in significant annual tax savings compared to a sole proprietorship.

Additional Medicare Tax When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

As discussed above for licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships, the Additional Medicare Tax is an extra 0.9% tax applied to earned income exceeding certain thresholds. However, because the Additional Medicare Tax is only applied to earned income and the net profit of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is not deemed to be “earned” income, the Additional Medicare Tax would only be applicable to licensed clinical social workers practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation if the reasonable salary of the licensed clinical social worker exceeded the thresholds, meaning for all intents and purposes, practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation does not subject licensed clinical social workers to the Additional Medicare Tax.

Annual Franchise Tax for California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations

California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations must pay an annual franchise tax that licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships do not pay. The franchise tax paid by a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation taxed as an S Corporation is 1.5% of net profit with a minimum of $800 annually. While this is a tax not paid by licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships, the annual franchise tax is very small in comparison to self-employment taxes and the Additional Medicare Taxes paid by licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors.

Conclusions About Taxation of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations

Understanding the tax benefits of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is integral when deciding which of the available business entities will be the most tax efficient, and understanding self-employment and the Additional Medicare Tax liabilities is the first step in planning and efficiently managing future tax liabilities.

For a more detailed understanding of the taxation of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations, see “What Tax Benefits Does a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation Provide?” for more information.

Personal Liability Protection and Personal Asset Protection When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

Practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, while more complex than practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietorship, overcomes many of the personal liability protection and asset protection shortcomings of licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships. A California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is a separate legal entity distinct from the licensed clinical social worker, thus offering a legal distinction between the licensed clinical social worker and the licensed clinical social work practice as well as personal and business assets of the licensed clinical social worker.

Personal Liability Protection for Licensed Clinical Social Workers When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

Practicing licensed clinical social work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation resolves most of the risks faced by licensed clinical social worker sole proprietors for personal liability. California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations provide a separate legal entity distinct from the licensed clinical social worker, meaning the licensed clinical social worker is generally not personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments incurred by the licensed clinical social work practice.

Under California law, claims for professional negligence, better known as malpractice, for errors and omissions of licensed clinical social workers are personal to the licensed clinical social workers and not shielded by the existence of the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, however, malpractice is an insurable risk and appropriately apportioned professional liability insurance may be used to indemnify the licensed clinical social worker from this risk.

Personal Asset Protection for Licensed Clinical Social Workers When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

The separate legal entity and distinction between the licensed clinical social worker and the licensed clinical social work practice provided by a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation means that, unlike a sole proprietorship, the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation separates the personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker from professional business assets of the licensed clinical social work practice. Therefore, claims by creditors and legal claimants against the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation are generally limited to the professional business assets of the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation and are not satisfied against the personal assets (such as homes, bank accounts, investments, and other property) of the licensed clinical social worker.

Conclusions About Personal Liability and Asset Protection When Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

The limitation of personal liability for debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments against the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation coupled with the ability to separate personal assets from professional business assets makes the use of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation the choice for licensed clinical social workers who wish to limit their personal liability and protect their personal wealth and future earnings from most claims arising out of their licensed clinical social work practice.

For a more detailed understanding of the liability protection and asset protection of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations, see “What Liability Protection Does a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation Provide?” for more information.

Conclusions About Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation

When deciding if practicing licensed clinical social work as a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is worth the additional cost and administrative requirements, it is essential to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of this business structure. While California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations are more complex, California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations resolve many of the significant risks and limitations inherent to practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietorship. The advantages and disadvantages of operating with a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation are compared below together with a recommendation for when a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is the best legal structure for practicing licensed clinical social work.

Advantages of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations

While practicing licensed clinical social work as a sole proprietorship is simple to establish, doing so carries significant risks and is not tax efficient for most licensed clinical social work. California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations significantly reduce liability risks and are more tax efficient for most licensed clinical social work.

A California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is a separate legal entity, which means the licensed clinical social worker is generally shielded from personally liable for debts, liabilities, obligations, and legal judgments (other than the insurable risk of malpractice liability). For licensed clinical social workers in high-liability licensed clinical social work practices, this reduction in risk can be substantial.

The separate legal entity status also means there is a distinction between personal and professional business assets for licensed clinical social workers, meaning the debts, liabilities, and legal judgments against their licensed clinical social work practice are not generally satisfied from the personal assets of the licensed clinical social worker.

Disadvantages of California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations

The primary benefit of a sole proprietorship is its simplicity, and in turn the primary disadvantage of a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation is the relative complexity of formation and operation. However, licensed clinical social workers may rely upon the experienced corporate attorneys at San Diego Corporate Law to draft and file all the required legal documents for establishing and maintaining the California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation, leaving these licensed clinical social workers with essentially the same tasks they would undertake to establish and maintain a sole proprietorship.

When is a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation the Right Business Structure for Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work?

A California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation can be an ideal option for licensed clinical social workers starting licensed clinical social work practices based upon the tax efficiency, limited liability protection, and separation of personal assets from professional business assets that California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations provide. Small-scale licensed clinical social work practices with the expectation of revenue growth can benefit from starting as a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation to avoid the future need to reestablish the licensed clinical social work practice as revenue grows. Similarly, small-scale licensed clinical social work practices in high-risk practice areas may benefit from the limited liability protection and separation of personal assets from professional business assets provided by a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation regardless of revenue or profitability.

For a more detailed understanding of the differences between licensed clinical social worker sole proprietorships and California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations, and when a California Professional Corporation is the best choice of business structure for a professional practice, see “When to Use a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation” and “Sole Proprietorship vs Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation in California” for more information.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers in California May Not Practice Licensed Clinical Social Work as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)

A The experienced corporate attorneys at San Diego Corporate Law are frequently asked about limited liability companies and professional limited liability companies, so this topic will be briefly discussed here.

California law explicitly prohibits licensed clinical social workers and other licensed professionals from operating their practices as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) or Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs). This prohibition may be found in California Corporations Code Section 17701.04(e), which reads:

“Nothing in this title shall be construed to permit a domestic or foreign limited liability company to render professional services, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 13401 and in Section 13401.3, in this state.”

Instead, California requires licensed clinical social workers who wish to operate in corporate form to utilize other types of business entities, such as California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporations.

For a more detailed understanding of the prohibition on the use of LLCs for licensed clinical social work practices in California, see “Can a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Practice Clinical Social Work Using a California LLC?” and “Can I Use a PLLC to Practice Licensed Clinical Social Work in California?” and for more information.

If an LLC or PLLC is currently being used for a licensed clinical social work practice in California, see “10 Steps to Convert LLC to Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation in California” and “Four Reasons Not to Convert LLC to Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation in California” or “12 Steps to Convert a PLLC to a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation” and “Four Reasons Not to Convert Foreign LLC or PLLC to a California Professional Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation” for more information about bringing the professional practice into compliance with California law.