Barry Levine, a bankruptcy attorney with nearly 45 years of experience, helps entrepreneurs facing overwhelming debt navigate tough choices. He stresses that optimism, while essential for starting businesses, often blinds owners to financial reality until it's too late—leading them to drain home equity or 401(k)s in futile attempts to save failing ventures. Levine prefers corporations over LLCs for their lower setup costs ($275 vs. $500) and tax advantages via Subchapter S election, warning that LLCs filing Schedule C can make owners fully liable for trust fund taxes without the corporate "discount." He advocates early action: record a Massachusetts homestead ($35) to protect up to $1 million in home equity, and secure family loans with UCC filings to prioritize them in liquidation.