Business Registration
Incorporate as an LLC or Corporation
Forming as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation limits your legal and financial responsibility as a business owner for the activities and debts of the business. It allows you to create a separation of your business assets and personal assets.
Benefits of incorporating:
- Protection of your personal assets
- Save money on taxes
- Build credibility for your business
Get your Doing Business As (DBA) name
A DBA name is an official registration of your business name. A good example is if Jane Smith wanted to start "Jane's Tax Services," she would need to file for a DBA. A sole proprietor can operate under a name other than their legal name which can have many benefits, including added credibility and professionalism, as well as level of separation or anonymity. Filing a DBA also means a sole proprietor can open up a separate bank account under the business name (requirements vary), allowing your customers can make payments to the business itself, instead of to you personally.
Benefits of filing a DBA:
- Accept payments and open bank accounts as your business
- Gain credibility and legitimacy as a business
- Separate your lines of business
Obtain an EIN Tax ID
An Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Federal Tax ID, is a unique number assigned to your business by the Internal Revenue Service that is used to identify a business entity, allowing you to file business income tax returns.
Benefits of filing an EIN:
- Allows you to be able to open a business banking account
- The IRS requires that every business have an EIN before hiring employees
- Filing an EIN allows your business to build its credit profile
Operating Agreement
An Operating Agreement is an agreement among LLC members about its business and the rights and duties of its members. No matter what method you choose to form your business, an operating agreement is an important asset and the foundation of any LLC.
Benefits of having an operating agreement:
- Clearly outline the details of your business
- Defines roles and responsibilities of the members of the business
- Helps protect your personal assets
Related Articles
How to Protect Your Business Against Check Fraud
Whether it’s digital fraud, phishing and spoofing, or check and payments fraud, the reality is that many businesses (71%, according to a 2022 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey) unfortunately experience fraudulent schemes or attempts that can cost them time and money.
Read More
A Pep Talk from Pep-Up: How Smart Safes Changed Their Business
Longtime WSFS Customer Pep-Up – a full-service petroleum distributor and convenience store operator – wasn’t necessarily looking for new efficiencies when they came across what would become a game changer for the business.
Read More
Top Tools to Improve Cash Flow: Tips for Cash Management
Having solid cash management practices is one of the most essential processes in any company. Without a set of smart strategies for monitoring, assessing and improving the company’s financials, it can quite simply find itself out of business.
Read More