How to register an escort business in New York
New York. The Empire State. Home to the greatest city in the world, the other view of Niagara Falls and the Baseball Hall of Fame. You've had anthems written in your name. Chicken wings created in and named after you. Children named after your boroughs. You contain the most ethnically diverse city in the world. People migrate from everywhere to live in your state.
New York is also an incredibly rich and diverse 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 some helpful advice on picking out a business name, visit Business.gov.
Step four: Register your business / business name
Sole Proprietorship:
In New York 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. If you take on a DBA name, you'll have to register an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk's office of each county you do business in. You can find contact information for all counties in NY State at New York State » State Agencies.
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 New York you are not required to register your general partnership as a separate business entity. However, it is highly recommended that you draft a statement of partnership or partnership agreement. This document will safeguard the details you've outlined within the partnership should you come into conflict with a partner down the road.
You are also not required to register your business name if it is the collected names of the partners. However if you take on a DBA name you'll have to register an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk's office of each county you do business in. You can find contact information for all counties in NY State at New York State » State Agencies.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in New York you'll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the New York Secretary of State. You'll include information on the amount of shares for the corporation and the incorporating persons, and include a $125 filing fee plus the applicable tax depending on the amount of shares in the company. Because of the intricate information required when starting a corporation, it is highly recommended that you seek advice from a business lawyer and accountant. You can find more information, this form and a downloadable guide to filing your corporation at New York State » Business Corporations Filing.
Registering your Articles of Incorporation will register your business name, so you do not have to do this separately.
LLC:
To register your escort LLC in New York, you'll need to file your Articles of Organization with the New York Secretary of State. The form includes basic information about the members and managers of the LLC, and requires a $125 filing fee. You can find more information, this form and a downloadable guide to filing your LLC at New York State &; Business Corporations Filing.
Registering your Articles of Organization will register your business name, so you do not have to do this separately.
For more information go to New York State, Division of Corporations.
Step six: Register for your federal and New York state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in New York 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. More information on personal income taxes in New York can be found at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
- Business Taxes: Corporations in New York must pay corporate taxes. More information can be found at the New York Department of Taxation and Finance » Corporate Taxes. Partnerships and LLCs must pay partnership taxes. More information can be found at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance » Partnership Tax / Limited Liability Company.
- Unemployment Insurance: All businesses with employees pay unemployment insurance to safeguard the state's unemployed. More information and online registration can be found at the New York Department of Labor.
- Withholding Taxes: Employers must withhold taxes from employees for their personal income taxes on a federal and state level. More information, online filing and downloadable forms can be found at the New York Department of Finance » Withholding Tax.
- Workers Compensation: If you have employees, you'll have to pay Workers' Compensation. Resources for employers can be found at the New York State Worker's Compensation Board » Employers/Businesses.
- 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.
More information, registration and online filing can be found at the New York Department of Taxation and Finance.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
There's no specific "escort license" in New York, 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 New York, 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.
