Do I need business licenses from multiple jurisdictions?

[BarryBrown]

I have a business license from the city in which I reside. I just got a letter from my county stating that I also need a business license from them. The letter reads (more or less): "It has come to our attention that you are doing business in the unincorporated areas of the county. Anyone, resident or non-resident, conducting business in the unincorporated areas must have a county business license."

I called my city license division and asked them about this. They said it's true: I need a license for every jurisdiction that I do business in.

That seems ridiculous. All I do is go out to customer sites and take pictures. The customer pays for my services after I invoice them. No money is transacted on-site.

I specifically asked the lady on the phone how this works for web site sales. How could I possibly get licenses for every city or county that all my potential customers live in? I'd go bankrupt. The lady said, "in the case of Internet or phone sales, you just have to assume they all live in my city." In other words (my interpretation), if I don't personally know or meet the customer, I'm OK. But if I invoice them, I need extra licenses.

What do the rest of you do in these situations? Do I really need liceneses for every surrounding community, just in case one of my customers whom I meet actually lives there?

-B

[Brian_Villegas]

I am not a lawyer, but I've been told by my lawyers and CPAs, that you only need a license in the juristiction where your office is. If you are home-based, (ie., no commercial office/studio) then you must get your licenses where your home-office is.

You only need a "location permit" if you're shooting in a public place that requires one. The permit is mostly to make sure that you have liability insurance (I carry a million bucks worth)...and generate fees for the city, of course.

Remember, if you ask a barber if you need a haircut, he/she will almost always say 'yes'. I think the lady from the city was just trying to get more money out of you...but again, I'm no lawyer.

Hope this helps... BV