How to add capital contributions to an LLC (2024)

A limited liability company, or LLC structure, is a popular form of business structure that's used by many entrepreneurs and startup companies. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you may be wondering about funding your LLC.

Funding for an LLC can come from a number of sources, with capital contributions from members being one of the main sources—and often the only source—of funding.

LLC capital contributions

A capital contribution is the term used to describe the investment an LLC member makes in the LLC. When starting up an LLC, each member generally will make an initial capital contribution; there are no requirements as to how much this initial capital contribution must be, but it should, at the very least, be enough to cover the startup's initial operating expenses.

The LLC operating agreement often will detail a schedule of additional capital contributions that the members commit to making throughout the life of the LLC. If your LLC's operating agreement includes such terms, you will need to meet your commitment by making these additional capital contributions in the amounts and at the times stated in the agreement.

Forms of LLC capital contributions

If your capital contribution will be in the form of cash, making the contribution is generally as easy as making out a check from your personal funds to the LLC. Capital contributions, however, also can be in the form of property or services.

If you plan to contribute property, you will need to obtain a market valuation to determine the value of the property you are contributing to the LLC. Capital contributions in the form of property may also attract a number of potential tax consequences, so it's generally a good idea to consult with a tax advisor beforehand.

You also can make a capital contribution in the form of services. As with property, you will need to obtain a market value for the value of your services. There also are tax consequences, as you will have to treat this value as if it were actual income you earned for your services, meaning you will have to pay personal income taxes on the value of these services. Because of this, services are not as popular a form of capital contribution.

Accounting for LLC capital contributions

In order to properly track the amount of a member's contributions to the company and distributions from the company, each member of the LLC will have a capital account. This isn't a real bank account, but rather a notational one for the purposes of recordkeeping.

The primary use of a capital account is to record the value of the member's percentage of ownership; if the LLC were to be dissolved, the amount in each member's capital account should reflect the amount that member would receive after all debts have been paid.

In addition to the amount or value of your initial capital contribution, your bookkeeper will also use the capital account to keep track of any additional capital contributions you make throughout the life of the LLC.

The balance of the capital accounts also will be adjusted periodically to reflect the LLC's profits and losses. Such profits and losses are often shared among the members according to their membership percentages, but this isn't a requirement, and different percentages for the distribution of profits and losses may be used, so long as these percentages are contained in the LLC's operating agreement.

Additionally, the capital account should be adjusted to account for any distributions that may be made from the LLC to the members.

Loan vs. capital contribution (LLC)

So, you've made your initial capital contribution, but the LLC requires more cash for its daily operations, or perhaps it needs additional funds to make an investment in some necessary equipment.

If you don't feel up to making another capital contribution—and the terms of your operating agreement don't require you to at this particular point in time—you may want to provide the LLC with a loan instead.

When making a loan to the LLC, it's important to clarify that the money you are providing to the LLC is a loan and not a capital contribution that will affect the balance of your capital account. The best way to do this is with proper documentation.

The LLC should provide you with a promissory note that sets out the full details of the loan, including the amount of the loan, the terms of the loan including the interest to be charged, and a repayment schedule or repayment date.

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How to add capital contributions to an LLC (2024)

FAQs

How to add capital contributions to an LLC? ›

How to make an LLC Capital Contribution. You can deposit cash, write a check, or transfer money from your personal bank account to your LLC bank account. This money then becomes the available funds for the LLC operating expenses.

How do you record capital contributions in an LLC? ›

Accounting for LLC capital contributions

In order to properly track the amount of a member's contributions to the company and distributions from the company, each member of the LLC will have a capital account. This isn't a real bank account, but rather a notational one for the purposes of recordkeeping.

Can I deduct capital contributions to my LLC? ›

Is Capital Contribution Taxable? Our tax laws say that most capital contributions are not taxable for the LLC owner or the LLC.

What is a capital contribution to the LLC? ›

A capital contribution refers to the cash or property that owners provide to their business. LLC members typically make initial capital contributions when opening the business and may contribute more throughout the company's lifetime.

How do you account for capital contributions? ›

Contributed capital is reported in the shareholder's equity section of the balance sheet and usually split into two different accounts: common stock and additional paid-in capital account.

Does capital contribution count as income? ›

The IRS permits tax free capital contributions of non-cash assets as long as the value of the asset equals the value of the equity received in exchanged. If the value of the asset is less than the value of the equity received, the excess amount may be a taxable gain.

What is the journal entry for capital contribution? ›

When an investor pays a company for shares, the journal entry involves debiting the cash account for the received amount and crediting the common stock account for the par value of issued shares. Any excess amount is credited to an additional paid-in capital account, reflecting the total capital contribution.

Can sweat equity be a capital contribution in an LLC? ›

Contents. Starting and building a business typically requires owners to contribute capital, which can be in the form of property, cash, or assets such as office space, desks, vehicles, and equipment. Capital contributions can also be made in the form of services or labor, which is commonly referred to as sweat equity.

What is an example of a capital account in an LLC? ›

These should be defined in the LLC operating agreement. These allocations impact your capital account balance. For example, if you have a 50% ownership stake and the LLC earns $10,000 in profits, your capital account would increase by $5,000.

Can I put personal money into my LLC? ›

Yes, you can use personal money to fund an LLC.

How do you raise capital in an LLC? ›

LLC members can tap into their own personal assets to fund their company. This can take different forms, such as investing savings, using personal assets as collateral for a loan, or liquidating assets and putting the proceeds into the LLC.

What is the purpose of a capital contribution? ›

Cash or assets given to an entity in exchange for an equity interest or as part of an ongoing obligation, or capital commitment, to fund the entity. For example, a capital contribution is often made in exchange for additional common stock, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of an entity.

How much money should I contribute to my LLC? ›

Ultimately, how much you contribute to your SMLLC is up to you. That said, you should contribute enough to cover your projected business start-up expenses. For many small businesses, this might just be a few hundred dollars. But if you want to put several thousand dollars (or more) into the LLC, you can do so.

How do you document capital contributions? ›

Any contributions to capital should be documented. You'll want to be sure to include previous and new valuations and ownership percentages, signatures and more. Our LLC capital contribution agreement documents the following essential information: Name of each member making a contribution.

Do capital contributions get paid back? ›

Repayment Obligations: Typically, capital contributions are not expected to be repaid to the contributing member—unless the operating agreement specifies otherwise. Even if the agreement does, however, it's often under specific conditions like the dissolution of the LLC.

How do you record an owner putting money into a business? ›

Once the account is established, any funds contributed by the owner should be recorded as a credit to the equity account, maintaining accurate financial representation and providing a transparent view of the owner's financial stake in the business.

How does an LLC track capital accounts? ›

Rather, the capital account can be as simple as a spreadsheet on the LLC's computer, or using some sort of accounting software, or even just a notebook page that identifies what each of the contributions are that have been made by the owners of the business and the value of those contributions.

Is a contribution to an LLC a taxable event? ›

When a limited liability company (LLC) is formed and chooses to be taxed as a partnership, its members generally do not incur tax. This is because the contribution of property to a partnership is generally a nontaxable event (see Explanation: §721).

How do I record capital contributions in Quickbooks? ›

Where do I input capital contributions?
  1. Go to Settings ⚙, then Chart of Accounts.
  2. Hit New.
  3. From the Account Type drop-down, choose Equity.
  4. In the Detail Type drop-down, pick Owner's Equity or Partner's Equity depending on your situation.
  5. Save and close.
Mar 18, 2020

What is additional paid-in capital for an LLC? ›

Additional Paid-in Capital represents the amount of money investors contribute to a company above the stated par value of its stock. It is the equity portion of a company's balance sheet that includes funds received from issuing stock at a premium.

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