Ecommerce? this will ultimately have to do with raw

[Lunar*Fey]

This wont seem like it has to do with rawism at first, but ultimately it will.
I want to start my own online store. I already made the store...now I just need to know if one must acquire a liscense or any such thing in order to sell items on this store. I was thinking of selling a few of my shef stable raw food creations as well...but I am sure I would need some sort of approval in order to do that, huh?
Does anyone know?
I know this seems irrelevent but I didn't know who else to ask, and there are such a vast array of intelligent and worldly minds here that I thought this would be a good place to find an answer, particularly because it ultimately does have to do with raw :)

Thank you in advance!! :)

-Lunar*Fey

[oceanluv]

I don't have any advice, sorry, but wanted to wish you good luck!!

[oceanluv]

I don't have any advice, sorry, just want to wish you good luck!!

[oceanluv]

ooops, guess I really wanted you to know I wish ya luck, lol

[juliebove]

First you would need a business license. That is most likely a city or state thing. What you would need could vary depending on where you live. In many places you can not do business from your home and must have an actual business elsewhere. If you are selling food that you made, you would probably need some sort of license or certificate for that. You may need to have your kitchen inspected. And you will have to pay taxes, perhaps local and also income tax.

[Revvell]

You don't need a license to sell online basically. To sell raw food stuffs, yes. Methinks you'll need to have your kitchen inspected and prove a 2-year shelf life. I would check this with your local licensing or talk to others who are actually doing it. You might consider borrowing the kitchen of a local restaurant that's already gotten the inspecting thing done.

You're still living at home, yes? If you've got critters of any kind you'll probably not pass an inspection.

Inspections and licensing costs money btw.

Revvell

This wont seem like it has to do with rawism at first, but ultimately it will.
I want to start my own online store. I already made the store...now I just need to know if one must acquire a liscense or any such thing in order to sell items on this store. I was thinking of selling a few of my shef stable raw food creations as well...but I am sure I would need some sort of approval in order to do that, huh?
Does anyone know?
I know this seems irrelevent but I didn't know who else to ask, and there are such a vast array of intelligent and worldly minds here that I thought this would be a good place to find an answer, particularly because it ultimately does have to do with raw :)

Thank you in advance!! :)

-Lunar*Fey

[Lunar*Fey]

hmmm thank you,
I figured as much about the license. Revvell, are you saying that if I just wanted to sell homemade earrings and suchlike (not food) then I would not need a license? About the food though, I do work at a little natural market where they have a kitchen...hmm.

I will have to call somewhere and find out about licensing. I wonder if licenses have a monthly fee or a one time fee. hmm. Yeah this might not be feasible at all, but I will do my research just in case.
Thank you for your generous help Juliebove and Revvell! And thank you for the double luck Oceanluv!;)


-Lunar*Fey

[juliebove]

For earrings, technically you would need a business license, but... It depends on how much money you would be making. For instance, I sold earrings and other jewelry I made for a charity function where I was allowed to keep a small portion. I can't remember now. I think it was 20% of the selling price. The rest of the money went to the charity. This was in NYC, so perhaps the law there is different from where you live. This was several years ago, but I believe I was told if we earned less than $50, we didn't need a business license. As it turns out, I earned precious little from that sale. There was no advertising for the event so our only sales were to each other (other sellers) or word of mouth.

I am now in WA state. I know some people here who sell at various craft shows. They do buy a business license. They said before you do this, you need to take a long hard look at how much money you think you would make and if it would be worth your while to get the license.

If you are just selling occasional items...say on Ebay...you probably wouldn't need the license.

[RawSun]

A business license will be yearly, and likely only around $50. If you sell food you need to use a certified kitchen. Earrings, you can do from home!

[bsqmurphy]

To operate a legal business, YES you need a business license - even if you only make $1. (Although people do choose to sell items without registering & declaring their earnings; this is against the law.)

- You need to contact your state, city, and county. Business registration requirements vary depending on where you live. (For example where I am I have to register with my city & state, but if I lived 5 miles away I would only have to register with the state.) You can often do these registrations on your state/city/county websites & it costs a nominal fee ($25-$100).
- For food, you need to contact the health department regarding regulations & licensing.
- Depending on your financial situation, expected earnings, and liability exposure, you may want to consult an accountant regarding setting up a formal entity (corporation or LLC).
- If you choose to have employees to help you, there are other requirements as well - but you can cross that bridge when you get there.

I hope this helps,
Brianna

PS I am a CPA and do small business consulting for people setting up new businesses so this type of advising is what I do professionally. Feel free to contact me with other questions.

[Eva]

To operate a legal business, YES you need a business license - even if you only make $1. (Although people do choose to sell items without registering & declaring their earnings; this is against the law.)

- You need to contact your state, city, and county. Business registration requirements vary depending on where you live. (For example where I am I have to register with my city & state, but if I lived 5 miles away I would only have to register with the state.) You can often do these registrations on your state/city/county websites & it costs a nominal fee ($25-$100).
- For food, you need to contact the health department regarding regulations & licensing.
- Depending on your financial situation, expected earnings, and liability exposure, you may want to consult an accountant regarding setting up a formal entity (corporation or LLC).
- If you choose to have employees to help you, there are other requirements as well - but you can cross that bridge when you get there.

I hope this helps,
Brianna

PS I am a CPA and do small business consulting for people setting up new businesses so this type of advising is what I do professionally. Feel free to contact me with other questions.

Good advice. My mom owned a successful business with my father, and she tells me their most valued partner was their accountant. It's really never a good thing to break federal laws, or any laws for that matter!

I'm slowly getting a business started. It's going to be GREAT -- but either way, until it's as great as I want it to become, I called a CPA nearby and got everything set up so I'm legal and an LLC. She answered all sorts of questions and completed all the paperwork (state and federal) for what I thought was a very good value. :)

[Coolexplosion]

Some other good advice that I received is to abuse tax deductibles. For instance, for a person who reviews things professionally, they can use as a tax write-off the thing they purchased. This is how some people can afford healthy food, juicers, and other products of the sort.