Just found out that if I want to sell my stuff at a Green Market here in town I have to have a business license, file for a fictious name, get tax exempt (to buy stuff without paying taxes) number and pay for that... so many things just to sell a few things... I know, I know - - - they have to get their money - but here, it seems, I have to pay extra because my 'business' is out of my home... Guess I won't be doing this any time soon :(

I don't blame you!

Its not as hard to do as it seems. I filed and got a federal tax ID, registered my business name Earlylace Collectiques, I have a store on ebay, don't have much on it right now, got a business checking acct. and I file qtr sale taxes with my state NJ. It really is not hard to do. and it didn't cost a lot of money. Lace

Ebay :thumbup:

Oh, and if you do all this you can take a deduction on your Federal taxes for business expenses, heat, elect, phone, office supplies, milage etc.

I'm in Iowa and I have my own business out of my home. I have a tax number didn't cost me anything just paper work and I have a business name that I just called mine Patchwork by Rhonda. I didn't have to file anything for that. When I sold my stuff at a craft show I didn't have my tax number yet and I just used my social security number instead, that is what the IRS told me to do.
Maybe your state has differant rules tho I don't know.

Nope, not hard to do at all, and when you have a business registration you have more credibility with potential customers. In addition to the tax benefits, you can also get a business discount at various places.

Same for NJ, but I got a Fed tax ID so I didn't have to use my ss#, safer I think. Lace

It does seem like a lot of hoops to jump through just to sell a few things.

You will always have it, and who know once you have it, you may take advantage of more selling ops.

One sure thing about being self employed...you are guaranteed to have the very best boss you ever had! ;)

LOL, thats for sure. And you'll never be late for work!

I am self employed. Now EVERYONE is my boss! Before I only had one. Funny how that works out.

It will cost about $250 to start all this... I have to have county AND city licenses... and it costs MORE because it's out of our home... We'll see... I just have no income right now. I know ebay is available - and Etsy - I just wanted to work face to face with my customers more... but if I must go the internet way - so be it. I know the discounts and all... just thought I could make a buck or two to help out with groceries.. don't need to nor want to make a living at it - never expect it to get that big. But then again - who knows!! :)

Yeah I know, I just love working for me!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

All I had to do is get a tax number and made up a name to do trades days here in Texas. Some years I do not sell anything so I do my sells tax yearly and I do that online. But I have it in case I need it. I also show some of my crochet at a gallery locally, so this covers me in case the tax folks want to check on people. I have been checked once since I have been doing trades day. I do about 2 a year with a friend and basically that is to spend time with them.