You might be shooting for a while and getting clients, but have you every stopped to think what would happen if you got in trouble with the IRS or a lawsuit?
Let me give you some practical steps to protecting your business, your family and staying organized in a sea of photographers that are “hobbyists” but still doing a “business” by taking money.
These steps are what I took in the state of Virginia. Your state might have different laws. First things first, apply at the SCC for an LLC https://www.scc.virginia.gov/ PLEASE don’t go to https://www.legalzoom.com unless you want to PAY DOUBLE! Also, use your state’s government website, don’t fill out a random site’s paperwork... it could be a scan!
After filling out the paperwork with the SCC, then you take you EIN (tax number), LLC certificate and your ID to your local city hall (This is how my city, Chesapeake, does it. If your city is different, call ahead first) and there is where you get your business license.
make sure you use your actual city’s city hall government website and NOT some random site you google
Then if you are registered a trade name, or a DBA (doing business as name), you are sent to your local court house to file.
Now, you can apply for a separate business banking account that is different than your personal assets (just in case you get sued)
You can get business insurance through places like the https://www.thehartford.com/, https://www.hiscox.com or even through https://insuranceforppa.com/Now you can protect your gear and your business in case of a horrible incident. How do you stay organized with all your receipts, mileage and income?
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/oa/self-employed is probably the best decision that I made last year and now organizing all of my business paperwork and taxes is a breeze! Have questions?
Then you can start having some fun creating a website (I highly recommend WIX (www.wix.com)
Get a Facebook page, connect it to your business Instagram page but watching this video here
You can always get start up help getting your logo, branding and marketing strategy down by hiring a pro: www.virginiamarketingandmedia.com
What do you charge for your services,
Read more about the cost calculator break down here:
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Have any other tips? We would love to see your comment on how you become a licensed photographer and the benefits of doing so!
Christal Marshall is the owner of Virginia Photos and Films, Virginia Marketing and Media and Virginia Beach Photobooth Company.
She lives, breathes and does media and marketing pretty much 24-7 for over 14 local business through social media management, website design, photo, video or media coverage or graphic design.
She is a homeschool mom of three, cat lover, sushi eater and poke fan!
She started her business in 2011 with nothing but a $400 camera from Amazon, now she is has been published in over 60 different blogs and websites for her media work and rank top Wedding Photographer in Virginia Beach.