Monroe Chat

If you start a home business in Monroe, do you have to have a business license in the state, city or county?

What are the costs associated with a business license and how do you get started?

Do all home based businesses carry licenses?

Monroe Chat is considered a Home Based business. I have a state ID # issued when I applied for LLC status.

I would imagine the business license depends on what the business is -


you may need a local or state business license,
possible a "vendor's" license, and
you probably need to collect & pay local & state sales & use taxes,
possibly for more jurisdictions that just your own.

Some products require specific authorization from the manufacturer or publisher in order to be able to resell them.

Thanks Patey...

I was going to ask the attorney, but thought I would check to see what other local businesses experiences have been.

I want to make sure we are all "legal like" from the very beginning.

I would always check - I got the LLC by filing paperwork via the state attorneys office here in Ohio, however, did not have intentions of selling etc.....

I hope that others will step forward and offer if nothing else, an insight to their business and how they worked toward being appropriately licensed.

I understand dotting and crossing T's and I's I'm most wary about not having all items verified before initiating new ventures.

What ever it is that you are doing - GOOD LUCK!! At home work is the best type of employment!!

Don't forget Monroe requires a Home Occupation Permit - $150.

What is that ? What would it be required for ?

catnipandcarrots wrote:Don't forget Monroe requires a Home Occupation Permit - $150.

Because Monroe requires it.

catnipandcarrots wrote:Don't forget Monroe requires a Home Occupation Permit - $150.

Is that for every business and is that a one time fee?

SM.
Go to www.Socrates.com
Find the LLC packet and buy it. It is very easy to do and it goes to the State of Ohio. The hardest thing about all of it is searching through the names to find one that is not taken unless you make it unique.
a thing to remember;
Words in front of a business name like; For, The & a few others are considered not seen.
I was trying to get Crist, LLC although some arse down in Cincy had For Crist, LLC. So the State excludes For as a name and only Recognizes, Crist, LLC as their business name.
It can be tricky but do it yourself and save a buttload of money.

..... also to add to C&C posts ....I did speak with City officials to verify my status.... I believe it to be advantageous to anyone seeking Home employment that all aspects are covered and appropriate licences have been procured.

In today's tough economic times it would be advantageous for cities, counties and states to start verifying business licenses as a source of forgotten income.

And then there is the IRS. No one wants to get caught not paying their taxes (even Ebay income is taxable) or taking tax deductions that don't exist - they can easily be verified.

SM, we'd be happy to help you with any questions you have. We started our business as a home-based business and it is now based out of an office. We started as a C-corp and are now an S-corp, so I don't have personal experience with becoming or being an LLC, but I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have about running a small business. It has definitely been (and still is) a learning experience. Without our accountant, I don't know what I would have done. A good accountant is my #1 piece of advice. Not just someone who will crunch the numbers right, but someone who genuinely cares about you and your business and will offer you advice on how to succeed.

C&C (the official name is Catnip & Carrots Animal Bunch, Inc) is an incorporated nonprofit public charity and like ADH, I am happy to assist anyone in the process. Chie & I did all the IRS, state, & local filings ourselves. We are very proud we did this without a lawyer or accountant, but it did take about 100 long hours. My attorney friend wanted $5000 to write up the articles of incorporation, filings, etc. (Admittedly Chie, who is not a CPA but has a degree in Economics and many years experience in grant writing plus my accounting/small bookkeeping experience was invaluable). Nolo Press books were helpful, too.

For a simple home based business selling some tangible item, Ohio charges $50 to file with Secretary of State. Butler County charges $25 for a vendors license (non-renewable & there are different types) and Monroe charges $150 for a home occupation permit. Sales tax will need to be collected and paid quarterly.

Running your own business is very exciting and I urge anyone with the ability, freedom and will to work very hard to give it a go. You just never know where that adventure will take you and the rewards (while sometimes few) are worth it!

I forget how much we paid our attorney to do the articles of incorporation and all of that stuff, but I know it wasn't anywhere near $5,000. Actually, I just asked hubby and he said he thinks we paid $600. Granted, the guy has been their family lawyer for many, many years so he might have done it at a discount.

California prices and an office in Beverly Hills somehow equates to $5000, I suppose.