How To Start A Game Studio (LEGALLY)
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Күн бұрынHave you ever wondered how to start a game studio "legally" (whatever that means), and also ensure it is an LLC and set-up to be properly taxed? Yeah me neither...
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@thomasbrush 3 жыл бұрын
Happy Thanksgiving week guys :) Does anyone have an LLC? If so what is it! ► Learn how to become a full time game dev, free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-how-to-make-six-figures ► Enroll in my 3D workshop, free!: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-15-minute-3D-game ► Make your game instantly beautiful with my free workbook: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-instant-beauty-color-workbook ► Get my 2D game kit, free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-2D-game-kit ► Join my 2D character workshop, free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-2d-character-art-workshop ► Wishlist Twisted Tower: store.steampowered.com/app/1575990/Twisted_Tower/ ► Learn how to make money as a KZfaqr: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-indie-game-income-workshop
@gamedevlooped1689 3 жыл бұрын
No not at all! i didnt even know that a thing till 5 minuites ago. as a 14 year old i didnt even think that we have to deal with all this.
@Td0g4261 3 жыл бұрын
Magic Dragon Studios
@EsperVisions 3 жыл бұрын
EsperVisions LLC - www.espervisions.com Thank you for all of your guidance Thomas. Any aspiring Game Devs who haven't signed up for your course yet are really missing out. ^^
@smith3596 3 жыл бұрын
Nebulos Entertainment, LLC
@StudioHannah 3 жыл бұрын
Mine is Studio Hannah LLC :D I only changed over thanks to you.
@jarh5281 3 жыл бұрын
This is definitely one of the most intimidating aspects of game dev that's worried me for a while
@jarh5281 3 жыл бұрын
@@Jennifer-ju8de lmao, you say that under the bold assumption that I plan to ride on indie game dev as a full time job exclusively, which is not the case. You are clearly salty about something if you're saying all that as a reply to my initial statement. I've got no reason to thank you but A+ for the effort
@jarh5281 3 жыл бұрын
@Zonetron Hell yeah, that's the spirit!
@adamcaretta4715 3 жыл бұрын
@@Jennifer-ju8de what’s that got to do with getting an LLC
@HunterGoodin 3 жыл бұрын
@Killingdance He didn't. Ever. He has two games on the Switch. Idk, man. That guy doesn't know shit.
@ytcorporate9237 2 жыл бұрын
@Zonetron Christ, man, that is beautiful.
@user15121lIlIIll 3 жыл бұрын
Whats the (ILLEGAL) way to start a game studio
@greatclubsandwich5612 3 жыл бұрын
Whatever Sojia Boy did...
@XDTuber 3 жыл бұрын
just not filing on tax return
@dadabellmon8672 3 жыл бұрын
LMAO
@amberlewis012 3 жыл бұрын
Just like what the replies above me said and *transform into Donald Trump muaHAHAHAHA*
@chazzwazzler 3 жыл бұрын
hold the CEO of some big game studio hostage until they give you their game studio.
@TheKwiji 3 жыл бұрын
for all germans! this is not what you should do right away when you start out as a small dev. An LLC has benefits but if you don't make more than 25k a year, there are only disadvantages in relation to taxation. You will however transition to a GmbH (LLC) when you get more than 50k euros in your first year. For example, I'm a small time student dev and only make about 6k euros a year as a job on the side, so I registered a company as a "kleinunterner" so that I don't have to pay taxes when I'm below about 9400 euros.
@KappGaming 3 жыл бұрын
Danke :)
@PerionTermia 3 жыл бұрын
Danke dir! :D
@cyronixed 3 жыл бұрын
meinst Du damit UG?
@frenches1995 3 жыл бұрын
This is exactly the case why i disliked this video he does not even mention that his advices are for a specific country and not aplicable everywhere in the world
@ZebulonZ 3 жыл бұрын
@@frenches1995 Except when he asks that one should to look up their equivalent to a LLC in their respective country at 2:58
@mr.asylum5894 2 жыл бұрын
I was watching the video right when he said and I quote “ guys this is where things get complicated I’m not gonna lie “. Not even 1 second later an ad popped up said an LLC doesn’t have to be just type in LLC Tailor Brands. Man I was dead as hell perfect timing.
@rashadfoux6927 3 жыл бұрын
A) This is really educational and helpful. Thanks man. B) I'm checking in on your stuff after a year+ of being out of the loop, and it makes me happy to see how successful you've become. Props on the hard work and business savvy!
@Danny_Dark 3 жыл бұрын
This was exactly the I needed because I am completely in the dark about this stuff! You always give amazing info! Thank you so very much and keep it up!!!
@jonathan_cunningham 3 жыл бұрын
You should share how you got a name for your studio. I think its very interesting hearing about how people come up with names and other things like that
@elblaise5618 3 жыл бұрын
Shout out to dads, the most underrated of super heroes. P.S. Thanks for introducing me to tort liability.
@LuanaSantos-rl4sb 2 жыл бұрын
wat
@theMinecraftman87 Жыл бұрын
So important that someone is putting this information out for free. You are truly doing good work.
@mohammedmahmoud4255 3 жыл бұрын
Love You Man I Started Development On My Game 3 Days Ago And I'm Making GREAT Progress Because Of YOU!!!!
@blackwaffle542 Ай бұрын
How did it go
@ryroio 3 жыл бұрын
Great video as always! I think there's a lot of confusion with folks around business expenses though. If you're an LLC or a sole proprietor, right now the standard deduction is $12,400. That's basically just a catchall expense that the government assumes you have. BUT, if you claim the standard deduction, you can not claim any other expenses; you have to pick one. So unless you're spending more than $12,400, your expenses won't impact your taxes.
@AlbertRosa 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this. Just what I needed to get over the step of getting the LLC. Thanks again!
@alphagames7945 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this data. This on top of your course is giving me a good, long awaited methodical path as well as new motivation.
@alejandrozucca2457 3 жыл бұрын
Yes, yes, yes! The video I've been waiting for. As a non US resident person I have to go for the LLC. This confirms my research. Thanks Thom!
@jonathan_cunningham 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! I’ve been wondering about this for a while now
@stealcase 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the starting point, Thomas. Enjoying the Setup and editing. =)
@actualunicorn9462 11 ай бұрын
I really appreciate this video really out here doing gods work for me and many others trying to start game studios
@gamenrage5998 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the heads up on this great video!
@Magicguy33 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much Thomas, planning on moving to NC soon so this was perfect to get an idea of what I would pay!!
@GemTappX Жыл бұрын
I really needed a video like this. Thank you!
@Charlesw_88 3 жыл бұрын
Great video. Thanks for the advice Thomas.
@RTPcanadaGames 5 ай бұрын
I enjoyed this Video. Thanks for sharing brother. I now know what an LLC is!
@PrinceOfLostKingdom841 2 жыл бұрын
This is perfect Thomas thank you.
@Slacker333666 3 жыл бұрын
Pretty Informative stuff I haven’t even started but I’m looking forward to learning how to create games and gotta say you comedy cracks me up hits me right in the funny bone thanks for the videos
@pngamestudios 2 жыл бұрын
Very useful. Thank you Thomas
@dbvectra 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video, Thomas!
@MagicisHerba 3 жыл бұрын
Dude this type of material is gold, thank you! 🍻
@StudioHannah 3 жыл бұрын
I made my business an LLC because you said that was a good idea in your Game Dev course :) I’ve been a sole proprietorship for years. But it’s officially Studio Hannah LLC now!
@ryroio 3 жыл бұрын
Congrats!
@MartinFRaposo 3 жыл бұрын
Congrats!! How is it going?
@The6thRonin 3 жыл бұрын
Excellent Info. Thank you.
@tpgthe2ndhg608 3 жыл бұрын
This is very help full thank you
@dadabellmon8672 3 жыл бұрын
I currently have four LLC businesses. An Information Services Company that deals with Data Collections, Data Storage, Data Research, Data Modeling, Data Development and Data Distribution. The second is a Device Manufacturing and Retail Company where I build phones, tablets, PCs and Smart Media Centers and Smart TVs. The third is a Technical Support Company, which was my first and started as a DBA back in 2003, where I do IT Field Technician work such as technical Installations, Hardware Repairs, Network and Server Support. My forth business is just the mother company of the other three. I am now looking to start a fifth company specifically for game dev!
@ChristopherCricketWallace 3 жыл бұрын
serious question: are your taxes crazy complicated. That's the biggest worry about all of this stuff--getting burned in taxes even if I didn't make any money.
@Alexindiegamedev 2 жыл бұрын
I am working on my first true game and really need this information thank you
@chandlerpricemedia 3 жыл бұрын
I'm learning game dev and this kinda stuff is like seriously appreciated as I am not familiar with the like business side of... Well anything really 😂 really helps me realize I need to do my research and start learning a lot more!
@estherfelicies7846 3 жыл бұрын
Very helpful thanks😊
@Imkiritai 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Thomas 🙏
@SlavicFox 8 ай бұрын
2 years late, but this one of the most valuable videos i've ever watched.
@CoffeeAI201 2 жыл бұрын
9:15 infomercials have taught us any video segment that’s in grayscale means sadness and pain. This was my favorite part of the video.
@blackfrogstudios6670 3 жыл бұрын
Would love to see an elaboration on this, maybe going over how you got your website?
@reptilianaliengamedev3612 3 жыл бұрын
Do you need help with getting a website built for your studio?
@blackfrogstudios6670 3 жыл бұрын
@@reptilianaliengamedev3612 right now I’m good, I’m not a legal studio or anything, but I have a website being worked on, thanks
@JGD44 3 жыл бұрын
Incredibly useful. 👍
@Morraak 3 жыл бұрын
Good stuff to know!
@ChristopherCricketWallace 3 жыл бұрын
I was hoping for conversations about music licensing, copyright and trademark issues/gotchas with your art and IP, etc. What do you would do if someone says you copied their proprietary algorithmic surprise mechanic by having new gun as an in-game purchasable item? Stuff like that.
@40wattstudio41 3 жыл бұрын
Those are things I'd like to see more videos about as well.
@BuffaloMuff 3 жыл бұрын
Well in all actuality if someone does try to tell you stolen IP etc they have to prove that in a court of law and its time to get a lawyer. Those type of suits are rare however as you can imagine it goes 2 ways. Literally you ripped off part of a song, took their 3d model without correct license, didnt hold up your end etc etc etc, or you did not. That sort of a case is only going to come up and go to court if you are in the wrong. Music (played professionally for years) is inherently the creators IP. Do not take anyones music without permission. Same goes with anything else you snag for your Games.
@asmosisyup2557 3 жыл бұрын
@@BuffaloMuff "only going to come up and go to court if you are in the wrong. " that's what you go to court to prove/disprove. You can most definitely go to court when you are in the right, and spend large sums of money trying to defend yourself. In the US, most smaller companies can't afford that, so will often just pay w/e the large company is demanding (i.e. a settlement) which is somewhere between what your legal fees would have been (i.e. you take the smaller cost of going vs not going to court) and the potential revenue the large company hopes to make (minus their legal costs). If your game doesnt make much money, you're *probably* fine as there's not much incentive for the larger company to go after you. If your super successful though you'll likely have things come up that have nothing to do with your game. tldr; its a fucking mess and does not work in any way like it should.
@Jakommo 3 жыл бұрын
@@BuffaloMuff or.. there are the people/companies who sue absolutely everyone in hopes that people will give them a slice to avoid longer and more costly lawsuits..
@Myserieden 3 жыл бұрын
For my business I had to get an llc. Easiest thing ever. You literally just sign up for it on a government website and I paid $125.00 had paper work in less than a week. Edit: just noticed you were talking about North Carolina. I’m in South Carolina. Pretty sure the process is identical in both states.
@nightcow8767 3 жыл бұрын
i needed this today lol
@TrueNorthRecon 3 жыл бұрын
I emailed about something like this not long ago. I am so happy you ended up doing this. We need more Info like this from someone with experience.
@KlassicKent 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Thomas Brush my game dev senpai.
@ScilexGuitar 3 жыл бұрын
Should I start the game studio/company before or after I release my first (commercial) game?
@leonardotoma3780 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!!
@KyrstOak Жыл бұрын
Keep in mind that all this legal stuff varies from country to country and sometimes county to county, so it's best to talk to a lawyer and/or a financial advisor who knows this stuff for where you live.
@Chevifier 3 жыл бұрын
button line if you make 100k save 50k for taxes its roughly its no where near that but its good to have the headroom
@jackcrunch1124 2 жыл бұрын
Where did you get so fashionable coat? 'Cause it's really cool! And thanks buddy for your amazing work!
@imraanakollo-arenz1449 3 жыл бұрын
There's something wild about the fact that he evolved from babyface dad to "I should be fronting a post hardcore band" I just thought it would be cool to notice. Keep teaching me post hardcore game design dad!
@omerfarukbykl6097 3 жыл бұрын
Nice topic
@badbanana9894 3 жыл бұрын
This is perfect Thomas thank you. A great starting point for my research into this topic before I actually make any money. (Real money not a few hundred pounds) Cheers
@backsnapd2040 3 жыл бұрын
I have an LLC but its for a clothing company that never got off the ground lol
@D_RoeVS 3 ай бұрын
How come? What were the issues you came across that resulted in your business not progressing?
@rikrishshrestha5421 3 жыл бұрын
fantastic !!
@Mygoditsfullofstars Жыл бұрын
I ran my business through an s-corp. I don't know if a video game studio would be well structured under that arrangement but it was certainly advantageous for my trade - my accountant was invaluable in this endeavor.
@RexSmithII Жыл бұрын
Say you just sell one game on steam, do you actually need to file in the state I live, or can I file in a lower taxed state with a physical address?
@hardcorenacho1020 Жыл бұрын
Im pretty late to the video, would it be better to start an LLC then create games or should I have some games created then create an LLC then publish the games?
@oatcube3961 3 жыл бұрын
In some countries you can gain money through small business, even without starting a company, to a certain maximum in a year before you have to pay VAT.
@yobigames 2 жыл бұрын
I need help understanding how to check if the URL is taken or not. I didn't understand what you meant by checking with the provider about the domain
@KyntrellMV 2 жыл бұрын
Is this something you want to complete before, during, or after releasing a game/reaching out to a producer for your game?
@atamusicofficial 3 жыл бұрын
just got an ad for Thomas Brush while watching Thomas Brush O.o
@berkus8564 3 жыл бұрын
Oh man! My notifications were late!
@ryanmckenzie5918 12 күн бұрын
For folks in the U.S., the Small Business Administration and SCORE are great resources. The SBA has a lot of resources to help you understand the business side of... starting a business, and SCORE can pair you up with a local mentor to help guide you through getting set up, marketing your product, etc. It's all free resources through the Federal government.
@phillippi2 3 жыл бұрын
Much of this is actually the same reason why the GPL license states that the devs can't be held responsible for any damages to the end-user or their property. I have to wonder what the difference is between protections stated in this video and protections stated in a license are. Which types are better in what circumstances? *meaning; is it better for a corporation to rely on license protections or is it better for them to take the route in this video?*
@SocrateA3 3 жыл бұрын
Hey thomas i signed up in the full game dev and i didn't receive the 2d ge kit but thanks on video you and your games are my number 1 inspiration for making games you inspired to make a steam game so thanks
@thomasbrush 3 жыл бұрын
Did you confirm your email address?
@SocrateA3 3 жыл бұрын
Yup and it sent me to a page saying you are subscribed
@itsgamingmoonlight3400 3 жыл бұрын
Socrate - A3 me too
@tjcampbell9454 3 жыл бұрын
You can get the EIN free from the irs after you get the $99 package
@SeerNovaComics 3 жыл бұрын
We have an LLC, but we didn't go through legal zoom though, but anyways this video was very informative :D
@AngryMan540 3 жыл бұрын
URL availability can be checked via a free whois search
@susank4039 2 жыл бұрын
do you need a monthly fee for the LLC? or is it a one time deal?
@BrianWilmeth 11 күн бұрын
you can also start an S Corp. That's what I did at least. Cheaper in NY State
@Pakistani890 2 жыл бұрын
9:20 u had me there for a while. lol
@izzyhope58 2 жыл бұрын
Do I legally need an LLC if I want to release my game under a studio name like "Example Entertainment" or whatever, or is it ok to have a studio name without an official LLC. Also If I'm just working on a game in my spare time not making money from it (atm), would it be recommended to do this. Or should I wait until I release a game and actually start making a significant amount of money.
@EriksBlue 3 жыл бұрын
So what if I have a business license already should I go and turn it into a LLC?
@GoblinsDemon 5 ай бұрын
Umm if you pay yourself a salary as an LLC if you file it as an scorp you can write it off your business taxes because your salary gets taxed personally on you own tax return instead. If you are running it as like a sole proprietorship it's referred as a draw rather then a salary. Which is where the tax gets changed between the 2 since it regards the draw as just pulling out your own money rather then the business being its own being.
@BassShoter Жыл бұрын
Hey i got a question am working on my first game in UE5 but i wanted it to be free to play can i do that?
@PrescottLawani Жыл бұрын
I made my business in Texas. Do I have to change anything if I move? It is technically virtual, only exsisting where I have my computers.
@troglodev2533 3 жыл бұрын
Don’t forget about your Spotify podcast. I need something to fall asleep to! 😩
@troglodev2533 3 жыл бұрын
I’m not implying that it’s boring, btw. I’m saying that it’s soothing, lol.
@NCRRanger16 2 жыл бұрын
Lol I was about to say...
@jacobs.7925 6 ай бұрын
Any tips on how to transfer the LLC's income to another country? Is there any best way or is it case-based? I plan on opening a LLC in the US to receive money from steam sales but I don't know how to bring the money to South America afterwards. Thanks
@adrycough 3 жыл бұрын
"I'm not trying to sell you a course" *3 and a half minutes in* > please buy my course, it's on sale
@Orinslayer 3 жыл бұрын
-on accounting-
@RioTFF 3 жыл бұрын
For some reason my dog always falls asleep in my office when I have your videos playing....
@Shadogi 3 жыл бұрын
Question! What about creating your LLC before you start making money in order to funnel development expenses through? Most of us will be running a deficit before we release (art, music, etc.), so should you create your LLC early and, if so, what does that do to things like paying taxes?
@rekusanreku5540 3 жыл бұрын
From what my stepdad has warned me about (he's a full bird in the army, and has handled a lot of legal stuff on their end.), he more or less told me to wait until you hit a certain amount of revenue made from your game before thinking about opening it. Its the same thing as say a twitch streamer, if they don't make past a certain amount its not taxable. However if you are a company everything is taxable. TL;DR wait it out and see how much you earn since it only takes 30 days for it to be approved.
@ryroio 3 жыл бұрын
I am not an accountant, but from what I've gathered in looking into this same topic, unless you're funneling a good chunk of change through the game company, it's not going to make a difference. The current standard deduction is 12,400 dollars. Unless you're spending more than that, you won't be itemizing your expenses so your tax burden should remain unchanged. I don't know your specific circumstances though, so do please have a quick consultation with an accountant (they can be cheap/free for your first visit with them a lot of times)
@UncannyXmeme 9 ай бұрын
I want to start an independent gaming studio, and already have an LLC to use, how much does it cost to start a team? I want to make RPG and MOBA games on Unreal Engine 5
@landonlikesjazz3420 3 жыл бұрын
What all do you get taxed for for game dev?
@UltimatePerfection 3 жыл бұрын
Too bad none of this applies to me because of different jurisdiction. It's quite tricky to get similar info on Polish law. Still, I am sure someone will find this useful so thank you for making it even if it's useless in my case.
@sullieskye 3 жыл бұрын
What if you just make games as a hobby? What does that entail? Is it possible to just put a free game on PlayStation network or something like that?
@CalebBub 3 жыл бұрын
Super helpful video! But, did anyone else notice the volume being too low? I had to turn up my pc and the ads were WAY louder :3 Might just be me though!
@blackfrogstudios6670 3 жыл бұрын
Sounded fine for me
@nwotyzarc Жыл бұрын
As a German seeing that you can start a LLC on a website.. 🤣 we're sooo far away from that here. You have to walk to at least 5 different government offices and fill out documents and need a notary contract which will cost you at least 500 bucks. I'm jealous 😭
@floydjay1361 3 жыл бұрын
If you’re the dad I never had, in your next video can you say “Are ya winning son?” While starring at the camera?
@huntermay8322 2 жыл бұрын
Im actually in the process but need guidance to make this company. outside of what you just mention i need to know the legality of everything i need to know to start a indie company. where or who could i talk to that does not require a paycheck?
@MDLNMDANGER 3 жыл бұрын
Where did you get your cardigan from thomas?!
@gamenrage5998 Жыл бұрын
I have many games story i have written and concepts of my own to make gaming more enjoyable but need the funds to start out and the how to do the setup of an online base gaming site to sell my work having one good programmer and map making working with me but need a way to put this all together can you help in this type dream of mine by giving me some good pointer where to start out and get it going.
@roboticz3474 Жыл бұрын
is there a difference between naming your your company, lets say facepunch llc, vs studio vs games
@floatingdoor 3 жыл бұрын
Lmao. I got an ad from you on your own video.
@AussieScorcher 3 жыл бұрын
I got an ad about you on your own video lol
@BLUDDLY 3 жыл бұрын
Huh, I was only looking into this a few days ago! Thanks for the much needed info :)
@sergeymelkumov9232 Жыл бұрын
Online company in Estonia fixes some of the problems mentioned in this video. US sucks even in company management now...
@landennation8201 3 жыл бұрын
Already clicked the like button guy 😎
@tylergorzney8499 3 жыл бұрын
So, just curious, I have been a street dev. for the past 2 years (to elaborate....I have been homeless and developing a game in UE4 on a laptop @ the library and Starbucks. I store my stuff in public storage and do not have a home or apt. etc. After listening to much on Indie Game Dev, if definitely seems important to have an actual business setup, for various reasons, amongst others to protect my IP, assets etc.? Is it possible to do ths without a physical address?...or by using a the USPS General Mail Delivery address (it's how us non-physical address types get mail...caue you need a physical address to get a P.O. Box...) BTW - Thomas, you're awesome man...you from the Midwest? Your demeanor is amazing, the vids you do are so great and inspiring! Thank you...for being awesome! ;)
@GRIZZLY12345 3 жыл бұрын
Keep your head up i was there too.making my game with no where to sleep.. I know how it goes.. Get u a place to live first... Then you'll be able to focus and get way more done without no worries unless your difFirent and are able to somehow push through without.... Much love my friend
@tylergorzney8499 3 жыл бұрын
@@GRIZZLY12345 Well, honestly, I would rather live on the streets off of $2400 a year and have 12 hours a day 7 days a week to work in UE4. Getting a place to stay typically means working 8 hours a day to barely get by, sleeping 6, traveling 2, being exhausted and having very little time to work in UE4. I ended up getting a job as a night auditor in Breckenridge, CO. So...now I snowboard on good powder days (for free), and work on projects during downtime at night or on days off. I have $8400 saved up, so it's tempting t ogo back to the streets for a couple more years and have more time lol. Thanks man, encouragement is nice!