Tax Strategy, CFO Insights & NIL Finance for Founders and Athletes

Personal income, LLC, or S-Corp? The wrong NIL business structure costs college athletes thousands in unnecessary taxes every year. Here is exactly which structure makes sense at each income level, when an LLC stops being enough, and when an S-Corp election could significantly reduce your self-employment tax bill.

Not every NIL athlete needs an LLC right away and forming one too early without a plan can create more problems than it solves. Here is exactly when a college athlete should form an LLC for NIL income, when personal income is fine, and when an S-Corp election could change everything.

Getting paid NIL income the wrong way could cost you thousands in taxes you did not have to pay. Before you sign your next deal, find out whether your NIL money should go directly to you or through an LLC, and when an S-Corp election could change everything.

NIL income is self-employment income. That means college athletes earning from brand deals, collectives, appearances, and social media sponsorships could owe 25 to 40 percent in federal, state, and self-employment taxes. Here is a complete 2026 guide to how NIL deals are taxed, what you can deduct, and how to avoid the most costly mistakes.

NIL money is taxable from the first dollar and most college athletes find out at tax time. Learn how to handle quarterly payments, deduct legitimate expenses, form an LLC or S-Corp, and build a tax strategy that protects every dollar you earn from brand deals, appearances, and sponsorships.