How to Start a Social Security Business Service Online
If you have a specialized knowledge of how the Social Security system works online or offline and a willingness to assist others in navigating it, you might want to consider launching your own Social Security business online.
There are various ways you can launch a social security business service, whether as an independent business consultant, through franchising or even as a non-profit organization.
However you decide to structure your business, there are some significant benefits to doing so — namely, being able to claim self-employment tax deductions as well as other tax benefits that come with being your own boss. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of starting your own Social Security business service online.
What are the benefits of starting a social security business?
A significant benefit of starting your own Social Security business online is that you can claim self-employment tax deductions. As an individual who is self-employed, you can deduct both the costs of starting your own business as well as the cost of any professional services you use in running your business.
For example, if you decide to set up your own Social Security business as an independent consultant, you can claim deductions for the costs of getting your business up and running, including any business licenses, permits or membership dues, business-related travel, the cost of internet or phone services, furniture and office supplies.
You can also claim deductions for the cost of any professional services you use while running your business, such as the cost of hiring an accountant or lawyer to help with your taxes or setting up your business, or the cost of attending professional development conferences relevant to your industry.
Drawbacks of starting a Social Security business?
One drawback of starting your own Social Security business is that you will need to pay self-employment taxes, which include both the cost of your share of Social Security taxes as well as the Medicare tax that individuals pay instead of the health insurance that employees normally provide for their employers.
Curiously, you don’t have to pay self-employment taxes on the first $100 you earn from your Social Security business each year—you only have to start paying taxes when you earn more than $100. Although the exact amount you pay in self-employment taxes will depend on a number of factors, on average, you can expect to pay around 15.3% of your net income in Social Security taxes, in addition to 2.9% in Medicare taxes.
Organizing your business as a LLC
If you decide to start your own Social Security business as an independent consultant, you might want to consider setting up your business as a limited liability company (LLC). An LLC is a type of business structure that provides you with some protection against personal liability—in other words, it protects your personal assets (including your home and savings) if your business is ever sued.
One other advantage of setting up your business as an LLC is that you can choose to be taxed as a corporation, which means that your business profits are taxed at a lower rate than if you were taxed as a sole proprietor or general partner in an LLC.
If you decide to set up your business as an LLC, be aware that you will have to follow additional rules, such as keeping written records of your business’ activities and having an annual meeting where you elect the members of your board of directors.
Starting your own social security business as a franchisee
If you decide to start your own Social Security business as a franchisee, you will be operating under the name of an existing business and will have to pay an up-front fee to purchase the right to operate the business under that name.
However, there are also ongoing fees you will pay to the franchisor, who will normally help you get your business up and running and will also provide ongoing training. You may want to consider starting your own Social Security business as a franchisee if you have limited start-up capital and you feel you can benefit from the training and ongoing support of the franchisor.
If you decide to start your own Social Security business as a franchisee, you will have to carefully research the franchisor and the specific franchise you want to operate under, as there are some well-known brands that have been accused of fraud and other violations.
Starting your own social security business as a non-profit organization
If you decide to start your own Social Security business online or offline as a non-profit organization, you will not be able to claim any tax deductions. However, the benefits of starting a non-profit social security business are that you will be able to use your organization’s non-profit status to apply for various grants, in-kind donations and other financing options that may be unavailable to you as a regular business owner.
You will also be able to apply for non-profit tax exemptions that will help you save money on your future tax bills. For example, if you start your own Social Security business as a non-profit organization and apply for and are granted non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you will be exempt from paying self-employment taxes on your profits.
Final words: Is starting a Social Security business worth it?
Although there are some significant benefits to starting your own Social Security business, there are also some drawbacks, such as having to pay self-employment taxes and having to deal with additional paperwork and regulations.
Furthermore, when you start your own Social Security business, you have to be willing to commit a significant amount of your time and energy. After all, being your own boss is not without its challenges, and while you will have the flexibility to set your own working hours, you will also need to be willing to put in whatever time is required to get your business off the ground and make it successful.
If you have a specialized knowledge of how the Social Security system business online works and a willingness to assist others in navigating it, you might want to consider launching your own Social Security business. There are various ways you can launch a social security business service, whether as an independent business consultant, through franchising or even as a non-profit organization.