Hi Silkystitches49,
Just some thoughts .... You can use your personal name and your personal checking account to get started – in your scenario, you would be considered a “Sole proprietorship”. In most cases a sole proprietorship does not require filing federal or state forms however, it’s best to check with your state as each state is different. Also, depending on your state and your type of business, you may need to obtain a license or permit and you may need a state sales tax license. As for using your unofficial business name, perhaps others may have some thoughts. As a sole proprietor, by default, the legal name of your business is your own name but, you can choose to operate the business under another name, known as a “fictitious business name” or “doing business as” (DBA). Most states require you to file an application for your DBA. Note: A sole proprietorship provides no liability protection to the owner as compared to an LLC or Corporation. (For example, an LLC separates your personal world from your business world.) Just some thoughts – we originally started as a sole proprietorship and couple years later setup an LLC.
jk
