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Getting business license for site

ogmasterogmaster Registered User regular
edited December 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
For the sake of getting into the bigger events, like E3, I'm in need of getting a business license. Problem is, I have no idea how to do this with a website. Any advice is appreciated.

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Posts

  • MKRMKR Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    What state/province? You would need to poke around on your government's website for information on getting a business permit.

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  • flatlinegraphicsflatlinegraphics Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    best bet, your local small business association. usually just google *city name* SBA and you'll get a site. just be aware, its not just a sign up and be done. its about $500 for all the paper work and fees, and you'll need to start tracking income and payments and possibly pay taxes. but it really depends on your locale. its not hard to do, its just a pain.

    the federal SBA site is here: http://sba.gov/, but your local office may be able to help more, esp with any local issues.

    flatlinegraphics on
  • KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Why would you need a business license for your blog for E3? Shouldn't you be looking at getting press credentials?

    Kyougu on
  • MKRMKR Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Kyougu wrote: »
    Why would you need a business license for your blog for E3? Shouldn't you be looking at getting press credentials?

    http://www.e3expo.com/content/1131/media-faq/
    Freelance Journalists:
    Freelance writers from unqualified media outlets will not be admitted. In order to qualify as media, we require that you provide:

    * A copy of your driver's license or government issued photo identification clearly showing your name and date of birth (no one under 17 will be admitted), and

    * A letter from a publisher, editor or producer (on their letterhead) stating that you are covering E3 Expo 2009 on assignment, and

    * A bylined interactive entertainment industry-related article from your publication (above) written by you and published within the last six months (the copy must clearly show the name of the publication and your byline), and

    * If you are a freelance journalist for online media, you must also provide a copy of the Web site's business license or government issued documentation showing the business's federal tax identification number.

    MKR on
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  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Talk to your bank. Someone there will have answers.

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  • KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Wow, E3 got way more strict since I last checked.

    And yeah, talking to your bank would probably give you the needed answers.

    Kyougu on
  • PirateJonPirateJon Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    You need a business license. They are not cheap (few $100s). If you're a one-man show, then you can set up a sole proprietorship and start doing business as whatever you want to be called. "Joe's Game and Taco Reviews" or something. In that case your "business's federal tax identification number" would just be your social security number. That's what I do as a consultant.

    But if this is 'real' you should spring for a lawyer. One: an LLC may be better for you to protect your assets. Two: you need to have your ducks in a row RE: Taxes. Once you make a business, you have to pay estimated taxes quarterly both state and federal.

    You can start with Nolo's stuff to get an idea about what you're in for.
    http://www.nolo.com/products/sole-proprietor/

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  • MKRMKR Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    His sites gets almost 10k uniques a month. I'm pretty sure his site is for real. :P

    MKR on
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