Start a Sole Proprietorship and Get an EIN the Same Day

When you start a sole proprietorship, you’ll need an EIN for various purposes, from opening a business bank account to paying payroll taxes for employees.

Not sure if you need an EIN or how to get one? Read on to learn how to start a sole proprietorship and get an EIN quickly.

Get Started

What is a Sole Proprietorship?

It is the simplest form of business ownership where an individual owns and runs a business under their name. They don’t need to register the business or create a legal business entity.

The sole owner and the business are inextricably linked and the business can’t exist without the owner. The business profits and losses pass to the sole proprietor, who will be personally liable for business debts and liabilities.

Want to start a sole proprietorship and get an EIN yourself? Read our step-by-step guide to get started.

Do it Yourself

Need help with the complex EIN application for your sole proprietorship? Get expert help from ein-tax-id-form.com.

Hire an Expert

Why choose ein-tax-id-form.com:

  • 01 Quick & Convenient
  • 02Hassle-Free

Why You Should Start a Sole Proprietorship: Key Benefits

If you want to start a business with yourself as the only owner, then a sole proprietorship is one of the best business entities for you.

Here are some key benefits of sole proprietorships.

Easy to Start

Unlike format business structures like corporations, which require extensive paperwork and legal filing, sole proprietorships are extremely easy to start. You don’t even need to file an application with the state to start a sole proprietorship.

So, if you’re wondering how to start a sole proprietorship, here’s the gist—you can simply start running your business under your name and you’ll be a sole proprietor. No registration or legal documents are required to start a sole proprietorship.

Complete Control

When you start a sole proprietorship, you have complete control over your business. No one can tell you how to run your business and there are no formal guidelines you need to follow. You are the key decision-maker and can run it how you like.

This is not the case with a corporation, which has strict management and operational guidelines. Even with less formal structures, such as a partnership, S-corp, or an LLC, you still need to consider other co-owners and listen to their opinions.

Easy Tax Filing

One of the key reasons people start a sole proprietorship is that they don’t need to pay corporate taxes. Sole proprietors don’t need to pay any business taxes, which results in significant tax savings, this can save money if you’re on a low budget.

As a sole proprietor, you only need to file personal income tax returns. Whatever profits your sole proprietorship makes, will pass directly to you as the sole owner. You can report it in your personal tax return, along with any other income.

Full Profit Retention

When you start a sole proprietorship, you are the only owner of the business. As such, you get complete ownership of any profit your business makes. You don’t need to share the profits with anyone, as there are no co-owners for your business.

This is unlike any other business structure, be it a partnership, limited liability company, S-corp, or C-corp. All other business structures, except a single-member LLC, have multiple owners or shareholders. So, the profit is divided among the co-owners.

Extremely Affordable

Forming and scaling your business is inexpensive if you choose a sole proprietorship over an LLC, S-corp, or any other business structure. First, you don’t need to pay any business registration or state filing fees for a sole proprietorship.

Second, there are no annual filing requirements, so the ongoing costs of running the business are also low. If you don’t plan to hire employees, you don’t need to open an office and pay for rent, office supplies, or administrative costs.

Complete Privacy

When you form an LLC, corporation, partnership, or S-corp, you need to register your business with the state and provide your private information for the same. This means your personal information will no longer be private.

When you start a sole proprietorship, you don’t need to register it with the Secretary of State or provide your personal information. This allows you to maintain privacy and keep your personal information private, even while running a business.

Need Help Getting an EIN for Your Sole Proprietorship?

If you plan to hire employees for your business, you’ll need an EIN. We recommend ein-tax-id-form.com for that.

Our trusted partner can help you complete an online application within minutes. Avoid the long and tedious application and let experts handle your form on your behalf.

Get an EIN Quickly

How to Start a Sole Proprietorship: A Step-By-Step Guide

1. Choose a Business Idea

  • Look for profitable, low-risk small business ideas with a real market demand.
  • Choose one of the profitable niches that play to your strengths and interests.
  • Consider the industry demand, market size, and level of competition.
  • You can also consider online business ideas that require low initial startup costs.
  • Lastly, consider the investment required and whether you have the funding.

2. Make a Business Plan

  • Once you’ve chosen a business idea, you need to develop a business plan.
  • Do some market research to understand market dynamics and competitor strategies.
  • Plan your go-to-market strategy, including target customers and key value proposition.
  • Choose a pricing strategy, distribution channels, and marketing plan.
  • Lastly, set key performance targets, such as when you plan to break even.

3. Understand Tax Considerations

  • There are many business entity types to choose from, including sole proprietorship.
  • LLC is the most popular entity, but that doesn't mean it’s the best option for you.
  • Understand the tax rates, filing requirements, and types before choosing one.
  • A sole proprietorship, for example, doesn’t pay corporate taxes and offers tax benefits.
  • You may, however, have to pay self-employment taxes as a sole proprietor.

4. Apply for a DBA

  • Sole proprietorships don’t need to register a business name or entity with the state.
  • However, if you choose to use an assumed name, then you need to file for a Doing Business As.
  • This allows you to legally register your business’s fictitious or trade name with the state.
  • An assumed name should be short, memorable, and easy to spell and pronounce.
  • It will be very useful for marketing and branding your new business and reaching customers.

5. Get an EIN

  • Sole proprietorships don’t necessarily need an employer identification number.
  • You may, however, need an EIN or Tax ID if you plan to hire employees.
  • This is because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses it for taxation purposes.
  • If you run an alcohol, tobacco, or firearms business, you’ll need it for excise tax returns.
  • Lastly, an EIN will also be useful if you plan to file for pension plan tax returns.

6. Open a Bank Account

  • For sole proprietors, mixing personal and business finances is quite common.
  • In fact, this is one of the biggest mistakes new businesses make when they start.
  • Opening a business bank account can help you avoid this costly business mistake.
  • It allows you to keep your business income and expenses completely separate.
  • It also helps you build a credit history with the bank, boosting your credit score.

7. Get Licenses and Permits

  • You may not need to legally register your business, but you will need permits to run it.
  • Even sole proprietorships need to follow legal requirements for running a business.
  • This includes general business licenses and business-specific permits.
  • If you plan to work from home, you’ll likely need a work-from-home business permit.
  • If you offer professional services, you will need a professional license.

8. Get Your Business Insured

  • Another one of the common startup mistakes is not getting business insurance.
  • As a sole proprietor, you will bear all profits and losses of your new business venture.
  • If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to pay out of your pocket for unforeseen expenses.
  • You may also face unnecessary legal complications if you don’t protect your business.
  • So, find out the necessary insurance types and get your business insured.

9. Create a Business Website

  • Every business, whether sole proprietorship or partnership, needs a website.
  • A website is often the first place potential customers find your business information.
  • It’s also a great channel to acquire customers for your business and make money online.
  • Leverage a domain registrar like GoDaddy to find a buy a web domain name.
  • Use a website builder to design your website or outsource it to a professional.

Need an EIN for Your Sole Proprietorship?

If you plan to get an EIN for your new business, our partner EIN-Tax-ID-Form.com can help you.

The actual form is too long and you can make mistakes that might get your application rejected. By outsourcing, you save time while also getting things done correctly by experts.

Get an EIN Online

Why Do You Need an EIN for Your Sole Proprietorship?

When you start a sole proprietorship, you are not legally required to obtain an EIN. However, an EIN is useful for many business purposes.

Here’s why you should get an EIN after you start a sole proprietorship.

1. Hiring Employees

One of the primary reasons to get an EIN after you start a sole proprietorship is if you plan to hire employees for your new business. The IRS requires it for all businesses with employees, so you can report payroll taxes, like Social Security and Medicare.

Without an EIN or Tax ID, you wouldn’t be able to handle employee-related tax filings properly. Even if you don't have employees yet, get an EIN as soon as you start a sole proprietorship, so you’re ready when the time comes to expand your team.

2. Privacy Protection

An EIN protects your privacy by preventing you from using your Social Security Number in business dealings. When you’re signing contracts or applying for a business loan, you can provide your EIN instead of your SSN, reducing the risk of identity theft.

This is important if you’re doing business with many people or companies. Sharing your SSN on forms, invoices, or other documents could put your personal information at risk. An EIN is a safer, more professional way to handle business paperwork.

3. Open a Business Bank Account

After you start a sole proprietorship, you’ll need to open a business bank account to keep your personal and business finances separate. Many banks require an Employer Identification Number to open a business bank account for a sole proprietor.

Banks generally require an EIN to avoid mixing your personal and business funds. You can open a personal bank account using your social security number and a business account using an EIN. This makes accounting easier and more organized.

4. Make Your Business Look Professional and Legit

When you start a sole proprietorship, you don’t need to register it with the state and can simply start running a business under your name. However, this makes people vary of sole proprietorships as most don’t consider it a professional business.

If you apply for an EIN after you start a sole proprietorship, you can make your business appear more credible and professional. It will be useful when entering into business contracts with vendors and investors, who’ll trust you more with an EIN.

5. Get Better Access to Funding

Investors want to see a clear distinction between your personal credit history and your business’s financial activities. An EIN shows that your business is professional, which makes it easier for them to assess your company’s financial health.

Additionally, an EIN can make applying for business loans, lines of credit, or even grants smoother. Many lenders require an EIN before they’ll even consider your application. Overall, an EIN makes it easier for you to secure business loans.

6. Hire Independent Contractors

When you start a sole proprietorship, you may not immediately hire employees due to a lack of funds. However, you may occasionally want to hire independent contractors or freelance business owners to do work for your new business.

Even in this case, you will need an EIN or Tax ID if you file Form 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation for independent contractors. So, we recommend that you apply for an EIN or Tax ID soon after you start a sole proprietorship.

Need Help Getting an EIN Quickly and Conveniently?

Whether you start a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, C-corp, or S-corp, getting an EIN is a great idea.

After thorough research, we’ve picked EIN-Tax-ID-Form.com to help you with that. Leverage their online EIN application service to save time and make the process a breeze.

Apply for EIN Online Without Hassle

Why We Recommend EIN-Tax-ID-Form.com to Get an EIN Online

If you need help with the EIN application, our partner makes the process extremely quick and hassle-free.

Here’s why you should choose ein-tax-id-form.com to get an EIN.

Quick

If you fill out the IRS application, it will take you more time. It’s a tedious and complex form that can be time-consuming to fill out accurately. EIN-Tax-ID-Form.com provides you with a simpler alternative. You can fill out their application in minutes and get an EIN on the same day if you file early in the day.

Error-Free

When you outsource the process to a professional, the chances of error are minimal. Filling our the long and complex EIN application can be overwhelming for most, which may lead to costly mistakes. When you outsource the process, you can rest assured that your application will be completely error-free and get approved in one go.

Convenient

When you fill out their online form, you only need to provide the essential information required for the EIN application. Their team will fill out the complex IRS application form and ensure there are no errors. This makes the process a lot more convenient and simple for you.

Leverage their services to get an EIN quickly after you start a sole proprietorship. It’s a simple application you can finish within minutes.

Apply for an EIN Online

FAQ

  • 1. How can I start a sole proprietorship?

    If you’re wondering how to start a sole proprietorship, it’s simple, you simply start a business in your name and you’re a sole proprietorship. You don’t need to register it with the state.

    However, there are many other steps involved if you want to learn how to start a sole proprietorship the right way.

    Here are the steps you need to follow to start a sole proprietorship:

    • Choose a Business Idea: First, choose a business that you’re interested in and has a good profit potential. Consider the market dynamics and competitors to make a decision.
    • Make a Business Plan: Make a strategy for how you will market and grow your business. Choose your sales and distribution channels and make a pricing strategy for your products and services.
    • Understand Tax Considerations: Before you decide to start a sole proprietorship, consider the tax benefits it offers over other entities and other tax considerations, such as self-employment taxes.
    • Apply for a DBA: When you start a sole proprietorship, you don’t need to register an official business name or form a legal entity. However, if you use an assumed name, you will need to apply for a DBA.
    • Get an EIN: If you plan to hire employees and pay payroll taxes, then you will need a federal Employer Identification Number. Our partner EIN-Tax-ID-Form.com can help you get one quickly by filing a simple online application on their website.
    • Open a Bank Account: After you start a sole proprietorship, you should open a separate bank account for your business. This will help you track your business income and expenses accurately.
    • Get Licenses and Permits: Even if you don’t need to register your business, you still need to get the required licenses to operate a business in your state. Find the requirements and get the needed permits.
    • Get Your Business Insured: When you start a sole proprietorship, you bear its profits and losses. So, it’s prudent that you protect your business from unforeseen circumstances by getting it insured.
    • Create a Business Website: Lastly, get a domain name that matches your business name and create a business website. You can do it yourself using a website builder or outsource to a web designer.
  • 2. How much does it cost to start a sole proprietorship?

    The first thing you should know when learning how to start a sole proprietorship is that it’s not a legal entity, so you don’t need to register it with the state. Since there is no registration, there's also no state filing fees. So, it costs nothing to start a sole proprietorship, in terms of registration costs.

    Of course, you still need to invest in starting a new business, whether it’s inventory costs or other business expenses. How much it costs to start a business depends on the type and scale of the business.

    For example, you could potentially start an online business completely free. A retail business where you also manufacture the products, on the other hand, may require substantial capital.

  • 3. Is it better to start a sole proprietorship or an LLC?

    If you start a sole proprietorship, you are the sole owner with complete control over the business and its operations.

    However, it also means that the business profits and losses will be borne by you. If the business fails, you’ll suffer the losses but if it’s successful, you get all the profits. You will have no personal liability protection in case the business is in financial or legal trouble.

    If you form an LLC, you get a share of profits and losses, if there are multiple owners and all of it if you’re the only member. However, you will get some liability protection in case the business fails or faces a lawsuit.

    If there are multiple members, then you’ll have to mutually agree on how the company will be run. You’ll also need to register your business with the state and provide your personal information, so you no longer have complete privacy.

  • 4. Why should I start a sole proprietorship?

    Sole proprietorships have certain advantages, especially if you are the only business owner. Here are some reasons why you should start a sole proprietorship:

    • Easy to Start: It is extremely easy to start a sole proprietorship as you can just start a business under your name and don’t need to register it with the state. The lack of government paperwork simplifies the process.
    • Complete Control: As the sole proprietor, you’ll have complete control over how your own business is managed. There are no external guidelines or interference from the state authorities or anyone else.
    • Easy Tax Filing: Since the profits or losses pass directly to you, you only need to file your personal income tax returns. You don’t need to file for any corporate taxes separately, which makes things simple.
    • Full Profit Retention: If you choose to start a sole proprietorship, you get to keep all business profits. Since there are no other owners, you don’t need to share business profits with anyone.
    • Extremely Affordable: It costs nothing to start a sole proprietorship, at least in terms of government fees. Of course, there are startup and running costs, but those are minimal compared to those of other business entities.
    • Complete Privacy: As a sole proprietor, you don’t need to divulge your information to the state authorities. There are no business registration and annual report filings, so your information will remain private.
  • 5. Do I need an EIN if I form a sole proprietorship?

    If you start a sole proprietorship, you can do without an EIN in most cases. However, you need an EIN if:

    • You plan to hire employees for your business and pay payroll taxes.
    • You need to pay excise tax returns or file taxes for pension plans.
    • A bank asks for it to open a business bank account.
    • You need to secure business funding and having an EIN will lend more credibility to your business.
    • You often work with independent contractors and file Form 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation.
    • You want to protect your personal identity by using an EIN instead of your social security number for all business dealings.
    • You want to make your business look more professional and credible to vendors, suppliers, investors, banks, etc.

    Once you start a sole proprietorship, assess your requirements and then decide if you need an EIN.

Get an EIN Online

Ready to Start a Sole Proprietorship and Get an EIN?

EIN-Tax-ID-Form.com is a reliable EIN service provider that simplifies the paperwork and process for you. You just need to fill out a quick online form.

Why fill out a complex 45-minute form, when you can do away with a quick online application?

File an Online EIN Application

Stay Informed

Get free business tips, resources, and articles straight to your news feed.

Legal info & Disclaimer: