Can I be a company

You don't 'patent' a website or company name.

You can register a website - just do it.

Depending on the laws in your state, you may be able to simply register the business name .. but it won't be a company unless you actually create a company - it will just be a trading name for you as an individual.

"Is it possible to market scripts as the work of a company?"
Personally I find most of those fake film companies really, really lame. They tend to look very 'try-hard' - especially when they add phrases like 'International' or 'Feature' to their names .. when you know they aren't either!

Some writers have 'loan out' companies, so that technically the writer isn't being hired, the loan out company is. It is usually for tax reasons - although the overhead of running the company only makes it worthwhile when you are bringing in a few $100k per year ... your accountant will know if it is a good idea for you.

If this is just trying to puff yourself up to make yourself look bigger or more 'legit' then definitely don't do it ... if you aren't 100% familiar with the industry, contracts, company law etc then you will just end up looking like someone who is just trying to puff themselves up.

Mac

You can, in some state, like Texas, register a business name or DBA for under twenty bucks.

But jumping in has many downsides, including your domain name. If you don't get it right away, those companies routinely search the business listings to get the names first, then charge higher rates for the name when you want it.

I would think that most successful writers have formed corporations once they start making money. That gives their accountants more loopholes to exploit.

I doubt you'd see any benefit to incorporating before selling.

sinister said:

Well I guess I should have included my motive more. Well I know the domain name is available so im gonna get that ASAP. I don’t necessarily want a company, I want more of an identity. For a business card and things of that sort. I guess perhaps having my name and maybe a slogan or quote might be better.
I honestly don’t intend on coming across as a bigger entity, I want it to be obvious that I am just a spec screenwriter marketing my own work. But I guess a website alone can accomplish this. Thanks for the information.

Click to expand...

If you want to have a website, as a place to establish yourself and create an on-line identity, there's nothing wrong with that.

But I strongly suggest against putting that domain name on a card because it invites confusion as to what, exactly that name refers to.

If it *isn't* a company name -- then what exactly would it be?

If it is a company name, then the people you are doing business with are going to expect that you have a company of some sort -- a limited partnership, a loan out company -- something.

And if you don't, it's going to be funny. It's something that you'd end up having to explain -- no, it's not actually a company, it's something else -- maybe it will be a company. Whatever.

Better to simply leave it off your card, unless you intend it to be an official part of your business.

NMS