Do I need a business?

Hey, Everyone, new here, looking for some advice

I'm planning a shoot for a couple of friends soon and hoping to write a little article about their project car which I'm hoping to get published for them.  Would I need to set up a business for the magazine to accept the work?

I'm looking to maybe expand this in the future and become a freelance photographer with the automotive side & possibly getting a few of my shots published from motorsports. The automotive side would consist of doing private shoots, helped by the fact that I go to quite a few car shows which would help me get clients. I don't have a goal for shooting corporate or commercial car reveals or anything like that.

Basically, I'm asking, how hard is it to be a freelance photographer (of any speciality) that is just part-time and not working super hard in order to make it into a fully fledged career and just something that can supplement my income? I.e. tax returns etc. I know there is quite a bit of work involved, it's just that every article I read on the internet is about becoming a full-time freelance and that's not something I'm interested in, nor am I committed enough to work that hard. At least not to start with.

Would it be worth going freelance for the amount (or lack of) time I can afford to put into this or should I just stick to hobby photography and do cash-in-hand private shoots on the odd occasion? I'm a little concerned about the tax man coming knocking though.

Thanks

No you do not need a business license to write, and submit articles to magazines, or other publications. 

Thanks, although I probably should have stated to get paid for publications do I need a business? Sorry I wasn't clear on that

What Joves said.

Whether you get paid as an individual or a DBA, you'll likely get a 1099 from your client (ignoring cash engagements). So it doesn't really matter. And unless you create an S corporation or LLC, you'll be filing a schedule C on your 1040 long form to report the income/loss.

A DBA is required to collect and report state taxes, so you need to figure out what the rules are in your state. And it can help you acquire equipment without paying sales tax. Talk to a CPA. It depends upon what kind of work you're going to be doing.

That said, the feds have a $600 floor, but as soon as you exceed that, you should be legitimate.

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