Utah, the state of thrift and industry. Home to multiple national parks, monuments and forests, as well as the best powder in the country on which to glide smoothly down on a brisk afternoon. You have the extremes of desert and mountain. Large regions where nothing lives and Hollywood sets packed with cameramen and starlets. In Utah you can be driving on one of the most packed highways in the country or not see anyone for hundreds of miles around. There is truly something for everyone in Utah.
Utah is also a 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.
For more information on business names within Utah, visit the Utah Division of Corporations—Business Name Conventions and Policies.
Step four: Register your business / business name
The preferred way to register all business structures within Utah, as well as registering DBA names, is filing online with the Utah OneStop Business Registration.
Sole Proprietorship:
In Utah 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 register the name with the Utah Division of Corporations. This DBA form includes basic information about the purpose and contact information of the company and requires a $22 filing fee which registers the name for 3 years. You can find the form and more information at the Utah Division of Corporations—Business Name Information.
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 Utah 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 register the name with the Utah Division of Corporations. This DBA form includes basic information about the purpose and contact information of the company and requires a $22 filing fee which registers the name for 3 years. You can find the form and more information at the Utah Division of Corporations—Business Name Information.
Corporation:
To register your escort corporation in Utah you'll need to file a Domestic Profit Corporation form or create your own Articles of Incorporation and file them with the Utah Division of Corporations. 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 fine online (the preferred method) and find more information at the Utah Division of Corporations—Domestic Profit Corporation (http://tax.utah.gov/business/resources.html).
LLC:
To register your escort LLC in Utah you'll have to file an application for a Domestic Limited Liability Company Registration with the Utah Division of Corporations. You also have the option of drafting and filing your own Articles of Incorporation. You can file online (the preferred method) and find more information at the Utah Division of Corporations—Domestic Limited Liability Company (http://corporations.utah.gov/business/lc.html)
For online, immediate registration and more information, go to Utah OneStop Business Registration (http://www.corporations.utah.gov/osbr_phase_2.html).
Step six: Register for your federal and Utah state taxes
There are a few basic types of taxes small businesses in Utah 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. 1. You'll also need to withhold taxes from your employees for their state income taxes and file W-2 forms for those employees. You can opt to pay estimated taxes throughout the year or pay one sum when filing these forms at the end of the tax year.
- Business Taxes: Corporations in Utah must pay business taxes, determined by the amount of income the business makes, and file these estimated taxes quarterly.
- Unemployment Insurance: All businesses with employees pay quarterly unemployment insurance/tax to safeguard the state's unemployed. More information can be found at the Department of Workforce Services.
- Withholding Taxes: All business with employees (including sole proprietors) will have to register for a state withholding tax license (a TC-69 form).
- Workers Compensation: If you have employees, you'll have to pay Workers' Compensation to safeguard both you and your employees should someone get hurt on the job. Resources for employers can be found at the Utah Labor 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.
For more information, instructions and forms for all Utah state taxes, go to the Utah State Tax Commission—Business Requirements.
Download a tax registration form or file online at the Utah State Tax Commission—Business Tax Registration.
Step seven: Get necessary licenses and permits
There's no specific "escort license" in Utah, 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.
More information about registering an escort business in Utah
The state provides a remarkable resource with Utah.Gov: OneStop Online Business Registration. With one system you can register for the Utah State Tax Commission, the Utah Labor Commission, the Utah Department of Commerce and the Utah Department of Workforce Services. It will also give you information on your local business license requirements.
In addition, you could find the following resources informative:
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.
