Rhode Island Sole Proprietorship

How to Become a Rhode Island Sole Proprietor

Starting a sole proprietorship in Rhode Island is easy. There’s no formal setup process or fees involved. To operate one, just start working.

However, despite the simplicity of starting, there are some additional steps you might want to consider. While not strictly necessary, 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.

In Rhode Island, DBAs are sometimes referred to as “fictitious business names”. To obtain a fictitious business name, you must first check the name availability by searching the state’s Name Availability Database or calling the state office at (401) 222-3040. Then, you may claim the name by filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.

More information on the topic of registering fictitious names can be found on our Rhode Island guide to assumed names.

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 example, many sole proprietorships in Rhode Island will be required to pay sales tax and use tax on products. Additionally, your sole proprietorship may be subject to several other industry-related or location-specific taxes. A list of business taxes that may apply to your sole proprietorship can be found here in Rhode Island’s Business Tax Filing Services section. You may find more information and file your state business taxes through the Rhode Island Business Tax Filings platform.

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

There isn’t a requirement in Rhode Island 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.

On a state level, Rhode island issues occupational licenses. Outside of those, there are also many industry specific licenses: real estate agents, brokers, auto body rebuilders, salespeople, wineries, breweries, liquor wholesalers, and the other industry businesses listed. To help determine which licenses your business needs, use the Department of Business Regulation License Lookup.

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

For example, the cities of Providence and Richmond have their own licensing standards. To be sure your sole proprietorship meets all local licensing requirements, you’ll need to consult with your local government.

What Is a Rhode Island 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.