Ask HN: Necessity of LLC for solo game dev?

5 points by throwawayhnxxx1 142 days ago | 2 comments

I have a couple of games that I made as a hobby project over the years, and currently working on my next game. I was thinking about putting my current games on steam for a nominal fee, mostly to get some experience with that side of things. I am not expecting to make any money through this, but would like to be in a good position in case one of the games catches fire.

I'm concerned that releasing games under my own name may make me an easier target for frivolous lawsuits and/or scams, however I am also not sure if starting a LLC is worth it for something that I don't expect to make any money. Does anyone have experience navigating a similar situation?

JohnFen 142 days ago |

As you know, being an LLC gives you some legal protections. It's also not terribly complex or expensive. Odds are, you're better off doing it than not. You should talk to a business attorney, though, about all the pros and cons for your situation.

yef 142 days ago |

I would focus on the games first, and then spin up the LLC if one of them takes off. Otherwise you just have the maintenance and fees of the LLC which is a distraction.