Can I use existing LLC for private lending after switching from IT Services?
I originally set up my LLC about 4 years ago when I was running an IT consulting business. It was mostly just network setup and troubleshooting for small businesses. That work has dried up, and I'm looking to pivot into private lending (basically providing small loans to individuals and businesses). I'm wondering if I need to formally change anything with my LLC structure? Do I need to file any paperwork to change the "nature of business" or can I just start using my existing LLC for this completely different type of business? Someone mentioned that with LLCs the nature of business doesn't really matter, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything important before I jump into a new industry. Would I be better off just closing this LLC and starting fresh with a new one specifically for lending? Any advice appreciated!
19 comments


Kingston Bellamy
The good news is that in most states, LLCs are designed to be flexible business structures. They don't typically restrict you to a specific business activity like some other entities might. Your LLC's Articles of Organization probably listed a general purpose like "any lawful business activity," which gives you freedom to pivot. That said, there are a few things to consider before switching from IT to private lending: 1. Check your Operating Agreement - it might have language limiting your business activities. If so, you'll need to amend it. 2. Some states require you to file an amendment if your business activities change significantly. Check with your state's business filing office. 3. Private lending is often regulated differently than IT services. You'll need to research lending licenses and regulations in your state. Some types of lending require special licenses regardless of your business structure. 4. Update your EIN information with the IRS by filing a change notice. 5. Consider liability implications - lending has different risk profiles than IT services. You might need to adjust your insurance coverage.
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Morita Montoya
•Thanks for the detailed response! I hadn't thought about checking my Operating Agreement. I'll definitely need to review that. Do you know if lending to small businesses requires the same licensing as lending to individuals? I was thinking of focusing mainly on business loans rather than personal ones. Also, what's the process for updating my EIN information with the IRS? Is that something I can do online or do I need to mail in a form?
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Kingston Bellamy
•Business lending typically has fewer regulations than consumer lending, but it still varies by state. Some states require licenses for commercial lending while others don't. You'll want to check specifically for your state's requirements for commercial lending. Even within business lending, different loan types (secured vs unsecured) might have different requirements. You can update your EIN information by filing Form 8822-B with the IRS. It's a simple change of address or responsible party form. You can mail it in - unfortunately, there's no online option for this particular form. While you're making changes, this is also a good time to ensure your business insurance covers your new activities.
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Joy Olmedo
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Isaiah Cross
•Did they help with any licensing requirements too? I'm thinking about switching my photography LLC to property management and I know there are specific licenses needed for that. Wondering if this service covers that aspect or just the basic business structure changes?
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Kiara Greene
•I'm skeptical about these AI services handling complex legal stuff. How accurate was their advice compared to what a real business attorney would provide? Did you have any issues after making the changes they recommended?
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Joy Olmedo
•They definitely helped identify the licensing requirements for my state. They provided a checklist of permits and licenses I needed to obtain for the new business activity, which saved me hours of research. Their system checks both federal and state requirements, so it should catch property management licensing needs too. I was skeptical at first too, but their advice was solid. The difference is they don't give opinions like lawyers might - they stick to factual requirements based on regulations. A lawyer reviews all their outputs though. I've been operating for 8 months with the changes they recommended and haven't had any compliance issues. The documentation they provided would be helpful if I ever needed to prove I did proper due diligence.
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Kiara Greene
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Evelyn Kelly
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Paloma Clark
•How exactly does this service work? Do they somehow have a special line to the IRS or what? Seems weird that a third party could get through when normal people can't.
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Heather Tyson
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Evelyn Kelly
•They use an automated system that calls the IRS and navigates the phone menu for you, then holds your place in the queue. When they're near the front of the line, they call you and connect you with the IRS agent. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you. I absolutely found it worth it. I had previously spent over 2 hours on hold before getting disconnected. With Claimyr, I went about my day and got work done while they handled the waiting. When they called me, I was connected to an agent within minutes. The time saved was definitely valuable, especially when you're trying to run a business. Plus, getting definitive answers directly from the IRS prevented potentially costly mistakes.
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Heather Tyson
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate to talk to the IRS about my LLC's tax classification change. I had been trying for THREE DAYS to get through on my own. With Claimyr, I submitted my request around 9am, went to a meeting, and by 11am they called me with an IRS agent already on the line. The agent walked me through exactly what forms I needed to file for my business activity change. The best part was not having to listen to that awful hold music for hours. I literally saved an entire day of productivity. For anyone dealing with business classification changes, getting direct confirmation from the IRS is hugely valuable - they told me several things that contradicted what I'd read online about changing business activities.
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Raul Neal
One thing nobody's mentioned yet - depending on what type of lending you're planning to do, you might want to consider creating a new LLC anyway for liability purposes. When I moved from consulting to investing activities, my attorney suggested keeping them separate because the risk profiles are so different. With lending especially, if someone defaults and things get messy, you don't want that liability potentially affecting assets in your original business. The cost of forming a new LLC is pretty minimal compared to the protection it provides.
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Jenna Sloan
•I've heard conflicting advice about this. Wouldn't having multiple LLCs mean multiple annual fees, multiple tax filings, etc? Is it really worth the hassle just to separate different types of business activities?
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Raul Neal
•It does mean additional annual fees and separate tax filings, but those costs need to be weighed against your risk exposure. For lending activities specifically, the risks can be significant. If a loan goes bad and there's litigation, having that activity in a separate LLC helps shield your other assets and business ventures. The administrative overhead is something to consider, but most accounting software makes it fairly manageable to maintain separate books. Many states have reasonable annual LLC fees (though some like California are expensive). I've found the peace of mind worth the extra few hundred dollars annually. It's especially important if one activity is high-risk (like lending) while the other is relatively safe.
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Christian Burns
Has anyone had experience with changing their LLC's business activity in Texas specifically? I've heard we're more relaxed about this stuff, but I'm not sure if there are any Texas-specific forms I need to file.
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Sasha Reese
•Texas is indeed pretty business-friendly. I changed my LLC from retail to consulting last year. You don't need to file any amendment with the Secretary of State unless you're changing the actual name of your LLC. The business purpose statement on Texas LLC forms is usually broad enough to cover almost any legal business activity.
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Christian Burns
•Thanks for the info! That's a relief to hear. Did you have to update anything with the Comptroller's office for franchise tax purposes? I'm wondering if changing activities might affect how I file those reports.
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