Do i need a business license?

Hello there. My name is Erydiel(a.k.a. Victoria), and I’ve just opened my booth a few days ago.
I am located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a college student(freshman), and hold a part-time job. I like to make creative things(like paper beads and knitted items) as a hobby, so I thought why not make and sell them on the side? So I found this website and signed up, and now I’m just waiting for my first sale.
I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to make that much money off of here, so I thought that I wouldn’t need any legal stuff for this. Although I would like to eventually turn this hobby into a real online business in the future, I didn’t think that much about it when I first started. Plus, it would probably take a long time before that happens, and I don’t really want to pay anymore taxes than what I already do for barely making anything(outside of the part-time job).

Then, maybe a day or so ago, I read somewhere off of Etsy that you needed a business license or something in order to sell there, so I’m wondering if I really need one here as well?

I tried to look for some answers myself online, but I didn’t get any straight answers, so I’m very confused.

Can someone please help make things straight for me? Thanks!

asked over 9 years ago

erydiel
Reputation: 10
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2 Comments

cyberwear says: January 08, 2015

Check with your town too. We have three business licenses, state, county and town. Good Luck!

AlexC1562 says: November 23, 2021

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7 Answers

For Bonanza NO

You will probably need to check in LA about it, but for NC, no you do not need one, but it is a good idea to keep records and report income though you will not get a 1099 from either paypal or checkout by amazon (if you choose to use it) unless you hit a thresh hold of $20,000 and 200 sales.

Most who are just part time sellers, usually do not have one

Paypal/CBA (checkout by amazon) will accept SSN as business number or EIN for tax purposes

However, to accept paypal, you will have to have at least a Premier account (premier is an upgrade from a personal account…and this is the one I have) or a business account

answered over 9 years ago

ccmom
Reputation: 12648
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5 Comments

cshort0319 says: December 29, 2014

In addition to reporting income, keep track of your expenses including computer paper, wrapping paper, postage,materials etc, and other related expenses. You’ll probably find at first you are operating at a loss.

cshort0319 says: December 29, 2014

One more [URL removed] having a resale license – or whatever your state calls it – allows you to buy items at wholesale prices if available, and you won’t pay sales tax on items you purchase like yarn.

TrinketBox says: December 29, 2014

You will get many different answers also, depending where each person lives…

Ms_Prissys_Patterns says: December 29, 2014

I had to submit an EIN to both Amazon & Paypal. Using your SSN is no longer a good idea, with people looking for Identy theft victims.

A_O_and_DDP says: December 29, 2014

I have searched the present booth membership options and see only gold and up…what or where is the Premium offered? Thank you

Hello, I think you should take a business license because it will help you in the future. And also you can keep eye on your business track and how it is running. If you ever want to do a job in the future after completing your course then you can visit [URL removed] here in which you can find the highest paying jobs. I am sure it will help you out in finding the good one. I am sure because I have also got a really good job.

answered over 2 years ago

PatriciaBGoforth
Reputation: 17

Hey, thanks for sharing your story and the challenges you faced. I am also a student and I have plans to open my own business, but so far there is no money and time to implement ideas. But I think that I will soon get a job and apply to assignment help in UK [URL removed] so that they can help me free up time for this.

answered over 3 years ago

CharlyF2
Reputation: 44

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answered about 3 years ago

vladyhahavaets
Reputation: 12

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answered about 3 years ago

FyctyC
Reputation: 12

I was also a student at one time and constantly worked part-time somewhere, but my income was not taxable, although now I understand that my salary was minimal. By the way, I had such a topic for an essay as here [URL removed] about the minimum wage.

answered almost 3 years ago

LisaL1635
Reputation: 40

You do need an IRS “EIN”, which is an Employee Identification Number, even if you are the only one doing your selling and you have no employees. It is free. You can get it by doing a search for EIN Number and you will find the site. The rules for paying taxes on your online sales are pretty liberal, you have to make $20,000 PLUS have 200 sales before you have to file to pay tax on what you sell.

answered over 9 years ago

2 Comments

ccmom says: December 29, 2014

SSN is also acceptable, though many use EIN so as not to have to enter SSN at PP or CBA

ToysAndTreasures says: December 30, 2014

You do not need an EIN, your SSN will do just fine. And the idea that you only have to pay taxes on your income if you make $20,000 is absolutely WRONG. $20,000 and 200 sales will get you a 1099, but you are required to pay taxes on any and all income, regardless of whether a 1099 is filed.

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