Trial Member

Group: Members
Posts: 80
Member No.: 1797
Joined: 18-November 02

If you are full-time pro and your office is in your house or apartment do you still have to get a business license in order to operate your business like other businesses do? You are not leasing a place or anything, but you are doing business. What if you have a home-based business, do you need to register, or is being a magician an exception?

Each city and town is different as each will have its own business license ordinance. You are correct to suspect that not having a conventional retail, commercial, or industrial establishment might mean you don't need a license. One thing I am pretty sure of, however, is that being a magician is not an exception.

The easiest answer for you is to call the business license office at city hall and ask. In most places, the license is a small sum.

--Rick

Amir,

Get an accountant. My accountant sets everything up for me. I pay him a flat fee and he's off to the races. He files the appropriate paperwork with the state, then I'm covered for everything including tax issues.

Robert Bloor

Check this out my dad is an accountant and so is my best friend. Also my brother will be a lawyer soon, so I don't really have to pay for that service. How cool is that? I got lucky.

Amir,

That is good news to help you get started. But as for retaining their services on a long-term basis, beware of conflicts of interest.

Unless it's a family-owned and operated business, I wouldn't ever have my family knowing what's on my books.

Robert Bloor