ForumsStarting a Business

If you have no employees and no customers who come to your home, you may be exempt -- many cities and counties include this in the law (but your neighborhood homeowner association or the restrictive covenants of your development may not).

Even if you have customers, you may be able to get an exemption depending on your hours of operation, how much noise you make, how much traffic you have, how close you are to schools, etc. The process usually involves the zoning authority sending notices (at your expense) to everyone within a given distance (1,000 feet in my community) asking if they agree or object. If no one objects, I assume they'd grant the exemption.

Another option would be to lease the smallest, cheapest space you could find to basically serve as your "official" business address, and then keep doing what you're doing at home until the neighbors complain -- and even then you could just say you had to bring some extra work home! (Multiple complaints from neighbors would likely lead to trouble, but few communities would move in too swiftly or harshly on a taxpaying homeowner. If you're renting in a neighborhood that has mainly homeowners, though, you might be moving.)

Good luck!

Yes, "exclusion" was the word I was looking for. . .

This law is understandable but how else do you start up a business with little to no money? I started my salon at my home after my child was born. I wasn't ready to go back to work yet. I took a year off and set up shop in 200 sf of my basement. Of course I couldn't market my salon to the public because I didn't want to cause any trouble with the law. It has taken off so much in the past year (without major marketing) that I'm ready to expand (and get legal). Some businesses need SOMEWHERE to start. Starting as small as you can helps work out all the kinks and figure out how to be a profitable business. If banks aren't going to lend you the money for start up costs and commercial real estate and you have an amazing idea I see no problem with having a home based business. It will probably be a different story when I have stylists leave my salon to start up their own home based salon.

Is it a home based business or a hobby?

Hobby's do not require licensing and can be a good way to 'start up." Many cities incorporate these laws into their books in order to obtain a Home Occupancy Permit for businesses. It gives them the ability to insure street parking is not a problem if clients are visiting homes, etc. Its also a revenue source.

Hi,
This is Jack. Due to home based business there more effects than merits obtained from it. As some times fraud may occur as there is no garauntee for these business due to this the investors are going to be more effected

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Jack

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Whitelopez is correct. Go to the UPS store and get the box. Go to your muni and get your occupational license with the boxes address. Have the UPS store post the license as they must. You're in business. It's done all the time. I'm doing it, and there is no law to stop ya!

I have not heard of this before, and I am not sure how this could be upheld.