An escrow service acts as a financial third party, which manages the payments from one party to another. An escrow business regulates payments and makes sure the scheduled due dates are regularly met. Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start an escrow service business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Escrow Service Business
- Form your Escrow Service Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Escrow Service Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Escrow Service Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Escrow Service Business
- Get Escrow Service Business Insurance
- Define your Escrow Service Business Brand
- Create your Escrow Service Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your escrow service business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening an escrow service business?
Opening an escrow business can be a low overhead venture. Besides the computers, phones, and various office supplies, an individual can even get started in a home office setup. If you are renting office space, then that will add to your expenses.
You will also need to set up and register your business, create a business account with your bank, and pay any state and local licensing fees. Various intangibles can be added, but you can get started with relatively few steps.
What are the ongoing expenses for an escrow service business?
Most escrow businesses have relatively low overhead and operating expenses. Business insurance, lease payments, communication services (e.g., phone, internet, website hosting, etc.), and office intangibles are standard ongoing costs.
Who is the target market?
Escrows are used for a variety of reasons, so focus on finding customers in the 30-65 range, as they usually have the most money and financial ability to invest or take on new payments. You should also focus on other small and medium-sized businesses that are looking to expand and grow.
How does an escrow service business make money?
Escrow businesses charge a fee for the financial duties they perform.
How much can you charge customers?
Escrow services usually charge a percentage, relative to the overall loan payment, for their services. An average price may be $2 per $1,000, but these prices will vary, depending on location and competitor pricing.
How much profit can an escrow service business make?
Escrow services can be quite profitable, depending on the scope of services provided. Annual profits can range from $50,000 upwards to six figures.
How can you make your business more profitable?
- Offer other financial services than escrow management.
- Create online content explaining how escrow and other financial services work.
- Offer in-person seminars outlining financial management. These are also excellent opportunities to recruit new customers.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your escrow service business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your escrow service business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market an escrow service business
Advertising for an escrow service can be difficult as it is a specific service that most people anticipate needing. If you can connect your business to a larger financial structure, you could generate more business.
Take full advantage of the internet and a website. Sometimes proactive searching on your part can find customers in need of your services.
Advertise with financial magazines and publications. Try to find your target audience and focus your advertising on this group.
How to keep customers coming back
Strong interpersonal skills are often the key. Make sure your business is always precise and accounted for, but also make sure you develop a relationship with your customers. More than likely, customers in this type of situation will stick with a trusted financial ream. Make sure you let them know you’re in their corner and committed to serving them well for many years.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
An escrow business requires a person with extensive financial experience and knowledge. Strong attention to detail, good communication skills, and familiarity with various tech hardware and software is preferred.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at an escrow service business?
Since escrow businesses operate as intermediaries between customers, much of the day involves preparing financials, answering questions, and honoring customer requests. Additionally, escrow businesses will meet with and service new customers or closeout old accounts for customers finishing a payment schedule. Additionally, office paperwork and procedures are regularly processed.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful escrow service business?
Experience in finance and banking can be a critical advantage for an escrow startup. Having good interpersonal skills and the ability to speak to crowds or express oneself in writing are also important traits. And solid knowledge for running a small business will help tremendously.
What is the growth potential for an escrow service business?
Escrow businesses are plentiful, but there is always room in the market for businesses looking to work hard. Perform market research to determine how much of an impact your business can make. Overall, an attentive escrow service has great opportunities for growth and success.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting an escrow service business?
If possible, scout some potential customers before entering into this business. Have some customers in mind or at least a solid plan for attracting new customers.
Call on friends and associates in the business and finance industries to spread your business name to help drum up support. As they say, it’s not always what you know, but who.
How and when to build a team
This type of business often operates with a few team members. A single person can handle quite a bit of the day to day work. Only once your business really takes off will you need to consider office staff and extra financial assistants.