Working as an Individual v. Working as a Business

[bklynation]

Can I hear your thoughts? Why you choose to work as one versus the other?

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this. My line of work is conceptual photo illustration but also photo composting and retouching. I occasionally shoot products as well.
I'm just starting out in the field - one year now - and am also developing a fine art career. The thing is that I'm not sure which is more beneficial. I can approach new clients and businesses as an LLC or I can brand myself as an individual to go work for larger companies... or both??

[Doug Nelson]

There's no real differentiation between an individual and a business, at least as far as the work you take in. That's a tax difference.

I suspect you might mean individual vs. a company. And that's a marketing difference. If you plan on having creative employees (as opposed to support employees) I'd go the company route.

But ultimately, the only real difference is the paperwork (and running a company with yourself as an employee can have tax ramifications in both directions).

[bklynation]

Thanks for commenting.
Yes, as a company is what I meant. There wouldn't be employees to start, just myself as the creative and my silent partner. Eventually would hire when things picked up.
Besides the tax and legal considerations... I was thinking more along the lines of gaining clientele and establishing oneself in the industry. Some clients would be more apt to hiring an individual to work for them. Others I feel are more comfortable if you provide your service packaged as a company. I see possible limitations to who I can approach on either end. It's more a question of image and why the other retouchers in this forum choose to work in one way or another.