In Pennsylvania, you can establish a sole proprietorship without filing any legal documents with the Pennsylvania state government. There are four simple steps you should take:
To find out how to establish a sole proprietorship in any other state, see Nolo's 50-State Guide to Establishing a Sole Proprietorship.
1. Choose a Business Name
In Pennsylvania, a sole proprietor may use his or her own given name or may use a trade name. If you plan to use a fictitious business name or trade name, state law requires that the name be distinguishable from the name of another company currently on record. It is also a good idea to choose a name that is not too similar to another registered business because of common and federal law trademark protections. To make sure your business name is available, run a search in the following government databases:
2. File a Fictitious Business Name
If you use a business name that is different from your legal name, Pennsylvania requires you to register a fictitious business name with the Secretary of State. This is a mandatory requirement in Pennsylvania. To file your fictitious name you must fill out the Fictitious Business Name Registration Form from the Department of State Forms. The filing fee is $70. In addition, you must publish an advertisement regarding your fictitious business name in both a newspaper and a legal publication in the county where you intend to do business. Proof of this advertisement does not need to be sent to the Department of State but must be kept with your business records.
3. Obtain Licenses, Permits, and Zoning Clearance
Your business may need to obtain business licenses or professional licenses depending on its business activities. Pennsylvania provides a comprehensive website of every profession and occupation that requires a license by any sole proprietorship. Professional licensing boards are categorized as either "Business-Related Boards" or "Health-Related Boards." A business can obtain this information by going to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Licensing and Occupational Affairs. In addition, local regulations, including licenses, building permits, and zoning clearances, may apply to your business. You will need to check with your city and county governments for more information.
4. Obtain an Employer Identification Number
Sole proprietors who wish to have employees need to obtain an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. This is a nine digit number issued by the IRS for tax reporting purposes. All businesses with employees are required to report wages to the IRS using their EIN. Registering for an EIN can be done online at the IRS website.
Sole proprietors without employees are not required to have an EIN because they can use their Social Security number to report taxes. Nevertheless, you may want to obtain one anyway for your business. Some banks require one to open a bank account and it can reduce the risk of identity theft.
In Pennsylvania, businesses are required to report taxes and file various employee reports. You may need to use your EIN when registering your business to report taxes through the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. If you have employees, you must report and pay employment taxes on a periodic basis. More information related to employment taxes can be obtained by registering with the Pennsylvania Open For Business initiative.
Next Steps
It is important to consider doing the following once you have established your sole proprietorship: