Maryland Sole Proprietorship

How to Become a Maryland Sole Proprietor

In Maryland, becoming a sole proprietor is straightforward. You don’t have to do any formal setup or pay fees. Just start working, and you’re running a sole proprietorship. However, even though it’s easy to start, it’s a good idea to consider some extra steps. They’re not necessary, but many sole proprietors find them helpful.

DBA Acquisition

A doing business as (DBA) name is a crucial part of many sole proprietorships, as it enables you to use an assumed name for your business, rather than your own personal name. The advantages of acquiring a DBA start with image ― most customers feel that an assumed name is more professional and trustworthy than doing business with a company that uses its owner’s personal name instead.

That said, sole proprietors can sign up for a business bank account using their DBA name, which is another step that goes a long way toward making customers feel more comfortable doing business with you.

Before filing for a DBA (otherwise known as a “trade name” in Maryland) you’ll need to check the name’s availability using the state’s Business Entity Search. If your desired trade name is available, you may claim it by filing the Trade Name Application either through mail using the PDF file or online using Maryland Business Express.

More information on Maryland trade names can be found in our full guide to DBAs.

Determine Taxation Requirements

Sole proprietors without employees usually don’t need to acquire a federal tax ID number (EIN), because as a one-person business, you can typically just use your own social security number for most things an EIN is used for. Still, if you would rather not use your SSN for privacy purposes, it would be a good idea to get an EIN regardless.

Beyond that, the nature of your business will determine which taxes apply to you as a sole proprietor.

Depending on your sole proprietorship’s business activities, it’s likely you’ll be required to pay sales tax and use tax. In addition to these, other state-level taxes may be necessary. To find out your sole proprietorship’s tax liabilities, you’ll need to register with the Maryland Comptroller of Treasury.

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

There isn’t a requirement in Maryland for sole proprietors to acquire a general business license, but depending on the nature of your business you may need other licenses and/or permits to operate in a compliant fashion.

Most Maryland businesses are required to obtain at least one business license. These licenses are generally industry-specific or professional/occupational licenses. In order to discover your sole proprietorship’s licensing requirements, you’ll want to follow the instructions to register with the Maryland Licensing Onestop Portal.

In addition, you should check to see if your business needs any licenses or permits on the local level.

Before starting your business, check with your local government regarding which licenses and permits you may need. This can be done by consulting with the Clerk of the Court in the municipality in which your sole proprietorship is located.

What Is a Maryland Sole Proprietor?

As opposed to a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), the sole proprietorship is not a legal business entity. The sole proprietorship is a one-person business that is not considered to be a distinct entity from the person who owns it, and it is frequently operated using the owner’s personal name.

Here are the three main things you need to know:

Tax Responsibilities

Because there’s no distinction between the owner and the business itself, sole proprietors don’t need to file business tax returns ― they instead simply claim any business profits or losses on their personal tax returns.

Contracts

Sole proprietors are allowed to sign contracts using their personal name, and along those same lines, customers can write checks to the business by using the sole proprietor’s name.

More Flexible

The other big difference between sole proprietorships and more formal business structures is the fact that sole proprietors are allowed to commingle business and personal assets as much as they want to. With LLCs and corporations, ownership is required to keep their assets separate from those of the company. The downside of this aspect for sole proprietors is that if your business is sued, creditors are free to pursue your personal assets like your house, car, personal bank accounts, etc. For corporations and LLCs, creditors are limited to your business assets.