Ah, Maine. Hearty, salty, beautiful Maine. The first state to receive rays of sunlight in the morning, and the last frontier before the wilds of Canada. You supply most of the country's lobster and toothpicks, and so many blueberries that you have a specific tax for selling them. Your beaches are long and rocky, your ocean water bracingly cold, and your forests are so lush that getting lost in them makes a great day for a picnic. Thanks, Maine.
Maine is also a hearty state in which to register your small escort business, and in this article you'll find clear step-by-step advice on how to do just that. For more information on why it's vitally important to register your business, refer to our article Don't get busted for tax evasion: Why registering your escort business is the only option.
For more information on these terms specific to Maine, visit the University of Maine.
For some helpful advice on picking out a business name, visit Business.gov
Step four: Register your business / business name
Sole Proprietorship:
In Maine you are not required to register your sole proprietorship escort business as a separate business entity: because the business is you, it is not recognized as a separate business and you'll file your business information along with your own personal taxes.
You are also not required to register your business name if it is your name and service: "Jane Doe's Escort Service". However, if you take on any other form of a DBA name, you must submit a Mark Application for Registration with the Office of Secretary of State. You must provide 3 visual usages of the trade name and include a $60 filing fee with the form, which reserves the name within the borders of Maine for 10 years.
You can find more information and the form at Maine.gov—Marks Information or download the form directly.
For more information on if taking on a DBA is a good choice for your business, refer to our article Do I want to be a sole proprietor?.
Partnership:
In Maine you are not required to register your general partnership business as a separate business entity. However, you should draw up a partnership agreement and will have to file a partnership return come tax time, so having your books in order is very important. More on that below.
You are also not obligated to register your business name in Maine if it is the collected names of the partners outlined in your partnership agreement. But if you choose to take on a DBA name you'll have to submit a Mark Application for Registration with the Office of Secretary of State. You must provide 3 visual usages of the trade name and include a $60 filing fee with the form, which reserves the name within the borders of Maine for 10 years.
You can find more information and the form at Maine.gov—Marks Information or download the form directly.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in Maine you'll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the Maine Secretary of State. You'll also need to register your business name and work with a state-registered commercial clerk.
The state likes to specify that the forms and fees are amended often, so it's best to get information and forms directly from Maine.gov—Business Corporations or to call the office of Charles E. Summers Jr., Secretary of State in Augusta at 207-626-8400. Many of the forms you can also file online.
LLC:
To register your escort LLC in Maine you'll need to file your Certificate of Organization with the Maine Secretary of State. You'll also need to register your business name and work with a state-registered commercial clerk.
The state likes to specify that the forms and fees are amended often, so it's best to get information and forms directly from Maine.gov—Limited Liability Companies or to call the office of Charles E. Summers Jr., Secretary of State in Augusta at 207-626-8400. Many of the forms you can also file online.
Find more information on registering your business in Maine, including forms and helpful guidelines on how to start your business at Maine.Gov—Starting a Business.
Step six: Register for your federal and Maine state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in Maine may register for.
- Individual Income Tax: If you're a sole proprietor or LLC, you'll file your business profits/losses in a Schedule EZ form that will go along with your personal income tax 1040 form. For more information go to IRS.gov. You can also find more forms and information at the Iowa Department of Revenue—Individual Income Tax Forms.
- Business Taxes: Businesses in Maine have to pay corporate income taxes. More information, including instructions on which taxes you'll need to file for your escort service depending on business model and these forms can be found at the Maine Department of Revenue.
- Unemployment Insurance: All businesses with employees pay unemployment insurance to safeguard the state's unemployed. You can get more information, register and file online at the Maine Department of Labor.
- Withholding Taxes: Employers must withhold taxes from employees on a quarterly basis. More information and online registration in Maine can be found (for no fee) at Maine Revenue Services.
- Workers Compensation: If you have employees, you'll have to pay Workers' Compensation. More information can be found at the Maine Workers' Compensation Board—Business Services.
- Self-Employment Taxes: If you own and operate your business and are not paid as an employee, you'll need to file your own self-employment taxes for social security and Medicaid. This is particularly true for sole proprietorships, general partnerships and LLCs. You can find this Schedule C / 1040 form and get more information at IRS.gov.
For more information on registration and taxes in Maine visit Maine.Gov—Business Taxes.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
In most municipalities all businesses structures will have to get a general business license before operating as an escort service in Maine. You can find the website to your local government at Maine.Gov—Local Government.
If you're a corporation, you'll also have to be registered with the State of Maine Bureau of Corporations.
There's no specific "escort license" in Maine, and chances are you won't need any other permits to conduct your escort service, but it's a good idea to run your city through the IRS's Permit Me tool and get more information about specific filing from their site.
For more information about registering an escort business in Maine, consider the following online destinations:
Find out how to register an escort business in each state of the USA.
Related resources:
Please note: Dating.com is not a legal service, nor are we tax advisors or accountants. We do offer you what we consider our best advice, but if at all in doubt, please consult a professional.
