Wyoming Sole Proprietorship

How to Become a Wyoming Sole Proprietor

In Wyoming, becoming a sole proprietor is straightforward. There’s no official setup process or fees to worry about. To start a sole proprietorship in Wyoming, simply begin working.

Although it’s easy to start, it’s wise to consider some extra steps. While these steps aren’t necessary, many sole proprietors find them beneficial.

DBA Acquisition

A Wyoming 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.

To claim a DBA (which is also known as “trade name” in Wyoming) you must first confirm that the name is available for use and not deceptively similar to any other business or trademark registered with the state. This can be done through the Registered Entities Search. After confirming that the name is available, you may register it by filing an Application for Registration of Trade Name with the state of Wyoming.

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.

If your sole proprietorship sells any type of goods in Wyoming, you’ll likely be required to pay sales tax. As a business owner, you will also be required to pay self-employment tax on business profits. More information on your Wyoming business taxes, which ones apply to you, and how to pay them, can be found online through state Department of Revenue.

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits

There isn’t a requirement in Wyoming for sole proprietors to acquire a general business license, but depending on the nature of your business you may need other Wyoming licenses and permits to operate in a compliant fashion.

Wyoming has many state-issued licenses, several of which may apply to your sole proprietorship. For help determining your license and permit needs, you may choose to consult the Wyoming Business Center’s Business Permitting and Licensing Guide.

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

For example, the cities of Laramie, Casper, Sheridan and Cheyenne all have their own city-specific business licensing requirements.

What Is a Wyoming Sole Proprietor?

As opposed to a corporation or Wyoming 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.