How to Start a Content Creation Business That Saves on Taxes and Gets Funded in 2025

If you’re creating videos, posting on TikTok, or running a newsletter and making any money from it, you’ve already got a business. But if you haven’t made it official yet, you could be leaving money on the table, especially when it comes to taxes and funding.

In this blog, I’ll break down how to set up your content creation business the right way. We’ll cover legal structure, taxes, and how to make your business look fundable to banks and lenders. This is for creators, freelancers, and small media brands who want to grow without the stress of messy finances. Let’s get in.

 

Step 1: Make It Official With an LLC

The first step is forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC). It separates your personal and business finances, protects your assets, and gives you a more professional appearance.

Here’s why an LLC is perfect for content creators:

• Liability Protection: If something goes wrong, like a legal issue or a brand deal dispute, your personal assets stay safe.
• Tax Flexibility: You can choose how you want to be taxed (as a sole prop, S-corp, or partnership).
• Professional Image: Brands, clients, and sponsors are more likely to take you seriously when they see you’re a registered business.

You can file directly with your state or use a service like Bizee, Northwest Registered Agent, or Tailor Brands to handle the paperwork for you. They make it super simple, and most let you form your LLC in under 10 minutes.

 

Step 2: Get an EIN from the IRS

After forming your LLC, apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS website. It’s free and takes 5 minutes. Your EIN is like a Social Security number for your business.

You’ll need it to:

• Open a business bank account
• Apply for business credit cards or funding
• File taxes as a business

 

Step 3: Open a Business Bank Account

Don’t mix your business and personal money. It’s messy, and it can hurt your liability protection. Open a separate business bank account to keep things clean. This helps you:

• Track income and expenses clearly
• Write off business costs without stress
• Build a legit financial profile for funding later

Check out our favorite Business Credit Cards for business owners who want to earn points for spending, manage cash flow, and build business credit.

Our Favorite Credit Cards

 

Step 4: Choose the Right Tax Setup

This is where things get fun (and by fun, I mean you can save real money). When you first start, your LLC is taxed as a sole proprietor by default. That’s fine, but once you’re making consistent money ($40,000+ per year), it might be time to elect S-Corp taxation.

Here’s why:

• With an S-Corp, you pay yourself a salary, and the rest of your profits are distributions.
• You avoid self-employment tax (15.3%) on the distributions.
• This can save you thousands in taxes every year.

Talk to a CPA who understands digital businesses. They’ll help you run the numbers and file the right forms with the IRS.

 

Step 5: Track Your Income and Expenses from Day 1

Use software like QuickBooks, Wave, or even a Google Sheet to keep track of:

• Revenue from brand deals, affiliates, and product sales
• Expenses like gear, internet, software, travel, and meals

This makes tax time 100x easier. And it helps you see what’s working and what’s not in your business.

 

Step 6: Start Building Business Credit

If you want to get funding in the future, you need to build a strong credit profile.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Get a Business Credit Card: Use it for small purchases and pay it off each month.
2. Open Net-30 Accounts: These are vendor accounts that report to credit bureaus. 
3. Keep Your Info Consistent: Make sure your business name, address, and EIN match across all documents.

Once your business is 3–6 months old with some credit history, you can apply for higher-limit cards and even lines of credit.

 

Step 7: Get Fundable With Tools Like Revenued

If you want access to cash without needing perfect personal credit, Revenued is one of the easiest funding tools for creators and small business owners. It’s based on your business revenue, not your credit score. They offer a business card and a funding line with no hard credit check. If you’ve been earning money consistently, it’s worth applying.

This is a great way to:

• Fund a new camera or editor
• Scale your ads or course
• Invest in your next project without dipping into savings

 

Step 8: Make Your Business Look Legit on Paper

When it comes to funding, lenders want to see a few basics:

• Your business has an LLC and an EIN
• You have a real website or portfolio
• You’ve got a business bank account and payment processor (like Stripe or PayPal)
• You’ve been earning consistent income for at least 3 months

Even if you’re a solo creator, these little things help you look like a real business, which gets you access to way more resources.

 

Final Thoughts

Forming a content creation business isn’t just about looking legit. It’s about protecting yourself, saving money, and getting access to tools that help you grow faster. Start with the basics: form an LLC, open a bank account, and track your money. Once the foundation is in place, you can optimize for taxes, build business credit, and unlock funding when you need it. Use tools like Bizee to form your business and Revenued to help you grow it. These are beginner-friendly, fast, and made for creators like you.