One. Think about your personality, work style and goals. Write them down in a notebook. As you write them down, think about how they would fit in a specific business structure.

Two. Inventory your personal assets. Each structure offers different levels of protection should your company experience bankruptcy or a successful lawsuit. What is at risk for a particular structure you’re thinking about if things were to go wrong?

Three. When it comes to decision-making, are you more authoritative or collaborative? Be honest, as this will help you pick a structure that matches your personality.

Four. Go back to the structures comparison chart to see how the different structures stack up in terms of liability, operations, difficulty and reporting requirements.

Five. Consult an account and/or attorney to learn more about the implications of the specific structure you’re interested in and review your own circumstances.