New York SBDC Research Network

If you are a consultant or freelancer you’ll be familiar with this often asked, yet perplexing question: Do I need to incorporate? Legally, the answer is no. The truth is over 70 percent of U.S. businesses are owned by sole proprietors, and operate successfully without incorporating. So, if you can legally operate and be successful without it, why would you want to incorporate your business? READ MORE .

When starting a new business, you probably want to check service or trademarks, which often is a way that organizations protect their brand, at the USPTO site . Here's a link to a directory of all 50 states' Secretary of State sites , where one incorporates.