How do I get my business license for a home based business, or do I need one?

Question

I want to start my own even coordinating business and help people market and sell ideas of their own. Do I need to have a license or any certification for this? Also what are som off the top of you head legalities that may be involved with this? It seems pretty safe to me but I may be over looking some things.

Answer 1

You need what you call a DBA, or a "Doing Business As..." All this does is alert the county and the state that you are doing business in the county.
You can find this info at your local courthouse. It's like five bucks.
The other thing you may need is a business tax ID number. You can use your social if you are the sole proprietor.
Good luck!

Answer 2

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* How to Really Start Your Own Business, Fourth Edition by David E. Gumpert
* How to Really Create a Successful Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide by David E. Gumpert
* What No One Ever Tells You about Starting Your Own Business: Real-Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs (What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business) by Jan Norman
* Business Start-Up Kit by Steven D. Strauss
* Start Your Own Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Rieva Lesonsky

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

If you're going to offer a product or service that is sold inside the borders of your state, you will probably need to obtain a sales tax license for the state in which you are conducting business.

You'll also probably need a FEIN (Federal Employer ID Number) at some point for tax purposes, especially if you choose to incorporate your business (which is a really good thing to do for liability and tax reasons).

Certain states require you to be licensed for certain professions, so I would check with your local Chamber of Commerce or call your local SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) chapter since they offer free advice and have much experience to share in regard to starting and running a small business.