Well, (methods) incorporating makes sense (dollars/cents) for the long haul. Without getting too much into detail, it requires time/money upfront-how much you'll need to check out with the authorities where your local/state government.
The money is usually in a seperate account which you control and have access to like any other under your birth name.
The advantages*:
1. Liability- The inc. (corporation/LLC in USA) is your front so to speak - it will be the legal name/entity responsible for anything good or bad that you do instead of you (that's why people have companies).
2. ExpensesTaxes you can deduct all expenses at tax time (provided you plan to declare your income in the US); dn registration, dn marketing; websites; home office; car; computer; software...just about everything you use for your business and can provide a bill/recipt for can be deducted!
(Even if you don't incorporate- you may want to provide a p.o.box (if you need to receive snail mail) or simply provide a 'generic address' with your registrar if you don't want the whole world to know where you live.)
>One final note worth mentioning: I don't know if this applies to you but people will usually mirror your level of openess with information. Especially at the consumer level. If you are dealing with other brokers, middlemen and business this s not such a concern- but if your dealing with consumers, end users and people and you want them to buy something from you (and keep buying from you), at some point they will want to know who you are.

k:
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here's much, much, much more:http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/ObjectID/3FD19141-DB91-4FCA-BDB93416A4D05479/catID/3FED35C1-7BBA-4468-901354F101CBEBE2