Single Member LLC vs. a Sole Proprietorship

This article from BizFilings details the advantages and disadvantages of a Single Member LLC vs. a Sole Proprietorship.  The primary difference is that the LLC comes with a legal shield and may require more licenses/registrations, depending on the state where it's registered.

Unless the single member LLC has employees, the EIN is the owner's social security number.

LLCs typically do not pay taxes at the business entity level. Any business income or loss is "passed-through" to owners and reported on their personal income tax returns. Any tax due is paid at the individual level.

An article from Entrepreneur magazine: What to Consider When Deciding Between Forming a Sole Proprietorship or LLC