How to register an escort business in Nevada
Ah, Nevada. Home to the Hoover Dam, the largest source of gold in the United States and the most hotel rooms in the world. Home to a dessert rat that can live its entire life without a single drop of water, and where camels were used as transportation as late as the 1870s. The only state where prostitution is legal in some counties, and one of the few without personal income taxes.
Nevada is also an extremely lively and creative state in which to register your small escort business, with many programs available online to help, 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 some helpful advice on picking out a business name, visit Business.gov.
Step four: Register your business / business name
Sole Proprietorship:
In Nevada 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 full name and service: "Jane Doe's Escort Service". However, if you take on any other form of a DBA name, including something as simple as "Doe's Escort Service", you must register the name with your local county clerk's office. You can find links to your county's website, address and phone number at Govsites.org. While counties vary, there is an average $20 fee for this registration.
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 Nevada you are not required to register your general partnership business as a separate business entity. However, it is highly recommended that you draft a partnership agreement. This is not filed with the state but defines and protects your business should you run into legal trouble. And you will have to get a general business license and file taxes 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 Nevada 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 must register the name with your local county clerk's office. You can find links to your county's website, address and phone number at Govsites.org. While counties vary, there is an average $20 fee for this registration.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in Nevada you'll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the Nevada Secretary of State. You can find instructions and download this form at the Nevada Secretary of State: Corporation. You'll include information on the amount of shares for the corporation and the board of trustees, and include an initial $125 filing fee. Because of the intricate information required when starting a corporation in Nevada, it is highly recommended that you seek advice from a business lawyer and accountant.
Registering your Articles of Incorporation will register your business name, so you will not have to file any additional paperwork for this.
LLC:
To register your escort LLC in Nevada, you'll need to file your Company Articles of Organization with the Nevada Secretary of State. You can find instructions and download this form at the Nevada Secretary of State: Limited Liability Company. The form includes basic information about the members and managers of the LLC, and requires an initial $125 filing fee.
Registering your Articles of Organization will register your business name, so you will not have to file any additional paperwork.
For more information on these models and their requirements, visit Nevada Secretary of State: Starting a Business.
Step six: Register for your federal and Nevada state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in Nevada 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. There is no personal income tax in the state of Nevada.
- Business Taxes: There is no corporate business tax in Nevada! This means, unlike in most states, you will not have to file any additional taxes for your business within the state. However, you should familiarize yourself with federal business taxes at IRS.gov—Employment Taxes.
- Unemployment Insurance: All businesses with employees pay unemployment insurance to safeguard the state's unemployed. More information, online filing and download forms can be found at Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
- Withholding Taxes: 3. You'll have to withhold part of your employees' wages for federal income tax, which contributes to Medicare and Social Security. You can find more information at IRS.gov.
- Workers Compensation: If you have employees, you'll have to pay Worker's Compensation. More information can be found at the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.
- 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. Get more information at IRS.gov » Self-Employment Tax.
For more information on registration and taxes in Nevada visit the Nevada Department of Revenue.
For information and e-filing visit the IRS—Small Business Taxes.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
In Nevada, if you are a sole proprietor or partnership you will have to get a State Business License. Since you are not registered as a separate business entity, this will recognize your business within the state. You can download this form or file online at the Nevada Secretary of State—State Business License. There is a $200 fee for this license.
Prostitution is legal in some cities in 11 of Nevada's 17 counties (Churchill, Esmeralda, Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey and White Pine). Because of these varying laws, some cities / counties may have specific escorting licenses. Contact your county's website and check in with your city counsel so you know the specific terms in your city. You can also run your zip code through the IRS Permit Me tool.
Find more information on prostitution laws in Nevada at Procon.org.
For more information about registering an escort business in Nevada, 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.
