An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to a business. Think of it as a Social Security number for your company. You will be asked for it far more often than the name suggests, and you do not need employees to get one.

When you need one

• You form an LLC or corporation (banks require the EIN to open the LLC's account).
• You hire anyone, even part-time.
• You want your Social Security number off booth-rent agreements, supplier accounts, and vendor forms.

A sole proprietor with no employees is not required to have one. Almost everyone should get one anyway: it is free, takes minutes, and keeps your personal number out of every contract you sign.

How to get it, free

Apply online at irs.gov (search "apply for an EIN online") during the IRS's posted hours. Have your legal name, your business name exactly as registered, your address, and your entity type ready. The number is issued on screen; save the confirmation letter (CP 575) as a PDF, because the bank will ask for it. Never pay for an EIN. Third-party sites that charge a fee are submitting the same free application.

If you form an LLC, form it first and apply in the LLC's name. A sole-proprietor EIN can carry over to a single-member LLC with no employees, but you need a new one if you incorporate, add a partner, or start hiring.

Now the part that depends on your license

The rules above are the same for everyone. What changes is the business you are building around them: a booth-renting esthetician, a laser practice with a supervising physician, a nail studio with a second tech, a permanent makeup studio that needs a tattoo establishment license, or lashes added to a license you already hold. Pick your guide:

• How to Start Your Own Esthetician Business in Florida
• How to Open a Laser Hair Removal Business in Florida
• Nail Tech LLC in Florida: Sole Proprietor vs LLC, EIN, and Your License
• How to Start a Permanent Makeup Business in Florida
• How to Start a Lash Business in Florida

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements with the IRS and a licensed professional.

Pristine Beauty Academy students planning to open their own spa or suite can ask Admissions about our Own It resources.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What is an EIN and do I need one for a beauty business?

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a free nine-digit tax ID the IRS gives a business. You must have one if you form an LLC or hire anyone; a sole proprietor with no employees can use a Social Security number instead, but an EIN keeps your SSN off contracts and supplier forms.

How much does an EIN cost?

Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free at irs.gov in about ten minutes. Any site that charges a fee is a third-party filing service submitting the same free form.

Should I form my LLC before or after getting an EIN?

Form the LLC first, then apply for the EIN in the LLC's name, so the number matches the entity your bank and the state will see.