How Mason Charlieson Invented a Board Game and Succeeded with a Wyoming LLC

Starting a board game from scratch isn’t easy; it’s a creative challenge, a business risk, and a personal journey all wrapped into one. For Mason Charlieson, it started with a single idea on a late Thursday night, and it ended with his game Sharon’s Hollywood Ride being stocked on shelves nationwide.

Mason’s story is a real-world example of how combining creativity, business strategy, and the protection of a Wyoming LLC can turn a dream into a thriving success. Let’s walk through his full journey: from inventing the game, to forming his company, to navigating risks, to finally achieving his goals.

The Spark of an Idea: Sharon’s Hollywood Ride

Mason had always been fascinated with old Hollywood. The glamour, the scandals, the timeless characters. One evening, while watching a documentary about 1960s actresses, an idea hit him:

“What if you had to survive Hollywood? What if you could play through the ups and downs of a starlet’s career?”

He scribbled a rough concept on a napkin. The player would be Sharon Slate, a fictional young actress trying to “make it” through the treacherous world of auditions, agents, parties, fame, and scandal.

The game mechanics came next:

• Dice Rolls: Players roll dice to move forward.
• Challenge Squares: Land on spaces that tell you to draw a Family Card, good or bad events that affect your progress.
• Setbacks and Boosts: Some spaces make you move backward or forward.
• Victory: The first player to successfully navigate the perils of Hollywood and land a major movie contract wins!

Mason knew this idea was special, but ideas without action are just dreams. He needed a way to protect it.

Why Mason Formed a Wyoming LLC to Protect His Game

Mason had read horror stories about inventors losing control of their creations because they didn’t own them properly, causing a helter-skelter lifestyle. He wanted to make sure Sharon’s Hollywood Ride belonged to a business entity, not just himself personally.

After research, he chose to form a Wyoming LLC for several smart reasons:

• Asset Protection: If someone sued over the game (whether for copyright claims, accidents, etc.), they could only go after the LLC, not Mason’s personal money or home.
• Privacy: Wyoming allows anonymous LLC ownership. Mason liked that people wouldn’t easily find his name linked to the company.
• Tax Flexibility: A Wyoming LLC allowed him to pass business income through to himself without paying corporate taxes.
• Low Cost: Wyoming has low filing fees and simple annual maintenance requirements.
• Credibility: Industry insiders would take a professionally registered company more seriously than a “guy with a board game.”

Mason named his Wyoming LLC Silver Screen Ventures, LLC, a tribute to his love for Hollywood.

Building the First Prototype

With the LLC officially formed, Mason got to work. Here’s what he did:

• Board Design: He sketched out a colorful “Hollywood Boulevard” style game board.
• Cards and Pieces: He made Family Cards, Scandal Cards, and tokens shaped like film reels and sunglasses.
• Playtesting: Mason invited friends over to play rough versions of the game to test the mechanics.
• Revisions: Based on feedback, he tightened the rules and made gameplay faster and more exciting.

Mason spent weekends and evenings refining every detail.

Submitting to the Board Game Industry

Once he had a polished prototype, Mason faced a decision:

• License it to a game publisher, or
• Sell it himself under Silver Screen Ventures, LLC.

He decided to try both.

First, Mason pitched the game to big-name companies like Hasbro, Mattel, and Ravensburger. He sent a professionally made sell sheet (under the LLC’s name), outlining:

• The target market
• Gameplay description
• Unique selling points
• Artwork samples

He received some polite rejections but also serious interest from a mid-size publisher specializing in lifestyle and celebrity-themed games.

At the same time, Mason used his LLC to:

• Build a small website
• Set up an online store
• Create a Kickstarter campaign

Because he had an LLC, he could legally sell the game and accept payments as a business, not as an individual.

The Risks Mason Took

Mason’s journey wasn’t without major risks:

• He invested $15,000 of his own savings into manufacturing 1,000 copies of Sharon’s Hollywood Ride.
• He had no guarantee of sales — it could have flopped completely.
• He turned down a low ball offer from a company that wanted to buy the rights to the game cheaply.

But Mason believed in Sharon Slate’s story and his vision.
Owning the game through his LLC gave him the courage to take bigger steps, because even if it failed, he wouldn’t be financially destroyed.

How Mason Found Success

Success came slowly, then all at once.

• His Kickstarter raised $28,000 — enough to cover production costs and advertising.
• Early reviews praised the game for its fun Hollywood flavor and light-hearted strategy.
• He signed a distribution deal with a national toy retailer.
• A popular YouTube board game reviewer featured Sharon’s Hollywood Ride, giving it a massive sales boost.
• Within two years, over 25,000 copies sold!

Because Mason had wisely set up a Wyoming LLC from the start:

• All the profits were neatly organized under Silver Screen Ventures, LLC.
• He was able to reinvest the money to develop expansion packs and new games.
• He had legal protection against any unforeseen business disputes.

Mason’s Key Lessons

Looking back, Mason shared some advice for others inventing games or launching creative projects:

• Form an LLC immediately: protect your idea and yourself from the very beginning.
• Start small and test thoroughly: you need feedback before going big.
• Be ready for rejection: it’s part of the process.
• Don’t sell out too early: owning your intellectual property is worth it.
• Be persistent: success often comes right after the moment you almost quit.

Because of his smart strategy and protection through a Wyoming LLC, Mason turned a risky creative dream into a thriving business.

Why You Should Form a Wyoming LLC if You Invent a Board Game

Mason’s journey shows exactly why inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs should strongly consider a Wyoming LLC when creating something new.

Benefits of using a Wyoming LLC:

• Limited personal liability
• Strong ownership of intellectual property
• Anonymous ownership if desired
• Easy and affordable annual maintenance
• Professional credibility with partners and distributors
• Flexibility to grow the business

If you’re inventing a board game, creating a product, or even just dreaming up a side hustle, setting up a Wyoming LLC could be the smartest first step you ever take.

Conclusion

Mason Charlieson’s story is proof that bold ideas combined with smart business protection can lead to amazing success.

Sharon’s Hollywood Ride started with a napkin sketch but ended up as a nationwide bestseller because Mason treated it like a real business from the beginning.

You can protect your dreams the same way he did: Start your Wyoming LLC today and take control of your future.