All,
Why do I need a business license? The cost for one in the county in which I live is based on your projected yearly income; i.e. a tax and not having one has not hindered me from doing any business. I am incorporated and registered with the state but have never received any notice from the county concerning having a license. Does having one provide me with any benefit(s)?
Thanks,
dlb
.
The Undisciplined Life Is Not Worth Examining.
Replies
Where I am at, the license from the city of Marion prevents the city of Marion Building Inspector from showing up on my job and shutting me down for no other reason than a lack of license.
Customers are always so impressed when that happens.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Hey! We live in the same town! You think we went to different schools together? DanT
DanT,"We live in the same town! You think we went to different schools together?"I read that to be a humorous way of saying that the license works the same way in your town. And that you don't actually live in Marion, Indiana. If I'm wrong, please let me know.Jeff Buck,Thanks!Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Did you ever get a proper license for the bordello?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"Did you ever get a proper license for the bordello?"Shhhhhh....This is Indiana. Such things are not licensed.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
can't argue THAT logic!
great answer ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Did somebody tell ytou that you needed one?
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I have been asked for documentation showing that I have a license when opening an account at various businesses. I have always gotten around that issue by showing that I am incorporated. I usually see, "Licensed and Insured" in advertisements which reminds me that I do not have one. I don't think I am avoiding the law because both the state and federal goverments know about my business. Thanks for asking.The Undisciplined Life Is Not Worth Examining.
I provide letterhead and FEIN # on those sort of applications. If evidence of business license were requested, I would simply state, "Not required this jurisdiction" or briefly, N/A not applicable
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
In many areas, if one doesn't have a required license, they cannot sue to collect their money if the customer doesn't pay. One of my clients took a hit for a $42,000 job - he couldn't even collect the money for the material. His business never recovered. Oh, and by the way, he was a hothead and a loudmouth - told another non-paying customer that he knew where her kids lived. I represented him in criminal court too, for the harassment charge. Get the license.
In Fredericksburg Va. you need a city business license as well as a state contractors license to pull permits. Jay
LOL, But in Stafford you don't need a business license.
There seems to be a few FBG area people here.
Edited 6/7/2005 2:08 am ET by bigmtk
Where are you at?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Stafford, Aquia Harbour to be exact.
Don't you know its a tax-grab at best. Or, a sort of Mobius strip - your dollars go towards an inspector that has to justify his job by checking that you have a licence in order that the fees pay him to have a job that he has to justify by checking, blah, blah, blah.
Which, by the way, would you rather do - wreck someone's house and get paid for it, or wreck someone's livelihood ditto? Could you sleep at night for the latter?
Ciao for niao
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***
There is some truth to what you said, but that last line makes it sound like as though you have never heard of jacklegs who buiold the sort of thing that kills people so there is no need whatsoever for inspections.And the first line shows that you are not aware that most business license rules were lobbied into existence by other businesses who wanted protectionOK OK it's a protection racket;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Dear Piffin,
Of course I am cynical. But.Yes I do recognise the need for some kind of authority and responsibilty...however, there's a line between a business license for the sake of it, and a building inspection service overseeing the actual construction. I'm all for the latter. My local BI first said to me "I've seen your ads around for the last 3 years and wondered when you'd rise into the system". I replied, "so I need a permit to move a wall?" And in that time I never killed anybody, nor since. And don't go that route, either, it's not only jacklegs that do.
Now here is the dichotomy - I actually advocate a return to the Old World form of Guilds, where one had to actually prove one's worth and capability in order to practise one's trade. Sure, it's total protectionism and restrictivism, but it did require the tradesman to actually know his craft for acceptance into the guild. Can't just pick a hammer and call himself a roofer, for instance. As an aside, when my stepdaughter graduated I remarked in the coffee-shop that there were no grants or bursuries to kids going into the trades. I had said that I thought I should put up $500 for, say, drywallers' tools. My friend's riposte was - "don't be silly, Peter, a complete set of drywaller's tools is only $14.95!"Ciao for niao
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***
"I actually advocate a return to the Old World form of Guilds, where one had to actually prove one's worth and capability in order to practise one's trade. Sure, it's total protectionism and restrictivism, but it did require the tradesman to actually know his craft for acceptance into the guild. "
How on earth do you know that 'old world guilds' actually verified everyone's skills and were free of corruption? Seems highly unlikely to me. Much more likely that plenty of guys fot their sons, nephews, and cousins into them and that there were plenty of hacks. No different than today.
I knew someone would pick up on that. No I didn't say they were free of corruption - most likely it was rife, judging by anything administered by man....unions,politics, the church even.
But there was the need to submit one's best bit of work to become a master of the trade - the masterpiece - before being accepted.
Knowing my luck, I'd be outside looking in as usual!Ciao for niao
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***