[s73v3r_]

You would want to talk to a lawyer (which, if you are starting a business, you will want to have one), but you are not required to incorporate your business if you don't want to. However, incorporation does offer several benefits, which is why some people choose to do it.

[wheresmyusern]

this is what frustrates me. i cant afford a lawyer. from the looks of it, i cant afford to incorporate either. how is anyone supposed to bootstrap themselves these days?

[s73v3r_]

Same way you'd bootstrap if you needed developers, and couldn't afford to hire developers. You can either study and try to do it yourself, you can offer equity (although lawyers are generally smarter than developers in this area, and few will take just equity, but you might be able to find someone), or you do it the old fashioned way and get a small business loan from a bank.

Although, as has been said, you don't need an LLC if your business is not "there" yet.

[jjeaff]

You definitely do not need a lawyer. And you don't need an LLC either. Both of which are definitely "premature optimization".

If you are in the US, you can just use your SSN and sign up directly with your payment processor as a sole proprietor.

If things take off, you can start worrying about talking to a lawyer. You really won't have any reason to form an LLC until you need to hire real employees (W-2 employees).