3 simple steps to registering your photography business

business

3 simple steps to registering your photography business

So you know the benefits of having a legally registered photography business, what now?

The next step to actually register your photography business, of course! Here are all the steps for photographers who are looking to level up their business by making it official.

Do your research

The first thing you need to do is research official government resources that are applicable to your area. Your government’s website will give you an idea of the application process, what it’ll cost and what documents you need. Luckily, there's a ton of free resources online!

Name for your photography business

Every business has a name, so if you don't, just pick one! When it comes to naming your photography business, you always have to think about what’s the easiest and best way for your clients to find you.

If you just call yourself, your name plus photography (Sam Katz Photography), or your name plus your geography (Sam Katz Bali), then that could be the name of your business. You actually have the rights to your legal name, so if you’re operating as a business under your own legal name, then you don't need to register it, but check with your local government just in case.

If you decide to go with a fictitious name, that's totally fine. Just make sure you check for any existing trademarks and registration for that name to avoid future lawsuits and confusion. Do a Google search for any kind of local business that has a similar or same name, then make sure that domain is available so you can get that online presence you need.

Register your photography business

Time to register your business and get your business number! You’ll need to look up the specific requirements to register your business in your area, but it’s usually a very simple process, and you can most likely do this online.

Once you register, you’ll receive a business number which represents your business. So when you're collecting or repaying taxes, or invoicing clients, this number will represent your business in the government's eyes.

Know your taxes

The next one is understanding and complying with tax responsibilities, because you absolutely need to make sure you're registered to remit and collect taxes, and that you have a tax number!

My favorite business benefit of all time is that virtually every single expense becomes a deductible against your income – your photography equipment, studio rent, internet, business insurance, new computer set up and even taking your clients out for lunch can all be written off!

If you want to take advantage of business tax benefits, the best thing you can do is hire a certified public accountant (CPA) in your area that can help you understand your tax responsibilities.

Being an officially registered Photography business is 100% worth it

At the end of the day, setting your business up legally will set you up for success, and then some! The best part is that it's literally three main steps: name your business, register your business, and then register for taxes – that’s it!

It may seem like a big hassle at first, but remember that you’ll only have to set up your business once, and then you never have to do it again – so you might as well just do it!