Business Liscence Why??

[CLARKE]

Whos got them why do you need one and how could you
get in trouble for not having one. What is the BUSINESS
POLICE GOING TO GIVE A TICKET??:rolleyes:

[Fantasy Lawns]

First to clear up ...down here ....what is required is an "occupational license" which states we are in such n such a business (lawn maintenance) we will carry such insurance ...operated out of a zoned commercial address (so at least not EVERY home has a lawn trailer stored around back ...only 2 out of 10 do ;->)

Anyways the "Police" are county workers whom check on zoning issues, license stuff, permits etc., they are so overworked with New construction they have little time to check on guys working ....n when they do it's during regular business hours .....not late afternoon or weekends ....when many of the guys just out to make an extra buck are around (not to say we don't work till 6 or on Saturdays ....NO Sundays)

I wish they would give that "ticket" all day long ....down here ....lot's of guys working (not an issue ....but not paying taxes or operating legally ...which really places a $$ burden on all of us)

1st issue is a warning 2nd is $150 .... 3rd is $500 ....get caught spraying ...even Round Up with out at least a Limited Pest Control License is $5,000 .....sooooo we have em ;->

[Just Turned Pro]

PROFESSIONALISM.... that's why.

It sets you apart from all the others. I'll be the first to admit that dealing with government entities is a pain, but it is the right way to go.

In my state to do lawn maintenance you just need a trade name and a basic business license. (about $40) Liability insurance is optional. To put any type of plants in the ground you need to be a landscape contractor, which requires an additional license plus a bond and insurance. To sell the plants that you put in the ground you need a nursery license and the list continues.... It is a pain in the behind... but it makes you legal and give you peace of mind. It only takes one "oops" to ruin your business, lose you house, and end up in bankruptcy court.

Around here, your business license number is also required to make tax exempt purchases for re-sale and most "wholesale" nurseries will not sell to you or grant you an account unless you can provide your licensing information.

It is a lot of work and can be confusing to get all of the correct licenses, permits, etc. but that is part of running your own business.

[Cleve]

Originally posted by Just Turned Pro
PROFESSIONALISM.... that's why.

It sets you apart from all the others. I'll be the first to admit that dealing with government entities is a pain, but it is the right way to go.



Has nothing to do with "professionalism".
If required by your county or state then go ahead and get one.
If not then I recommend that you don't. When we got ours (just thinking it was the best thing to do), about the only thing we got for it was an immediate increase in our residential refuse pickup cost from the county. Even though we don't generate any additional garbage it more than doubled. And then each year you get questioned by the county about your business. Really gets out of line as far as I'm concerned. We have a large 1700 sq. ft. building to park everything in anyway so nothing is visible to our neighbors. Have been operating like this from our residential neighborhood for over 11 years and definitely consider our company "Professional".
Our accountant has already told us that a busiess liscense is not required by the IRS and I just don't see any benifet to having it.
Regards tax exempt purchases we don't have any. I'm not going to get into the paperwork of keeping up with sales tax and having to report it and pay it. We pay sales tax on all purchases and don't attempt to charge the customer additonal tax. We do report it as a business expense to both the state and the IRS. Why increase paperwork?
Cleve.

[lawnman_scott]

The "business police" are the Police, or code enforcement depending on your area. The police will stop if your doing a lawn, and they are bored. I had one stop, was very cocky, and im sure he would have loved to give me a ticket. One other time someone called the police because they thought i was working to early. The cop was very friendly, and just asked if i had an occupational license. Thats only 2 times in 6 years, and you may be able to go for 20 years without one, but its not that much money. I have an occ lisence for 5 cities, and it only costs me about $200 a year.

[eslawns]

Whos got them

Most people in business have them. ALL legitimate business owners do.

why do you need one

Because the governement (City/County/State) says you do.

and how could you get in trouble for not having one. What is the BUSINESS POLICE GOING TO GIVE A TICKET??

Yes. All the cities here have Special Police Officers who enforce these laws and others with respect to business. The fines are stiffer than the license requirements.

Here's a question...

If you went to a Doctor, would you want them to be licensed? What about an electrician? Plumber? Why not the guy who maintains the most noticeable aspect of your property, sometimes with toxic chemicals?

[CSRA Landscaping]

1) Whos got them why do you need one and how could you
get in trouble for not having one.
All legitimate businesses do, so that we don't get fined. It's a way of ensuring that the folks operating are doing so legally so that they know who to come to should there be an issue. Sort of an accountability thing, I suppose.

2) What is the BUSINESS POLICE GOING TO GIVE A TICKET??
I would think that has already been covered. $150-$5k in fines doesn't sound like fun to me. But hey, if you like doing stuff like that, run off-road diesel in your pickup;)

[summitgroundskeeping]

You don't need a business contractor licence(wich is what you would have to probably get) unless you do commercial accounts. So in my area there are about 37 unlicenced lawn guys.

[Lawn DOG]

I am very happy that where I live you have to have a license. If you are not required to pay taxes and be accountable like every other business, then you should be treated like a scrub!

:eek: I'm surrounded by scrubs.They're every where and they don't even know they're scrubs.:eek:

[Charles]

In my city you have to have a business license and they have plenty of enforcement officers. The fine for not having one is over 300$$ and is required even for parttimers. Must have a sticker for each vehicle. Fee has a minimum of 114$ and a % of the business you do in the city

[Grateful11]

I already had a business license for my woodworking business, temp. closed by the way. I talked to my CPA years ago and he informed me that there was no reason to get another license, that I could do business under that license and he takes care of my taxes and everything. I found a CPA about 8 years ago and that was a good decision.:)

[Guido]

Wether you or your customers think it means anything to have one, it cheaper than the fine you will get if you get caught right??

Good enough reason for me!

[srk5252]

Is there any online sites where you can find out your local laws about business. Does anyone here know what licensing you need to mow in Massachusetts?? Thanks for any input.

[LoneStarLawn]

Start here...
SBA (http://www.sba.gov)
From there go to "Your Government" which will direct you to you state's home page..

[trimmer]

It allows the government to get a cut of your paycheck.

[leeslawncare]

We need a business liscence to set us apart from the SCRUBS!!!!

[plymouthvaliant73]

You don't need a license to mow in Massachusetts. If you use a name for your business other than your own name, you need a business permit from your town or city clerk. This is also called a fictitious name permit or a dba (doing business as) permit. There's a fee and it is good for five years.

There are plenty of scrubs with licenses and new trucks with fancy lettering. I thought this thread covers it well:

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=14538

Scroll down to the message by moderator 1MajorTom

[Atlantic Lawn]

If everyone pays insurance, taxes, license, etc. chances are the prices charged to cutomers will be pretty much "in line". If you don't pay your legit expenses you have an "unfair" advantage over those of us who do. But life is rarely fair so you do what suits your character best.

[LJ lawn]

"you do what suits your character best" man, that was a good statement! i will agree that it seems like a good idea to have a license to work in your area,but do you think it works to keep the scrub population down?here in N.J. we don't have to have a license to operate.we just register our trade name at the county office.on one hand i think it is a good idea,but i really don't think that it would do much to keep down the scrubs.it is also more money out of the pockets of us ligit operators who are already having a hard enough time making a living in this field.now i know someone out there is gonna say "well that's the cost of doing business",unfortunately it is or would be.Believe me, i would be all for it and the first one waiting in line to sign on IF i thought it would help in the raising of rates which is just NOT gonna happen.but the last thing we need around here is MORE govt/county revenue gestapo agents looking for another way to squeeze a buck out of you.I'm gettin' tired of the scrub argument (this topic is another part of it),live and let live,do your own work ,mind your own biz and don't worry about the other guy.

[Chopper Lover]

I have no license...

Why? I DON'T NEED ONE!!!

Every jurisdiction is different. Contact your local jurisdiction and see if a license even exists for the type of services you are planning to provide. Where I live, in the state of Maryland, there is no license for the service I provide. If there was, I would have one. I do have a registered trade name because it is something other than my real name, but that is all. (I wish I didn't even have that because my beloved state has sold my information to numerous marketing agencies to make even more money off of me they don't deserve!)

Consider visiting one or more of your local LCO's and ask what you need and where to go to get it. Most are more than willing to give information. Heck, the good ones are probably so busy that if they like you they may send you some work!

Anyway, Clarke, you know what you need to do in order to get the information you need. Now all you have to do is find what you need and get it. You may get lucky like myself and PlymouthValiant73 and find there is no license for what you want to do...

Good Luck!
Mark

PS. You know, I have been reading these posts and I just have to speak my peace. A piece of paper (license) does not make you a "professional". Your overall work ethic does. We have multimillion dollar companies in my area that are licensed, bonded, etc. The work some of them do is so poor in quality I would be embarrassed to be associated with them. Is that professionalism? I don't think so.

[CLARKE]

I havein dug real deep yet, but i did talk to a few
locals in my area they think that we don't to have one
up here in ILL.THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR REPLYS.
:cool: CLARKE :cool:

[CSRA Landscaping]

... one stop ought to be able to answer your questions about doing biz in Ill. Ask Eric, he's in Chicago, I think , isn't he?

[MJ]

Web site to find out if your state requires a license for a particular occupation - you can search by state or by occupation:

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/lois_start.htm

or you should be able to use keyword: CareerInfoNet

You may need to contact your state licensing board, though, just to make sure. For instance, a "groundskeeper" may mean something different from state to state.

Hope this helps.

Mick

[CLARKE]

CHECKED OUT THE LAST POST AND THERES NOTHING FOR IL
yes i will ask eric since i have know him personaly for the
last 20 some years. And i'm sure he will know.IF i'm
a :angel: Eric could be god in the lawn care or Megiver.
I know my spelling sucks.;)