After many years’ experience as working, professional photographer, I’m well-versed in the technical side of my craft.  The largest part of my business isn’t photography, though–it’s business.  You know, everything from marketing to maintaining my site to keeping records and doing taxes.  That’s often where photography businesses either make it or break it.

Whether you run a retail business (selling prints and products) or a service one, where deliverables are usually in electronic form, you need to know about state sales tax laws and how they apply to you.  I’ve been confused about this in the past, as have many other photographers I know.  My accountant didn’t know the answer, and so I called the state.  A very nice lady named Mary helped answer my questions and directed me to the instructional form on the Maine.Gov website that explained what I needed to know.  Click to download the form that applies to Photographers and Photofinishers.

Chances are if you’re like me, your sales tax strategy could use a few tweaks.