legal advise or question

[bellaphoto]

i am not sure if i am asking the right people. i am new to the photography business. i live in daytona beach Florida. what kind of business license do i need . i started selling on smugmug recently and i see that i have to fill out a form to get paid and i need a tax identification number??? does anyone know who i go to in order to get the right paperwork done to start my own business????? what do i need to do. thank you
:dunno
ro_photo_art@yahoo.com
http://www.rominasphotography.com
romina

[Angelo]

it's possible you need nothing.

if you're shooting and uploading to smugmug and not conducting direct sales yourself you may be just fine.

in this instance your social security number acts as your tax ID number for smugmug

[swintonphoto]

I have the benefit of having a lawyer father, so he helped me get everything squared away. Each city will have its on regulations on business licenses. I run my studio in Manhattan Kansas, and they do not require a business license here. Check with your local city hall for info in your community.
However, I did setup my business as a Limited Liability Company, and applied for a federal tax ID number. It wasn't too hard. If you go to your states website there will likely be info if you want to get a federal tax ID number. Could always ask a lawyer - they would know better than me. Do you know any lawyers that may be able to give some free advice?

[bellaphoto]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT! I think you may be correct. :wink
it's possible you need nothing.

if you're shooting and uploading to smugmug and not conducting direct sales yourself you may be just fine.

in this instance your social security number acts as your tax ID number for smugmug

[dogwood]

Local laws vary-- in Oregon (where I live), you don't need a business license if you do business under your own name (ie Pete Springer Photography). But if you were to do business under another name (ie Dogwood Digital), you are supposed to get a business license.

[Elaine]

Local laws vary-- in Oregon (where I live), you don't need a business license if you do business under your own name (ie Pete Springer Photography). But if you were to do business under another name (ie Dogwood Digital), you are supposed to get a business license.

That's what I found for the state of Oregon, but I also found I had to have a city business license, as well as a home business permit (free), since I don't have a studio. So, I learned there were a couple places I needed to investigate...city and state.