Starting Your Photo Business

1. Pick a Company name - something that is easy for your clients to remember, but is specifically “you”.

2. Check with the Trademark & Patent Offices to assure the name is not already taken. *trademarking your name is always a great idea as well.. though it can be pricey

3. Register your company with your County, State and any Federal. You may need to do a DBA (doing business as), but it varies on states. I’m in Illinois and we must file a DBA if doing business under a name other than our “real name”.

4. Get a FEIN number. Getting FEIN number gives your company it’s own sort of “social security number”… so you don’t have to use YOURS when filing paper work on the company.

5. Business Licenses – These are not always necessary or required, but if they are required – you need them!

6. A Sales Tax License/Seller’s Certificate – In most US states and other countries you have to collect sales tax on the tangible items that you sell.

7. A Solid Contract – You want something that is truly thorough and has been looked over by a lawyer who has had years practicing in court. They know what will hold up in court and what won’t. 

8. A Way to Accept the Money – Checks and cash can be easy at first, but you will want to accept credit cards. I use Square to accept my deposit payments online via credit card.

9. Business Insurance – If a ‘worst case scenario’ happens and you need to take care of a client’s broken ankle or someone stole your camera, business insurance is what’s going to protect you. 

10. Start shooting your in business