- 1). Determine if your area of business is zoned for commercial use. The city will not issue you a business license if the area you’re conducting business in is not zoned for your business purpose. This means that if you work out of your home, you’ll want to make sure that it is zoned so that you can run a business out of it. Most retail areas will obviously be zoned for business use.
- 2). Call your local courthouse. City Hall can direct you to the proper paperwork to fill out. If you have the photography business in your home and do not have customers who frequent there, you do not have to have a business license. However, if you do have a retail store or a place where clients regularly visit, you will then need to fill out the paperwork.
- 3). Decide on a name for your photography business and fill out DBA (doing business as) paperwork. You can do this on the same day that you get your business license as long as you have decided on the name of your company. This will allow you to get a business phone number and checking account. Tell the clerk filing your paperwork what kind of business you have. The paperwork will ask this as well.
- 4). Fill out the paperwork. The paperwork for a business license will ask you to fill out the questions on there. Some examples are your business name, your name and how much your business is worth. Be as truthful as possible. Always ask questions if you're not sure of something.
- 5). Pay the fee for the business license. It’s usually pretty inexpensive. This will depend on what city you live in. Some might charge a flat fee and some base it on your business’ potential revenue. You won’t know this until you talk to you individual courthouse in your county.
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