Read the West Virginia sole proprietorship guide below. Read on to learn more or choose ZenBusiness today.
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In West Virginia, becoming a sole proprietor is simple. There’s no official setup process or fees involved. To start a sole proprietorship in West Virginia, just start working.
Although it’s easy to begin, consider some extra steps. While not mandatory, many sole proprietors find them helpful.
A West Virginia 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 West Virginia, DBAs are sometimes referred to as “trade names”. Before registering a trade name with the West Virginia Secretary of State, you’ll need to check its availability using the State’s Business Organization Search database. Afterwards, call the Secretary of State Business Division at (304) 558-8000 to ask for an informal name check.
When you confirm that your desired DBA is available, you may claim it by registering online with West Virginia’s One Stop Business Portal.
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, if you sell soft drinks, tobacco, fuel, or any type of alcohol, you’ll be subject to paying the corresponding tax. These taxes (known as excise taxes) and others are all detailed on the Excise Tax Page of the West Virginia State Tax Department website. Another common tax is Sales and Use tax.
You will discover your state-level tax liability when you obtain your West Virginia business registration certificate from the State Tax Department. This can be done either online or using the WV/BUS-APP form.
There isn’t a requirement in West Virginia 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.
West Virginia has both regulatory and occupational licenses that may apply to your West Virginia sole proprietorship. Thankfully, the state makes license registration quite easy through the WV One Stop Business Portal. More information on licensing in general can be found in the Apply for Licenses and Permits document provided by the West Virginia Business Division.
In addition, you should check to see if your business needs any licenses or permits on the local level.
Often, West Virginia cities and counties will have their own license and permit specifications. For example, Huntington, Morgantown, and Charleston all have their own local business license requirements.
As opposed to a corporation or West Virginia 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.
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.
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.
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.
While the sole proprietor is such a simple business classification that West Virginia doesn’t even require a business registration process or any type of fees, depending on how you use your sole proprietorship and what industry you operate in, you still might have some important steps that need to be taken.
When it comes to issues of taxation, licenses and permits, or even the name you want to call your sole proprietorship, you do need to be vigilant to make sure you’re not overlooking anything.
We hope this guide helped you answer any questions you had for sole proprietorships in West Virginia, and we wish you success with your business!
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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