Starting a small escort business in British Columbia

It is relatively easy to start a small escort business in British Columbia, as the province provides you with stellar online resources and personal service to make your business registration as clear and simple as possible. This is especially true if you keep your business small and designed to be easily run and managed by a limited number of persons. When starting your escort business, you'll want clearly define what your business does, who manages it and who receives profits. The simpler the layout, the easier it will be to register the company and file business reports and taxes yearly. To learn why it is critical that you register your small business, refer to our article Don't get busted for tax evasion: Why registering your escort business is the only option.

Step one: Define and describe your business

There are several kinds of business structures applicable for running an escort business, and picking the right one for you is important. For example, someone working independently as an escort and someone running an agency would utilize two different business structures. Ask yourself these questions and your business model will start to take shape for you.

  • How do I define my work? What is it, in essence, that I serve? Do I supply the connections between escorts and clients, or am I myself the escort and am providing the company?
  • Am I the only one who will benefit monetarily from my business? If not, who else will and why are they collecting profits?
  • Am I the only one who will manage my business—schedule clients, hire drivers etc.? If not, will it be another owner doing this or someone I employ?
  • Will I be hiring regular employees to take calls, set up appointments, manage any office work on a regular basis etc., or will I maintain my business by myself?
  • Will I be hiring independent consultants (freelance escorts) and, if so, how do I expect to manage and pay them?
  • Who will fund costs such as buying advertisements in newspapers, renting an office or the cost of running a website?
  • Would I ever want to brand my business name or logo?
  • Who will be responsible for my business if I run into debt? Is this just me?
  • Will I ever want to sell my business?

Another step in articulating your business is to write a one-sentence summary of what the business actually does. As an escort you're registering a service you provide, rather than a product that you sell, and this service will need to be articulated on various forms and in marketing materials. Make this unique to you from the questions you've answered above, along the lines of "We provide company to our clients in a social setting".

For information on what terms you legally can and cannot use, refer to our article The fine legal line between escort and prostitute: some strategies for an escort to stay out of trouble.

Step two: Choose your business structure

Once you have a handle of what your business is and how it will be run, it's time to pick out a business structure. Below are quick definitions of the three business models that apply best to a small escorting service in Canada: a sole proprietorship, a general partnership and a corporation.

  • Sole Proprietorship: This is the simplest business structure, with a minimal amount of paperwork filing. One person owns and operates the business, and is responsible for all profits and losses. If you are just starting out and/or will be managing your company alone, this is what you want.
  • General Partnership: This retains the responsibility of a sole proprietorship, but is owned by two or more persons, called partners. In a general partnership, all partners share equal responsibility regarding funding and managing the business, as well as responsibility should the business run into financial trouble. If you have a small group of persons whose strengths will manage arranging and seeing clients, this is what you should choose. However, as you are equally responsible for losses, it can be a risky investment. Within the escort service world, it makes more sense to join into a general partnership than a limited partnership, where the financial / legal responsibility of the company is not shared equally.
  • Corporation: The business is a legal entity owned by shareholders and run by its directors (which will, most likely, be you). While the shareholders may invest money and collect in profits, they are not responsible for losses or claiming personal bankruptcy if the business declares such. However, if the directors are judged to be personally at fault, they may be held responsible for the unaccounted amount. This model requires a good amount of paperwork and applicable fees, and most likely the addition of an accountant and business lawyer as well. A corporation is the way to go if you have been in business for a few years, juggle many consultants and clients, and want to expand and legitimize your work on a higher platform. If that's not you, don't become a corporation.

For more information on what these mean specifically in the escorting world, and the processes for each, please refer to our articles:

For more information on these entities within Canada, visit Canada Business » Government Services for Entrepreneurs.

Step three: Create your name

Let's pretend your name is "Jane Doe". First, decide whether you simply want to call your business your name ("Jane Doe") or your name and service ("Jane Doe Escort Service"). If you use these names as a sole proprietorship or partnership, you are not required to register your business. However, if you choose to take on a name such as "Jane's Escort Service", you are considered to be functioning under a business name (also called a Doing Business As or DBA name) and will have to register it as such. Corporations, which are their own legal entities, must register their business under a business name.

If you're required to or simply want to take on a business name, have fun creating it. Do you want to be flirty and funny? Try "Jane Doe: The Company Company". Feel like being a little more discreet and want to stay out of the limelight? Try something demure, like "Jane's Social Consulting". Your name can be as simple or as flashy as you'd like, just make sure it's honest to what you want your business to be. Do you want to push the envelope of acceptability or maintain a low profile?

Step four: Register your business / business name

Sole proprietorship / partnership

If you are going to run your business under your own name, you do not need to register your company with your local or federal government. This gives you great freedom in running your business without regulation and helps you keep discrete if you don't want to be too visible in the kind of business you are running.

However, if you are going to run your business under a separate business name, you need to get this name approved and registered before opening accounts with any financial institution or advertising your business. This registration does not guarantee ownership of the name, and several non-corporate businesses may function with the same business name, but it does guarantee ownership of the business in the legal/public eye.

To register your name, you must first submit a Business Name Request at B.C. Registry Services or by calling 604-775-5525 / 800-667-2272. This approval guarantees that your name is not misleading (as in calling your company a corporation when you are not or improperly representing the purpose of your company) or that it conflicts with another business in your area with a similar service.

Upon confirmation of the approved name, you must then register your name within 56 days at with BC Service Registry either online, or in person / by mail.

Corporation

As a corporation you must register your business with an approved business name, available at B.C. Registry Services or by calling 604-775-5525 / 800-667-2272. Approval of the name guarantees that no corporation is already registered with that name and that the name properly represents what your business does and whom it serves.

When this name is approved, you must then register your corporation. Because of the highly intricate legal nature of starting a corporation, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a business lawyer and accountant to aid you in the process. Assistance for finding a business lawyer is available at the Canadian Bar Association » British Columbia Branch.

If you choose to register independently, you can do so at Corporate Online or by purchasing a lawyer-prepared kit from Simply Legal at Small Business BC.

Because of the highly intricate legal nature of starting a corporation, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a business lawyer and accountant.

Step five: Register for / pay business taxes

  1. In 2010 British Columbia combined the former Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) into the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which now stands at 12% of your business revenue. If your business income is greater than $30,000 a year, you'll have to register your BN (Business number obtained upon registration) with the Canada Revenue Service.
  2. If you are a sole proprietorship or partnership, you'll have to report your self-employment income on your T-1 General return. Your choice of when your business year ends affects your tax bracket, so it's smart to do some research and consult with a professional when becoming familiar with self-employment and small-business taxes.
  3. If you have employees, you'll need to report and deduct payroll expenses at the Canada Revenue Agency. This contributes towards employment insurance, the Canadian pension plan and income tax.
  4. If you have employees, you'll need to provide workers' compensation and enroll your business with WorkSafe BC.

Step six: Get necessary licenses and permits

Registering your business or business name and any articles of incorporation will get you a Master Business License (MBL). This proves that your company has been registered with the Ministry of Government Services and has been given a Business Identification Number.

You may be required within your municipality to have additional licenses or permits, depending on how you're running your business specifically within that locality. For a personalized guide on which licenses and permits you'll need to obtain, go to the BizPal Service for British Columbia.

More information on starting a business in British Columbia

Find out how to register an escort business in each state of the USA and by province in Canada.

Please note: Skipthegames.com is not a legal service, nor are we tax advisors or accountants. We do offer you what we consider our best advice, but if at all in doubt, please consult a professional.