New York, NY
A laptop glows with a half-built slide deck while a client call wraps up and coffee cools beside a notebook.
Short answer: In New York, New York, businesses are required to obtain licensing before they start operating. For a consulting business, that means a federal tax ID number (EIN) and a local business license, plus a structure and name registration.
New York calls its seller's permit the Certificate of Authority. Suppliers selling to you tax-free will ask for a Resale Certificate (Form ST-120). New York treats sellers of tangible goods as vendors who must register, and a buyer needs a Certificate of Authority to issue Form ST-120. A New York Certificate of Authority must be displayed at the business, and buyers list its number on the ST-120 resale certificate. Services are mostly not resold goods, so supplies used up in the work, like paper, software and office supplies, are normally taxable when bought; a resale certificate only helps for items passed to customers.
Tip: Put the scope of work in writing before you begin; every consultant eventually meets the client whose one small favor becomes a whole new project.
Industry code: NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services)
Get your Certificate of Authority filed · Start your LLC, DBA and EIN · Business licenses
Ronald · Ronald Consulting · Chester Springs, PA
Hi Ronald, consulting is generally a service, so a Pennsylvania Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License usually isn't needed unless you sell taxable goods. If you do, the Form REV-1220 Pennsylvania Exemption Certificate applies only to items you resell. An EIN, a DBA for Ronald Consulting or an LLC, and a local business license cover the basics.
Short answer: Sales Tax Cert: the key filing in Pennsylvania is the Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License. Suppliers will ask for its number and a Form REV-1220 Pennsylvania Exemption Certificate before they sell to you tax-free.
In Pennsylvania, the seller's permit goes by the name Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License. To buy for resale without paying sales tax, you give the supplier a Form REV-1220 Pennsylvania Exemption Certificate. Not a sales tax license. A business selling only to resellers applies for a wholesaler certificate instead; it cannot hold both. Pennsylvania issues a separate wholesaler certificate to businesses that sell only for resale; any retail selling requires the sales tax license instead. Supplies you use up in a service are usually taxed when you buy them, since they aren't resold.
Get your Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License filed · Start your LLC, DBA and EIN · Business licenses
BACK TO TOP
All Businesses Need a New York Business License & a Trade Business Name ( Oneida County Trade Business Name required if using a trade name).
Retailers / Wholesalers, Need a Reseller Tax ID, & a Business License.
Employers Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN), a NY State Tax Id ( State EIN), & a Business License.
Corporations, & LLC Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN)& a Business License.
Partnerships Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN) & a Trade Business Name, but also need a Business License.
Sole Proprietors May Use a Federal Tax Id Number as a NY Business Tax ID but also need a Business License.
Instead of filing a Trade Business Name, You Can Incorporate in NY or form a(n) NY LLC & You Will Not Need To File A DBA
Requirements below include websites as well as home-based or eBay Businesses.
1. Consulting 99% of new businesses are required to get a(n), New York business Id registration ( business tax registration or business permit).
2. Consulting Starting businesses using a company name other than the legal owner's name need a (n) Oneida County DBA Doing Business As Trade Firm Name Registration.
3. In NY a business tax ID registration (occupationall business license ) and a DBA Doing Business As Fictious Business Name are ncessary for most businesses but if your business sells any taxable items, you will need a sales tax ID number. ( A.K.A NYseller's permit, state id, wholesale, resale, reseller certificate).
4. If you are thinking of hiring help, you will need a tax ID called a state EIN and an IRS tax ID number called an EIN Employer ID Number. I.e., a NY Federal Tax ID Number and a(n) NY State Employer Tax Number.
5. Instead of filing a fictitious business name DBA Filing in New York, Incorporate in NY or form a(n) LLC.