Posted by CaSigner on 4/2/05 11:40pm
Msg #29352

Business license for every city I do business in

I called my city hall on Friday to inquire if I need a business license to do business within my city. Of course they said yes. They suggested calling the county recorders office to see if I needed anything from the county. The county recorders office told me I needed a business license in all the cities I do business in, she gave me all the city hall numbers and said to contact them for more information. Is this necessary? To purchase a business license in all the towns I do business in? It seems a bit extreme. Also, why must I purchase a license even within my own town if I do not do signings withing my home? Is my business license tied to my taxes in any way?

Reply by ERNA_CA on 4/3/05 12:30am
Msg #29357

You should only need a license in the city you live in to run a business out of your home. If you would open an office in every city you would need a license in every city. You are trawling to different cities to do signings, it would take someone to actually call in a complaint about you doing business in cities where you are not licensed , and I cant see why anyone would do that.
Business license in the city i live in is all I have.

Reply by PAW_Fl on 4/3/05 7:26am
Msg #29364

Be sure to tell them (city hall, county clerk, etc.) that you do business in their city as a MOBILE CONTRACTOR and that you DO NOT have a physical office there. Usually, licenses are based on where you have a PHYSICAL location, not just doing business. You don't think that home plumbers, electricians, etc. have a license for every town and city they do business in, do you? Of course not.

Then again, California may be different than anywhere else? Just like the 67 little countries (not a typo) in Florida.

Reply by CaSigner on 4/3/05 10:00am
Msg #29368

That is exactly what I told city hall. I am an independant contractr who notarizes loan documents in other peoples homes. I do not have people come to my home. They told me I need a business license and an home occupancy permit. Total about $200 / year. i am dreading having to buy both.

Reply by PA Notary on 4/3/05 10:23am
Msg #29371

IMO...local govt's want to keep track of you for tax purposes. The more info they have on you, the better to tax you with. In most PA locales, a building permit is required for every minute project done on or around your home. Again IMO, it's so they can keep track of improvements when tax assessment time comes around. "Big Brother is watching, indeed!
My policy is to do what I want, when I want, where I want....till they catch me...then I plead
stupidity. (Which is more accurate then any other explaination)

Reply by Anne on 4/3/05 12:47pm
Msg #29383

Exactly!

My feeling is kinda like the military "don't ask, don't tell." Why even ask? Just do it for heaven's sake! How do you think they're going to catch up with you anyway? Do you really think the IRS gives a crap about some piddly mobile notary business? PA Notary is right..."plead stupidity." "It is better to ask forgiveness than ask permission."

Reply by Fay, CA on 4/3/05 12:25pm
Msg #29381

I have two business licenses for the city I live in because I have two companies. One company is completely done "through the air": telephone, fax, e-mail, and postal. The other, notary business, is done by traveling to the borrowers' homes. I am physically located and designated as a home-based business with absolutely no foot traffic ever to come to my house. Once they get a complaint from anyone that I have people coming to my home and doing business with me, my licenses will be "yanked".

Reply by Anonymous on 4/3/05 10:49am
Msg #29373

I am surprised at what they told you, CaSigner. I am in California and was told that since I am licensed with the state, filing a bond and taking oath with the county, I did not need a business license. If you are using a fictitious business name, then a license may be necessary.

Reply by CaSigner on 4/3/05 11:34am
Msg #29374

No, I go by my name. I don't solicit my wares (so to speak). I am contacted by other companies. I was told in CA the rules are by county. I guess one of my big questions is if I don't get a business license or this "home occupancy permit" as my city hall says I need. How does this impact my filing of taxes next year. I am sure there are those NSA's that do work only on the weekends and weeknights like myself who don't have a business license.

Reply by ERNA_CA on 4/3/05 12:40pm
Msg #29382

Many doing notary work do not have a business license I am sure. If you do business using your name you do not have to file a fictitious business name. I f you are only doing this part time just put it down as extra earnings. Do look into the state taxes, Notary fee is tax except last time I checked.

Reply by Hampton/CA on 4/3/05 11:37am
Msg #29375

What prompted you to ask? You may have opened a can of worms that didn't need to be opened. I'd put the lid back on it if I were you and go about your business.

Reply by CaSigner on 4/3/05 12:09pm
Msg #29380

Well I was tempted to do that however I wanted to make sure I didn't get dinged at tax time for not having a license. I didn't know how a license would affect my taxes, if at all, and I didn't want to wait until the end of the year to find out. The county has no idea who I am so they don't care and I didn't give my city hall my name or information so I doubt they have a clue as well. I just wanted to get info from other CA NSA's in the meantime.

Reply by Nicole_NCali on 4/3/05 4:36pm
Msg #29408

In my profile,you can probably detect that I work for a city municipality. You only need a business license where you actually conduct business *your home* If you were a big cheese, then you would do an apportionment of your income derived per city. But trust me, you are small change and only need to have a business license for you home/main place of business. For tax purposes, the only ones who would even know that you were self employed or deriving 1099 income would be the Federal govt, this information would be provided in August of this year and about after Oct, you would receive a letter informing you that they know you have extra income (this is from my IRS days) At that time, a semi-ammended return would be filed for you and you would recieve a letter asking if you agree with the balance or not.

Trust me, big brother already knows about you, your city just happens to be little stepbrother who gets the information after the fact. If and when you report it. But do report your income,because this shows consistency for SSA purposes if you ever need or receive benefits ( I doubt it, but at least you will be helping out the current recepients.)