Business License

[Former_Member]

I am steadily growing my sales and am starting to look into doing local craft fairs in my area ( Southern California) many fairs require a resale or business license in order to participate.

Any thoughts?

i could really use some advice on how to continue to grow my store. I fear with wedding season over, my sales (as small as they were) will plummet. I have sold mostly to brides and a few for kitchen use.

I wonder if I should expand my product line during the "off season" for my target market.

I clearly need some advice! Please help!

[Former_Member]

I really hope someone answers this, b/c I'm in SoCal too and would love the advice!

[Former_Member]

If you have a business - you should have a license.

[NatureLook]

I think you need a resale licence wherever you sell. You should have it right now. If you sell on etsy to somebody that is located in your state, you need to pay a sales tax to your state.

Correct me if I am wrong.

[NatureLook]

...and if your business is located in your home, you may be required to apply to your city/ town for a home business permit. I had to.

[NatureLook]

Does any of you know if we need any other licences/permits?

We need a resale licence as sellers, but do we need any permits as producers?

[Former_Member]

You are basically considered a sole proprietor as soon as you start selling anything, but it's a good idea to register. I think there's a certain dollar amount that you can go up to by just selling on the side and claiming it as extra income on personal taxes.

The best thing is to do a Google search for business entity types and find one that works for you. I think an LLC is the best way to go, but you might find that a sole proprietorship or something else would be best in your case. The sole proprietorship is registered locally by the state or county, and the incorporation is done at the federal level.

Also, most counties or cities require you to get a permit for a home-based business. That is primarily for zoning and safety purposes, and you can check on that through your local Planning Department or on the city website.

Hope this helps a little!