Ohio. Home to the first ambulance service, the first traffic light, the invention of the hot dog and the first professional baseball team. We can rock out in your Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or stare at very large men in your Football Hall of Fame. You gave us seven United States Presidents, Neil Armstrong, Steven Spielberg, Annie Oakley, Paul Newman and a form of chili all your own. Thanks, Ohio.
Ohio is also an incredibly welcoming and inventive 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.
You can run the name you're thinking of through the search engine at the Ohio Secretary of State » Business Filings. Also, remember that in more conservative communities your business may be more publicly scrutinized. Take this into account when taking on a business name.<>
For some helpful advice on picking out a business name, visit Business.gov.
Step four: Register your business / business name
Sole Proprietorship:
In Ohio 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. But if you take on a DBA name you'll have to file a Name Registration Form with the Ohio Secretary of State. The form contains basic information about the business and requires a $50 filing fee. You can find instructions and download form 534A at theOhio Secretary of State » Business Filings.
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 Ohio you must register a Statement of Partnership Authority with the Ohio Secretary of State. This outlines the responsibilities and ownership between the partners and saves you legal headaches if you run into disagreements with your partners down the road. This 535 form requires a $125 filing fee and can be found at the Ohio Secretary of State » Business Filings.
If you take on a DBA name that is other than the collective names of the partners, you must file a Name Registration Form with the Ohio Secretary of State. The form contains basic information about the business and requires a $50 filing fee. You can find instructions and download this 534A form at the Ohio Secretary of State » Business Filings.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in Ohio you'll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the Ohio Secretary of State. You'll include information on the amount of shares for the corporation and the incorporating persons, and a $125 filing fee. 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 and this 532 form at the Ohio Secretary of State » Business Filings.
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 Ohio, you'll need to file your Articles of Organization with the Ohio 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 533A form at the Ohio Secretary of State » Business Filings.
Registering your Articles of Organization will register your business name, so you do not have to do this separately.
For more information and online registration go to Ohio.Gov » 1st Stop Business Connection.
Step six: Register for your federal and Ohio state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in Ohio 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 Ohio can be found at the Ohio Department of Taxation » Individual Income Tax.
- Business Taxes: 2. Businesses in Ohio must pay taxes on their profits. LLCs and partnerships must pay Pass-Through Taxes and corporations may need to pay Corporate Franchise Taxes. More information can be found at the Ohio Department of Taxation » Ohio's Taxes.
- Unemployment Insurance: 3. If you have employees, you'll need to pay Unemployment Insurance, Workers' Compensation and withhold wages for your employees' personal taxes. You can get more information and register to pay these taxes online at the Ohio Department of Taxation » Ohio Business Gateway.
- 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 Ohio Department of Taxation.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
There's no specific "escort license" in Ohio, 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. It's also a good idea to get familiar with the License and Permit department at Ohio Business Gateway.
For more information about registering an escort business in Ohio, 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.
