Running a Business From Home - Should You Get a License?
Making money at home is an ever-growing trend today.
With that, you can imagine that regulations for running a home business will only become more strictly enforced as the trend continues.
Making sure you are operating within the laws of your community will keep your business up and running and keep you on the right side of business law.
Things to consider regarding internet and home business licensing: What are the licensing requirements for your country of residence? For most countries, the Internet is not under National Government restrictions.
However, in some countries there are laws against accessing the 'Net, and certainly against making money from it.
In "free" countries, there may be federal registrations for owning a business that is to be run from the home.
Your national government website or official representatives will have the information you seek to make sure your business is legal in that country.
What are the requirements for your State or Province? In countries where the Internet is not restricted by national governments, most States and Provinces have no problem with businesses being run from the home as long as the jurisdictional laws are obeyed.
There may be a State license fee, sometime a free registration is required.
Be sure and check into this, filling out the forms for this takes only a few minutes.
Are there requirements for your city or local community? Most city and local communities allow home-based businesses.
They will require a simple registration of your operations such as your address, your name, and the nature of your business.
Licensing costs can be as low as $35 per year or go as high as $125 per year.
That is a small price to pay to be "legal" in your community.
Restrictions for zoning, apartments, or condominium associations Many communities restrict using the home for operating a business.
These communities may have zoning restrictions set in place, mainly to keep businesses in the business district of the area.
As well, most apartment complexes and nearly all condominium associations forbid the running of home-based businesses in their rental agreements and by-laws.
Be sure and find out the specifics for zoning in your area as well as any known restrictions of running your business from your apartment or condo.
The best advice about this issue is to just take the time to ask a city official, state licensing advisory and get a clear, defined answer.
Most information concerning licensing can be found online on your local area governmental offices websites.
Most often, a simple phone call or email to their office will provide the answer.
While most home-based entrepreneurs will never obtain a business license, there still exists a risk of losing it all over non-compliance with licensing law.
With that, you can imagine that regulations for running a home business will only become more strictly enforced as the trend continues.
Making sure you are operating within the laws of your community will keep your business up and running and keep you on the right side of business law.
Things to consider regarding internet and home business licensing: What are the licensing requirements for your country of residence? For most countries, the Internet is not under National Government restrictions.
However, in some countries there are laws against accessing the 'Net, and certainly against making money from it.
In "free" countries, there may be federal registrations for owning a business that is to be run from the home.
Your national government website or official representatives will have the information you seek to make sure your business is legal in that country.
What are the requirements for your State or Province? In countries where the Internet is not restricted by national governments, most States and Provinces have no problem with businesses being run from the home as long as the jurisdictional laws are obeyed.
There may be a State license fee, sometime a free registration is required.
Be sure and check into this, filling out the forms for this takes only a few minutes.
Are there requirements for your city or local community? Most city and local communities allow home-based businesses.
They will require a simple registration of your operations such as your address, your name, and the nature of your business.
Licensing costs can be as low as $35 per year or go as high as $125 per year.
That is a small price to pay to be "legal" in your community.
Restrictions for zoning, apartments, or condominium associations Many communities restrict using the home for operating a business.
These communities may have zoning restrictions set in place, mainly to keep businesses in the business district of the area.
As well, most apartment complexes and nearly all condominium associations forbid the running of home-based businesses in their rental agreements and by-laws.
Be sure and find out the specifics for zoning in your area as well as any known restrictions of running your business from your apartment or condo.
The best advice about this issue is to just take the time to ask a city official, state licensing advisory and get a clear, defined answer.
Most information concerning licensing can be found online on your local area governmental offices websites.
Most often, a simple phone call or email to their office will provide the answer.
While most home-based entrepreneurs will never obtain a business license, there still exists a risk of losing it all over non-compliance with licensing law.
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