How to register an escort business in North Carolina
North Carolina. Home to sweet potatoes, the Tarheels and the oldest university in the United States. You gave us the first Krispy Kreme doughnut, the first miniature golf course and Andrew Jackson. You taught us the value of state art museums and publicly maintained highways. Thanks, North Carolina.
North Carolina is also a welcoming 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 structures in North Carolina visit the North Carolina Department of Commerce » Choosing a Business Structure.
For some helpful advice on picking out a business name, visit Business.gov.
Step four: Register your business / business name
Sole Proprietorship:
In North Carolina 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 a Certificate of Assumed Name with the county clerk's office of each county you do business in. You can download the form at the North Carolina Department of Commerce and find contact information for all counties in North Carolina at the North Carolina Register of Deeds.
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 North Carolina 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 a Certificate of Assume Name with the county clerk's office of each county you do business in. You can download the form at the
North Carolina Department of Commerce and find contact information for all counties in
North Carolina at the North Carolina Register of Deeds.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in North Carolina you'll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the North Carolina 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 North Carolina Secretary of State.
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 North Carolina, you'll need to file your Articles of Organization with the North Carolina 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 and this form at the North Carolina Secretary of State.
Registering your Articles of Organization will register your business name, so you do not have to do this separately.
For more information go to the North Carolina Secretary of State Corporations Department.
Step six: Register for your federal and North Carolina state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in North Carolina 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. If you're a partnership, you'll also have to file a partnership return. More information on personal income taxes in North Carolina and current forms can be found at the North Carolina Department of Revenue—Individual Income Tax.
- Business Taxes: Corporations in North Carolina must pay corporate taxes. More information can be found at the North Carolina Department of Revenue—Corporate Income and Franchise Tax.
- Unemployment Insurance: All businesses with employees pay quarterly unemployment taxes to safeguard the state's unemployed. More information and online registration can be found at the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina.
- 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 North Carolina Department of Revenue » Withholding Tax Forms and Instructions.
- Workers Compensation: If you have employees, you'll have to pay Workers' Compensation. Resources for employers can be found at the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
- 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 North Carolina Department of Revenue » Information for Businesses.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
There's no specific "escort license" in North Carolina, 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.
Visit the North Carolina Department of Commerce » Business Licenses and Permits.
For more information about registering an escort business in North Carolina, 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.
