Can I buy an existing LLC?

Unless NY law is very different than CA and every other state, your purchase of an LLC would not dissolve it unless its Operating Agreement provided for dissolution (highly unlikely.

As I am not licensed in NY you should consult with a NY attorney to be certain.

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No, it is NOT true that purchasing any shares or full ownership of an LLC would dissolve the LLC unless there is something in the LLC's operating agreement that requires dissolution of the entity upon a change of ownership, and there are precious few LLCs that have that provision in their operating agreements.

Check the LLC's operating agreement before plunking down your money, but be very surprised if there is a provision in that document that requires dissolution upon change of ownership interests.

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This is a common misconception that I have encountered with NY accountants. Your accountant is likely confusing partnerships with LLC's. This is because the former ceases to exist once the principals are removed. The erroneous logic follows that a single member LLC that loses its single member also loses its existence. That is not true. LLC interests can and often do survive a complete change in membership. As mentioned before, you want to closely examine the LLC's operating agreement (which even single member LLC's are required to have) to see what the terms and conditions are for transferring interests, substituting members, and dissolving the company, among other things.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: This answer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute general or specific legal advice, nor create an attorney client relationship.