Business License and being Inc.

I'm trying to find out if I need to have a license for my photo and design business. I've just recently started to pick up a lot more work.

Where would I go to obtain a license and get incorporated. If my business is incorporated then I protect my assets, right? Are most professional photographers incorporated and have a license?

Has anyone ever heard of legal zoom? Its a company I found online that performs these services for you. I was wondering if they are legit. Link is below.

http://www.legalzoom.c​om/

lbeck wrote in post #5899554
Where would I go to obtain a license and get incorporated.

You probably want to go to a lawyer for this.

lbeck wrote in post #5899554
If my business is incorporated then I protect my assets, right?

It's nowhere near as black and white as that. A one-man band with a corporation has to do everything right, and probably still should have insurance for such things. Again, your lawyer can help nail this down.

lbeck wrote in post #5899554
Are most professional photographers incorporated and have a license?

Dunno for sure, but I would guess that most are not incorporated, and that most do have a business license.

lbeck wrote in post #5899554
Has anyone ever heard of legal zoom? Its a company I found online that performs these services for you. I was wondering if they are legit. Link is below.

http://www.legalzoom.c​om/

Yes, it's legit. If you know what you want to do, legalzoom can help you with the paperwork and save a lot of money over paying someone else to do it.

Dave

tracknut wrote in post #5900016
Yes, it's legit. If you know what you want to do, legalzoom can help you with the paperwork and save a lot of money over paying someone else to do it.

Dave

but make sure incorporating is the best legal form for your business. It generally does NOT protect your assets for your own negligence and could cost you more in state franchise "fees", accounting and taxes!

Thanks guys. What about being a member of PPA. Supposedly they have malpractice insurance for all their members. Anyone a member and have any experience with them?

Visiting a lawyer to draw up your corporate papers is a very good idea. Visiting a CPA to figure out which type of incorporation will work for you best (LLP probably) is also a good idea.

Almost all of the questions you asked would have different answers based on the type of business license you get. It can be a simple DBA to a C-Corp, each has its draw backs and advantages.

Don't skimp on this stuff as this is what usually kicks your a... later on and is very hard/expensive to change.

Hi,

As you have probably already gathered from the previous responses, the Internet is the wrong place to get good advice about a lot of this, beyond the general answers to talk to an attorney and a CPA.

That's because it varies a lot, place to place.

You probably need a business license, but local requirements are different everywhere.

How to structure your business has to do with taxes, employees (or lack of) and legal liabilities. The lawyer and CPA are your best resources to get those answers.

I'm not familiar with legalzoom.com, aside from having heard the name a few times. Frankly, I'm not entirely comfortable with an Internet based legal resource for this sort of thing, since there are often local, regional and state level nuances that you really need to take into account.

Professional associations can provide a wide number of benefits. I'm not a member of PPA, but am a member of NANPA. Explore the various photo-related associations, find out what's active in your particular area too, then make a choice or two. Some of the benefits may offer enough savings on things like group insurances to easily justify the annual dues.