hi, i do photography as a hobby and occasionallydo wedding pictures (which i make some money).. well, recently my bank decided that they wont cash checks written out to "name name photography" unless i open a business account. but im not a photography business and i have no business license or anything so i wouldnt even be able to open a business account. why are they deciding its a business and how can i prove that its not?
If you have not set up a business then the checks should be made out to you personally. Either have the checks made to you personally or register with the IRS for an EIN with the business name (doesn’t cost anything). Your local government may also require a business license and there will be a fee for that. Since it’s just a hobby, your best bet is just to have checks made out to you.
2 Responses to “when does my freelance photography have to become a business?”
It has to become a business when people start writing checks to you under your business name. I assume you sell yourself under some fictitious business name such as, "Margot’s Photography." If they write the check to that name instead of the name on your bank account then you have to go through the process of becoming a business. For now, you have two options.
1) Become a business with the name you’ve been using.
2) Go back to the clients and ask them to issue a personal check to you instead.
References :
http://slapstart.com/2009/09/freelanceradar/
If you have not set up a business then the checks should be made out to you personally. Either have the checks made to you personally or register with the IRS for an EIN with the business name (doesn’t cost anything). Your local government may also require a business license and there will be a fee for that. Since it’s just a hobby, your best bet is just to have checks made out to you.
References :