Are you just starting your art or craft business and don’t know what the legal requirements for your  new business are?

The IRS has a Checklist for Starting a Business located on their site http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small.

Also see my post License Requirements for Art and Craft Show Businesses

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It will require the testing and certification of your product although all the products you use to create your art or craft should already be tested and certified for your own safety.

Here is where to find more information:  http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

What can you do?

1. Write to your Congressman and Senator. Tell them how this law will effect your business!
2. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is taking comments..  Comment on this law if you feel it will effect your business.

I often hear the question is a license required for my art and craft show booth, art and craft show, or online art and craft business.

The answer is it depends on the city, county, and state you live in.  Every city, county and state creates their own rules and regulations regarding business licenses and special event permits etc.  Each location will also have it’s own rules on tax collection at art and craft shows.

So how do you find out if you need a business license or special event permit for your craft business?  Call your city offices and ask them what department handles business licenses and special event permits.  You can also type your city, county, state and the keywords business license requirements or special events permits into a search engine.

My business is outside the city limits so my city won’t issue me a business license.  My county and state don’t require business licenses for my type of business.  I finally visited a neighboring city and was issued a business license.

You will usually need a business license to buy wholesale.  It is to your benefit to get a business license even if you aren’t required to have one.

Register your business with your state as a DBA (Doing Business As) as this allows you to get a business checking account which will make doing your taxes so much easier.

Visit the State Resources page at Extravaganza Craft Productions for more information if you live in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, or South Dakota.

If you live in the areas mentioned above and know the requirements for your city, county or state please comment on this post with the address, phone number and website.  I will add that information to the State Resources page to help other crafters in your area.

Thank you,

Shasta McLaughlin

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