Pennsylvania, you've dazzled us with firsts: first baseball stadium, first auto service station, first computer, first daily newspaper, first zoological garden. Not to mention the first American flag and the first presidential mansion. Our independence was declared within your borders and you once were home to our capital city. We owe you, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is also a headstrong 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 models in Pennsylvania, visit Pennsylvania » Open for Business.
For some helpful advice on picking out a business name, visit Business.gov.
Step four: Register your business / business name
Sole Proprietorship:
In Pennsylvania 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".
But if you take on a DBA name, you'll have to file an application for a Registration of Fictitious Name. This form includes basic information on the nature of the business and requires a $70 filing fee. You can find this 311 form and more information at the Pennsylvania Department of State » Filing Forms.
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 Pennsylvania 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. But if you take on a DBA name, you'll have to file an application for a Registration of Fictitious Name. This form includes basic information on the nature of the business and requires a $70 filing fee. You can find this 311 form and more information at the Pennsylvania Department of State » Filing Forms.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in Pennsylvania you'll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the Pennsylvania Department of State. You'll include information on the amount of shares for the corporation, the incorporating persons and a $125 filing fee. Because of the intricate information required when starting a corporation and other forms required when filing, it is highly recommended that you seek advice from a business lawyer and accountant. You can find this form at the Pennsylvania Department 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 Pennsylvania, you'll need to file your Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The form includes basic information about the members and managers of the LLC, and requires a $125 filing fee. You can find this form at the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Registering your Certificate of Organization will register your business name, so you do not have to do this separately.
Step six: Register for your federal and Pennsylvania state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue » Personal Income Tax.
- Business Taxes: Businesses in Pennsylvania must pay business taxes: corporations must pay corporate net income tax, corporate loans tax and capital stock tax. Partnerships and LLCs must pay capital stock tax. Detailed descriptions and forms for these can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue » Businesses.
- Unemployment Insurance: All businesses with employees pay unemployment insurance to safeguard the state's unemployed. More information can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
- Withholding Taxes: Employers must withhold taxes from employees for their personal income taxes on a federal and state level. More information can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue » Employer Withholding.
- Workers Compensation: If you have employees, you'll have to pay Workers' Compensation. Resources for employers can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor 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.
Register for many of these taxes at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
There's no specific "escort license" in Pennsylvania, and chances are you won't need any other permits to conduct your escort service, but it's a good idea to to familiarize yourself with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs and 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 Pennsylvania, 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.
