Setting up a private practice questions

[Guest guest]

Hello,I have a few private practice questions I would like to ask. Please forgive me if they have been asked before, but I am new to the group. I am going through the steps and my biggest question right now is how big of a deal is it to set up a LLC? I am in Simi Valley California and from what I have seen you have to pay the lovely state of California an extra $800 per year in tax if you're an LLC, is this accurate for anyone else in CA who is doing it? I have heard there is an extra liability insurance you can buy instead and do business as a sole proprietor (of course I would also have malpractice insurance). Is anyone using that? My other question is that I would love to bill insurance companies directly for consultations. I know this is extra work, but something I know will help a lot of mothers out by not having to pay out of pocket first.

Is anyone on here doing this, and any advice on who to contact to get the ball rolling on this? I already applied for a NPI number. Sorry for the long email. This is a lot to figure out!Thanks,Alice , IBCLC