One package. Two ways to pay.
Whitelow sells one thing: the Whitelow Launch + Back Office Partnership. You choose how to pay for it — $2,497 one-time plus $597 a month with no equity given up, or $0 up front and $0 a month in year one in exchange for a 15% stake in the LLC. Either way you get the same thing: a properly formed, licensed and compliant business with clean books, payroll, HR, funding readiness and a quarterly CFO review.
Pay with cash and keep it all, or pay with a slice of the upside and keep your cash.
Option A · Pay Up Front
You pay cash, keep 100% of your business, and we earn predictable recurring revenue.
- Year one total: $9,661 ($8,467 paid annually)
- You keep 100% ownership
- Already have an LLC? $997 onboarding fee replaces the launch fee
- Ends after the 12-month minimum, then month to month
Option B · Equity Partner
You pay nothing in year one. We earn a stake and share the profits, so we only win if you win.
- 15% stake in the LLC. 5% vests when your launch is complete; the remaining 10% vests monthly over 36 months.
- 15% of every distribution, paid when you pay yourself
- You can buy Whitelow out after 24 months. Price = 15% × 3 × trailing 12-month net profit, minimum $15,000.
- No personal guarantee is asked of you
State filing, licence and permit fees, your QuickBooks subscription and any attorney filing fees go to the issuing party at cost. We do not mark them up, so what you pay us is pure service.
Side by side
| Comparison | Option A: Pay Up Front | Option B: Equity Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Up front | $2,497 | $0 |
| Monthly, year 1 | $597 | $0 |
| Monthly, year 2 on | $597 | $297 |
| Year 1 total cost | $9,661 | $0 (plus pass-through fees) |
| Ownership given up | 0% | 15%, vested over 3 years |
| Share of profits | None | 15% of distributions |
| Can end it | After 12 months | Buyback after 24 months |
| Best for | Established owners, side businesses, anyone protective of equity | First-time founders with a strong plan and little cash |
Add-ons, published up front
| Item | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Extra employees on payroll | $15 per employee a month | Beyond 5 employees |
| Extra transaction volume | +$200 a month | Over 300 transactions a month |
| Pass-through costs | At cost | State, license and permit fees; QuickBooks subscription; attorney filing fees |
What you get, and what it costs separately
Bought piece by piece, this package is worth roughly $1,000–$2,000 a month plus $3,000–$7,500 in one-time work.
| Service | When | Typical market price if bought separately |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation, EIN, operating agreement, bank account setup | Launch | $39–$299 + state feeSource: Northwest |
| Licensing and permits research + application prep | Launch | $300–$1,000Estimate |
| QuickBooks setup and chart of accounts | Launch | $300–$1,000Source: Published setup pricing |
| Business plan + 3-year financial projections | Launch | $1,500–$3,000Estimate |
| HR starter kit: handbook, offer letter and contractor templates | Launch | $500–$1,500Estimate |
| Contract templates + preliminary trademark search | Launch | $500–$1,000 (attorney filing fees extra)Estimate |
| Registered agent service | Yearly | $125–$249 a yearSource: Northwest / LegalZoom |
| Compliance calendar + annual report prep, licence renewals | Monthly | $20–$50 a monthEstimate |
| Monthly bookkeeping + close + plain-English summary | Monthly | $300–$700 a monthSource: Beancount |
| Payroll (up to 5 employees) + sales tax filings | Monthly | $100–$300 a monthEstimate |
| HR new-hire packets and offboarding | As needed | $50–$150 per hireEstimate |
| Quarterly CFO review | Quarterly | Light retainers $1,400–$2,800 a monthSource: Futureproof |
| Funding readiness: SBA prep, grants, business credit | As needed | $500–$2,000Estimate |
| Intros to DubLow Digital, insurance, lending and legal partners | As needed | Free to youSource: Included |
Market price check
Our $597 a month sits near the price of bookkeeping alone at many firms, while bundling compliance, payroll, HR and CFO reviews on top.
| Competitor benchmark | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical small business bookkeeping package | $300–$700 a month | Beancount |
| Bookkeeper360 monthly bookkeeping | From $399 a month | Stealth Agents |
| Most small businesses (under $5M revenue) | $400–$800 a month | Catalyst CPA |
| Northwest LLC formation | $39 + state fee, $125 a year registered agent | Rho |
| LegalZoom registered agent | $249 a year | AI Lawyer |
| Fractional CFO, early stage under $1M revenue | $1,500–$3,000 a month | The Expert CFO via MENAFN |
| Fractional CFO light retainer (8–10 hours) | $1,400–$2,800 a month | Futureproof |
| Advisor equity for advice only | 0.1%–1% | Haven |
Frequently asked questions
What does Whitelow Legacy Group cost?
One package, the Whitelow Launch + Back Office Partnership, with two ways to pay. Pay Up Front is $2,497 one-time plus $597 a month with a 12-month minimum, which is $9,661 in year one, or $8,467 paid annually. Equity Partner is $0 up front and $0 a month in year one, in exchange for a 15% stake, then $297 a month from month 13.
Why is it the same service either way?
Because the work does not change — only how you pay for it. Pay Up Front suits owners with cash who want to keep every share. Equity Partner suits strong founders who are short on cash today and would rather pay with a slice of the upside.
What is not included in the price?
Government fees — state filing, licence and permit fees — your QuickBooks subscription, and any attorney filing fees are passed through at cost on both options. We do not mark them up, so our price is pure service. Payroll beyond five employees and transaction volume above 300 a month have published add-on rates.
Is there a contract?
Pay Up Front has a 12-month minimum and then runs month to month. Equity Partner is governed by a written operating agreement that your own attorney should review before you sign. Either way, the terms are in writing and explained in plain English before you commit.
What if I already have an LLC?
Then we waive the formation work and charge a $997 onboarding fee in place of the launch fee. The monthly partnership is the same.
Can I switch from one option to the other?
The Equity Partner agreement includes a buyback right: you can buy Whitelow out after 24 months at 15% × 3 × trailing 12-month net profit, with a $15,000 minimum. Moving the other way is a conversation, not a standing offer, because the equity screen still applies.
Not sure which option fits?
Book a free business checkup. We will look at what is already set up, what is missing, and tell you honestly which way of paying makes more sense for where you are.