p.1 #1 · Editorial and Wedding Photography - LLC both businesses?
Hello,
I have a business question. I have an editorial website where I take assignments under my name, Chris Langer for http://www.chrislanger.com. I also have a wedding/seniors/portrait website under Langer Imagery at http://langerimagery.com. I want to keep both sets of work apart but here is a question regarding separation... Do you have two separate LLC's and Tax ID's and businesses or do you combine them both, work under one name and just have two websites clearly separating the two?
I would like to LLC my Langer Imagery because its the name I work under for my portraiture and actually have tangible objects and chances for people to sue me. I feel like I could still have the Chris Langer name for portfolio work but file all taxes, have insurance, and all the business stuff go through Langer Imagery but still keep the websites separate.
I know a ton of photographers do this and separate themselves with two websites and two businesses. What do you do and what works for you? I am sure not every state is the same so I will look more into it with the State of Ohio, but wondering your thoughts.
p.1 #2 · Editorial and Wedding Photography - LLC both businesses?
I would just do all your paperwork under one name and just have different sites for each. And when you invoice/bill for the wedding/portrait stuff keep it under your name.
p.1 #4 · Editorial and Wedding Photography - LLC both businesses?
Which do you already have the LLC with? Go with that one. If you haven't gotten to that yet, then LLC under your own name.
Just keep your portfolios/sites separate. And whenever you do an event and its time to invoice them use the one LLC you have, your name. But you can keep your branding on business cards and such with the Langer Imagery thing if you want.
I think it's good to keep the portfolios separate. But separating your name really isn't a big deal. It's really unnecessary.
p.1 #7 · Editorial and Wedding Photography - LLC both businesses?
Yup. If you want to keep them totally separately, create an LLC under "Chris Langer, LLC" and then file a DBA with your secretary of state for "Langer Imagery, LLC".
Now you could theoretically get two checking accounts, one with each on it... but in practice I'd get one checking account and just file the DBA with the bank (so you can deposit checks written to Langer Imagery, LLC.
Easy peasy.
I think my state (Colorado) charges a dollar to file a DBA.
