How To Register A Photography Business In California
I love wheeling and dealing hustling writing and even the idea of how to start a photography business has me pumped up enough to write about 3 000 words on it.
How to register a photography business in california. Generally all businesses that wish to conduct business in california need to register and form their legal entity with the california secretary of state s office file appropriate taxes register as an employer and obtain business licenses and other permits from appropriate cities or counties. What you name your business will become the brand image so choose a name that fits the type of photography you want to do. Register your business entity. If you want to be a legal and legitimate business here are five things you need to do. Tempting as it may be you can t just create a logo in photoshop elements print up some business cards from vista print and create a wix website though many do.
There s a part of business that even i the photography business guy hate. The california business investment services unit provides tailored site selection services for businesses real estate executives and site selection consultants. If you want to take kid portraits you can have a whimsical name but if you want to do business photography or weddings you ll want something that sounds professional or elegant. It s worth it to seek out a qualified tax professional as they ll often save you more money than you re paying them and you have the peace of mind knowing that everything is being. Sales and use permit business tax certificate and many others.
This may sound easy and convenient but it also means that you have unlimited personal liability for the actions of your business and this includes the actions of your employees or. If you are in the us this is a great resource to let you know which pertain to your photography business. The most common mistake for beginners is to operate a business as a sole proprietorship meaning there is no legal distinction between the owner and the business. Once you ve made the decision to start a photography business there are a few important things you need to have in place to legitimize it. Open a business checking account.
A dba just means doing business as it usually only costs 25 and is a simple one page form where you say that jim harmer is doing business as jim harmer photography or improve photography or whatever business name i chose. Find out about taxes and hire an accountant. Register your photography business with the state of california. Create a business name. Choose a business structure.
However with a photography business it s really important to have someone on your side who knows the ins and outs of tax law as it pertains to businesses. You will need to open a separate bank account for your photography business with your new business name. I l o v e the business side of photography business. You need to register a dba with your secretary of state. A brief overview of the following types of legal business structures available in california can be found on our entity types website.