Checkbook IRA
Checkbook IRA (Check Book IRA LLC) is a privately-held US self-directed IRA custodian founded in 1996 that administers IRA-owned LLC, IRA Trust, and Solo 401(k) structures, enabling individual investors to deploy retirement funds into alternatives such as real estate, tax liens, precious metals, and cryptocurrency with direct checkbook control without custodian approval.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersRedmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Checkbook IRA does
Checkbook IRA (legal entity Check Book IRA LLC) is a privately-held US custodian and services firm that enables individual investors to deploy retirement funds held in self-directed IRAs into alternative assets via 'checkbook control' structures. Founded in 1996 by attorney Debra Buchanan in the wake of the Swanson v. Commissioner Tax Court ruling, the company administers three core account structures: an IRA-owned single-member LLC, an IRA-owned Revocable Trust, and a Solo 401(k) for self-employed individuals, each allowing the account holder to act as manager or trustee and execute investments directly without custodian approval.
The underlying technology is administrative and document-based rather than software-platform-based: the company prepares proprietary Operating Agreements and Subscription Agreements, forms single-member LLCs (state-filed in jurisdictions such as Missouri and New Mexico where registered agent fees apply), acquires EINs, and provides ongoing custodial services with annual valuation worksheets. The company's defensibility rests on its USPTO-registered 'Check Book IRA' trademark, its role in establishing the legal framework via Swanson (1996) and IRS FSA 200128011 (2001), and its published educational library ('Checkbook IRA University', YouTube channel, Anchor.fm podcast, and 'The Shield' email newsletter).
The business model is a hybrid of one-time setup fees (collected via $300 e-check deposit, balance taken from IRA upon transfer) and recurring subscription revenue, primarily a flat $150/year custodial fee per account regardless of account value, supplemented by $125/year registered agent fees for NM/MO LLCs. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via free phone consultations (1-800-482-2760), online applications (app.checkbookira.com), and content-marketing-driven inbound, with no channel partners, resellers, or institutional investors. The firm is owner-operated under founder Steve Sheppherd and current CEO Jordan Sheppherd, with Peter Rizzo as President, serving 'thousands' of clients across all 50 US states and multiple countries from offices in Redmond OR, Scottsdale AZ, and Minneapolis MN.
Checkbook IRA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Checkbook IRA
- Legal name
- Check Book IRA LLC
- Website
- https://checkbookira.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Checkbook IRA (Check Book IRA LLC) is a privately-held US self-directed IRA custodian founded in 1996 that administers IRA-owned LLC, IRA Trust, and Solo 401(k) structures, enabling individual investors to deploy retirement funds into alternatives such as real estate, tax liens, precious metals, and cryptocurrency with direct checkbook control without custodian approval.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Checkbook IRA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Self-Directed IRA Custodian Services
- NAICS
- Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiduciary Agency & Trustee-for-Hire Services (FSAAANAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Directed Trust & Trust Advisory Services (FSAAANAK), Corporate Trust Services (Trustee, Agent & Escrow Roles) (FSAEAKAB)
Keywords
Where Checkbook IRA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Checkbook IRA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Annual Custodial Fees: Annual custodial fee of $150 per year regardless of account value. This is the primary recurring revenue stream.
- Setup/Formation Fees: One-time setup fees for forming the IRA LLC structure, including LLC formation, Operating Agreement preparation, EIN acquisition, and state filing fees. Customer pays $300 deposit via e-check, balance taken from IRA upon transfer.
- Registered Agent Fees: $125 annual registered agent fee for Missouri or New Mexico LLCs, billed January 1st.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Custodial Fee - $150/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Registered Agent Fee - $125/year (NM/MO) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Setup Deposit - $300 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Checkbook IRA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Check Book IRA LLC is a self-directed IRA custodian that provides checkbook-control account structures, including IRA-owned LLCs, IRA-owned Revocable Trusts, and Solo 401(k) plans, enabling account holders to invest retirement funds directly in alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, cryptocurrency, tax liens, and private businesses without per-transaction custodian approval.
Product overview
Checkbook IRA offers three core checkbook control account structures: the Check Book IRA LLC (IRA-owned single-member LLC), the Check Book IRA Trust (IRA-owned Revocable Trust), and the Solo 401(k) (self-sponsored 401(k) for self-employed). The LLC and Trust structures allow IRA owners to act as manager or trustee with instant control over investments without custodian approval, while the Solo 401(k) provides similar control with higher contribution limits and real estate leverage advantages. Supporting services include ROBS business financing, real estate investment guidance, and the Check Book IRA University educational platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Check Book IRA LLC: Self-directed IRA custodian structure allowing IRA ownership of an LLC with checkbook control
- Check Book IRA Trust
- Solo 401(k)
Products and services
- Check Book IRA LLC Self-directed IRA custodian service enabling checkbook control through an IRA-owned single-member LLC structure. The IRA owns 100% of the LLC and the account holder serves as manager, providing instant control over investments without custodian approval.
- Check Book IRA Trust Self-directed IRA structure using a Revocable Trust owned by the IRA instead of an LLC, offering similar checkbook control with the account holder serving as Trustee.
- Solo 401(k) Self-sponsored 401(k) plan designed for self-employed individuals. Allows be-your-own-custodian/trustee, includes spouse, permits personal loans up to $50,000, exempt from UDFI on leveraged real estate, and enables contributions up to $54,000 ($60,000 if over 50).
- Business Financing (ROBS) Rollovers as Business Startups (ROBS) financing option allowing retirement funds to be used for business financing without tax penalties.
- Real Estate Investment Services Guidance and setup services for investing IRA funds in real estate, including direct purchases, foreclosures, rental properties, and tax liens.
Quantifiable outcome
- Annual fees reduced to approximately $200 regardless of account value
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Checkbook IRA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Checkbook IRA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Checkbook IRA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Checkbook IRA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rocket Dollar: Fintech challenger offering self-directed Solo 401(k) and checkbook-control IRA accounts with a modern online onboarding flow. Directly comparable product (checkbook control retirement accounts) and overlapping customer base of alternative-asset investors, though positioned more on digital UX than regulatory pioneer status.
- uDirect IRA Services: Self-directed IRA administration firm that offers checkbook-control IRA structures through partner custodians. Comparable product architecture and serves the same real-estate and alternative-asset IRA investor segment.
- IRA Financial Group: Self-directed IRA custodian that sells checkbook-control IRA LLC and Solo 401(k) setup packages with a comparable fee structure. Closest head-to-head competitor for Checkbook IRA's core LLC formation offering.
- Directed IRA: Niche self-directed IRA custodian focused on checkbook-control and directed IRA structures for alternative-asset investors. Direct competitor in the same checkbook-control niche, serving a very similar customer base.
- MySolo401k: Specialist Solo 401(k) provider offering self-directed plans with checkbook control for self-employed individuals. Directly comparable Solo 401(k) offering that competes for the same self-employed alternative-asset investor customer.
Broad incumbents
- Equity Trust Company: One of the largest self-directed IRA custodians in the U.S., supporting alternative-asset retirement accounts including real estate, precious metals, and private equity. Broader portfolio and scale than Checkbook IRA but with overlapping product.
- Kingdom Trust Company: Self-directed retirement custodian known for holding alternative assets including real estate, precious metals, and cryptocurrency in retirement accounts. Comparable custody-of-alternatives value proposition with broader institutional scale and custody partnerships.
- STRATA Trust Company: Self-directed IRA custodian supporting alternative-asset retirement investing including real estate, notes, and private placements. Comparable custody function with overlapping customer base, though broader institutional positioning.
- The Entrust Group: Established self-directed IRA administration firm offering a wide array of alternative-asset retirement accounts. Comparable function as a self-directed custodian but with broader product breadth and institutional scale.
- Pensco Trust Company: Long-standing self-directed custodian serving alternative-asset retirement accounts including real estate, private equity, and precious metals. Comparable custody function with materially larger scale and a broader institutional customer base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Checkbook IRA social profiles
Digital presenceCheckbook IRA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Checkbook IRA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Checkbook IRA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Checkbook IRA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Checkbook IRA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Checkbook IRA
What does Checkbook IRA do?
Check Book IRA LLC is a self-directed IRA custodian that provides checkbook-control account structures, including IRA-owned LLCs, IRA-owned Revocable Trusts, and Solo 401(k) plans, enabling account holders to invest retirement funds directly in alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, cryptocurrency, tax liens, and private businesses without per-transaction custodian approval.
Is Checkbook IRA a public or private company?
Checkbook IRA is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Checkbook IRA founded?
Checkbook IRA was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Checkbook IRA based?
Checkbook IRA is headquartered in Redmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Checkbook IRA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Annual Custodial Fees are the primary driver. The others are setup/Formation Fees and registered Agent Fees.
Who are Checkbook IRA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rocket Dollar, uDirect IRA Services, IRA Financial Group, Directed IRA and MySolo401k. Broad incumbents are Equity Trust Company, Kingdom Trust Company, STRATA Trust Company, The Entrust Group and Pensco Trust Company.
Does Checkbook IRA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Checkbook IRA.
What industry is Checkbook IRA in?
Checkbook IRA's product category is Self-Directed IRA Custodian Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAANAL, Fiduciary Agency & Trustee-for-Hire Services, with a secondary code of FSAAANAK, Directed Trust & Trust Advisory Services. Its NAICS code is 52592 and its SIC code is 6199.