Alabama Sole Proprietorship

How to Become an Alabama Sole Proprietor

Becoming a sole proprietor in Alabama is straightforward. There’s no official procedure or fees required to set up or run this type of business. Simply begin working to operate as an Alabama sole proprietor.

Despite the simplicity, there are some recommended steps to consider. Although not mandatory, many sole proprietors find these steps beneficial for their business.

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.

You can start the process of acquiring a DBA in Alabama by checking your business name’s availability, and after you confirm that your desired business name is available, you should then register it by using the Trade Name Registration Form.

If you need more information about acquiring a DBA in Alabama, check out our full article on the topic.

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.

For instance, if you rent out vacation properties, then you will need to pay lodging taxes to the State of Alabama. If you’re unsure of which taxes apply to your business, you should register your business through My Alabama Taxes, which will automatically sign you up for any relevant state taxes.

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

There isn’t a requirement in Alabama 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.

To determine whether you need certain state licenses or permits for your business, you should consult the Alabama Department of Revenue’s business portal to see what you need for your particular industry.

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

Major cities such as Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile, and Tuscaloosa have their own requirements, and you should always consult with your local government to ensure that you meet those requirements.

What Is an Alabama 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.