Vermont Sole Proprietorship

How to Become a Vermont Sole Proprietor

Becoming a sole proprietor in Vermont is simple. You don’t need to go through any official setup process or pay any fees. To start a sole proprietorship in Vermont, just start working.

However, even though it’s easy to start, there are some extra steps you might want to consider. While not necessary, many sole proprietors find them helpful.

DBA Acquisition

A Vermont 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.

DBAs in Vermont are frequently referred to as “trade names”. To register a trade name for your sole proprietorship, you’ll first need to make sure it is distinguishable from all other company names on the Vermont record. All trade name registrations must satisfy the state’s name availability rules and be confirmed as available through searching the state’s online business database. After confirming the name meets all availability requirements, you may register it with the Vermont Secretary of State.

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 sole proprietorships, business income is distributed directly to the sole proprietor and taxed based on individual income; no business entity tax is due.

All income or losses from the business is instead reported on your personal income tax return. More information on business taxes in the state can be found on the Vermont Agency of Administration Department of Taxes.

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

There isn’t a requirement in Vermont 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.

For Vermont licensing and permit information visit the Licensing and Permits page of the Vermont state website. If your business deals with housing or any type of food, you will also need to consult with the Vermont Department of Health.

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

Each city and/or county may have its own local licensing requirements. To confirm your local regulations, contact the town clerk of the municipality in which your business operates.

For help contacting the appropriate office, you may find this Guide to Vermont Town Clerks helpful.

What Is a Vermont Sole Proprietor?

As opposed to a corporation or Vermont 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.