Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2018/09/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Brian, As a sole proprietor in CA, you don't need to do much. I simply registered with the Franchise Tax Board and pay them quarterly sales tax (not that I sell enough to even bother; read zero for most years...). Then on your Federal return you only have to fill out Schedule C where the net income or loss from this Schedule is then added to you gross income. State forms to file flow from the federal forms; I use Tax Cut, others like other tax prep programs, but your cost for the software will go up slightly to get a version that handles Sole Proprietorships. Difference in price is deductible of course! That's about it. I joined the Professional Photographer's Association as a business expense and to show I was serious They also give some great insurance coverage. Keep records of your purchase and sales. The rule for photography being a business instead of a hobby is to show net income in 2 of 5 years I believe; easy to look up; changes, it seems to me, often! Gets complicated if you don't but is do-able. Feel free to contact me off-line if you have any other questions. Please take this as advisory only and do not depend upon it as all the facts, but this is what I do. No lawyers or tax accountants are necessary. However if you do establish a Subchapter S corp, I would advise you to consult a tax professional as you must set up articles of incorporation and keep meticulous records. Best, Bob Bob Adler www.robertadlerphotography.com *"Capturing Light One Frame At A Time"* On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 12:40 PM Brian Reid <reid at mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> wrote: > I've been taking pictures for money (mostly weddings and portraits) for > 40 years. I've always had a day job; I'm not good enough to try to make > a living at it. The money I make has paid for lenses and printers but > has never paid the mortgage or bought food. > > Recent circumstances require that I become a registered business. > Obviously it would be a sole proprietorship. I know lots about cameras > and computers but nothing about business licensing. > > Does anybody have any suggestions as to where I should start, to make my > little "Brian Reid Photography" venture be a registered business? Since > I live in California I assume that I would register in California, but I > am baffled by what I find with search engines. > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >