Re: business license

**"* M* <B*@verizon.net>**

Every municipality, every state, and every country has different rules for 
business licensing and taxation.

When I moved to Pennsylvania over twenty years ago I had to get a state 
sales tax license in order to sell books, plants, or artwork but not for 
magazine articles. I needed a business bank account. I found that if my 
business name would be some variation of my own name, the process was 
simple, but if it wasn't I had to file "fictitious name" papers and 
advertise the "fictitious name" in the paper a certain number of times, 
probably paying for a lawyer and ad fees. So my business name became B. B. 
Mackey Books for my own name, Betty Barr Mackey.

At that time in my township the ancient laws were vague for home-based 
businesses. Only milliners, doctors, hairdressers, and accountants could 
apply for a license. I lived in fear of being cracked down upon for not 
having a license and I knew a local publisher who had been. Still, it was 
unlikely to happen unless some neighbor got angry and complained about me. 
Eventually as more people did various kinds of computer work from home the 
laws changed and normal licensing became possible. I signed up ASAP. The 
cost is quite low, something around $30 a year, but the paperwork involved 
keeps getting worse.

On the other hand the sales tax payment is now done very simply online.

Betty Mackey
Publisher, B. B. Mackey Books
www.mackeybooks.com

>> Do any of the freelance writers on this list have a business license?
>> I realize that many of you own nurseries or have other business
>> enterprises where you are required to have a license, but my question
>> is for those who are freelance writers only.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Marty Wingate
>> martywingate.com
>> 

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters