# Sole Proprietor Path
URL: /docs/registration/sole-proprietor
LLM index: /llms.txt
Description: How sole proprietors register on Surge: no EIN required, dashboard-first flow, and lower throughput expectations.

# Sole Proprietor Path

Sole proprietors are unincorporated individuals operating a business without a separate legal entity. They don't have an EIN and register differently from corporations and LLCs.

## When to use `sole_proprietor`

Use `organization.type: "sole_proprietor"` when:

- You're an individual operating under your own name or a DBA (doing business as)
- You don't have a business EIN. You operate under your personal Social Security Number
- You're not incorporated

<Warning>
Do **not** use `sole_proprietor` if your business name includes "LLC", "Inc.", "Corp.", or "Ltd." Those are incorporated entities and require `llc`, `private_corporation`, or `public_corporation` respectively. This is a common, easily caught rejection — see [Avoiding rejection → Business type / EIN mismatch](./avoiding-rejection#business-type-/-ein-mismatch).
</Warning>

## What's different

**No EIN required.** Sole proprietors skip the `identifier_type` and `identifier` fields. Surge and the carriers use other verification methods for identity.

**Additional disclosures.** Carrier regulations require additional reporting and disclosure language for sole proprietor campaigns. Surge handles these requirements automatically. You don't need to add anything to your messages.

**Dashboard-first.** The dashboard registration form has a dedicated flow for the sole proprietor path, with questions and guidance specific to this business type. We recommend completing sole proprietor registration through the dashboard.

**Lower volume.** Sole proprietor campaigns typically have lower throughput caps than corporation campaigns. If you expect high message volume, incorporating your business may be worth considering.

## What to prepare

- Your full legal name (as it appears on government-issued ID)
- A live, public-facing website or social media profile in your business's name — reviewers visit it, and a coming-soon page or one with the wrong name fails review
- Your opt-in flow and consent disclosures
- A valid business email address (ideally at your business domain, not personal Gmail)
- Sample messages

The rest of the registration process follows the same pattern as standard registration: create a campaign, add sample messages, link your privacy policy and terms, and wait for review. See [Register via API](./api-walkthrough) for the full step-by-step walkthrough.