Opening business in South Central PA

[ShipTE82]

Hi all,
I am currently a student at Shippensburg University (State school in PA) and will graduate in December of this year. Upon graduation I have a job set up for the winter months driving truck for a local company. However, I don't want to be an asphalt cowboy for the rest of my life. I am planning on opening a lawn care and landscape business in the spring. I am planning on staying local and targeting the landlords in this college town and mowing for them. I realize this isn't BIG money work, but I believe it's a good market in this area and a good way to get started with some smaller properties so I won't have to invest too much on equipment. Besides the landlord properties there are a few well to do neighborhoods that are in a half hour radius from my place. I want to start meeting with the owners of these rental properties asap in order to lock down some contracts for next year. Before I do that, I have some questions for the lawnsite community.
My questions are a) Do I need to be licensed in South Central PA, specifically Cumberland and Franklin Counties. I have searched hard for this answer online but couldn't find any clear cut answers. I would appreciate if anyone could point me in the right direction for this. b) what insurance company do you use? Did you ever have to interact with them... etx. c) Whats the best way to register for a tax number and fictitious names permit. Once again I have been looking online but just seem to find 30 different www sites, each with different ways to do those things. As far as business credentials, I have mowed lawns for years, since I was 12 years old) and last summer I worked mowing commercially for the University. I will be graduating with a Business Management degree, this should also help me. I have read many of the threads in this section, would just love all the advice and start up hints you guys have to offer. Thanks a lot

[KeystoneLawn&Landscaping]

No disrespect meant here, but your graduating with a business management degree and your asking some of the most basic questions. You would think after 4 years of "higher" education you would at least know how to do some basic research. Thats just me!

[ShipTE82]

Thanks for all your help keystone. I am just looking for the best option because there seems to be multiple ways to take care of the questions I asked. I am looking for help from someone with experience. I thought that's what this forum is for. I apologize if it seems like an elementary question, I was just requesting guidance.

[KeystoneLawn&Landscaping]

Wasn't as much a comment about you as it was about the collegiate education system in this country. As for where to find your info, try your local state rep. That office should be able to point you in all the right directions.