We love to be number one, but here’s a category local small businesses could probably do without: California has the nation’s most complex network of business licenses and permits, according to Business Licenses LLC, owner of BusinessLicenses.com.
The New York-based Web site has helped more than 10,000 businesses nationwide file for 50,000 licenses, permits and tax registrations with almost 20,000 city, county, state and federal agencies in the past three years. (The charge is $19.99 to $174.99, depending on the level of service and advice given.)
The number of filings per state doesn’t necessarily correlate with population, Business Licenses LLC has found.
Californians have the most filings with the Web site, not because we’re so entrepreneurial and not just because this is the most populous state, but because almost every business in the state has to have some license or permit.
For example, a restaurant in unincorporated areas of Orange County doesn’t have to get a business license but it does need a permit from the county health department, a seller’s permit from the state Board of Equalization, a tax ID number from the IRS etc.
The other top states for license and permit filings with BusinessLicenses.com are Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Washington.
Florida and Washington have the highest percentage of residents actually starting new businesses, the Web site reports.
Georgia and North Carolina make the list because of the high number of active duty and retired military personnel. The Small Business Administration says 6% of veterans and their spouses own small businesses.
“We had expected to see a higher number of filings from states with larger populations, like New York, Texas and Pennsylvania,” said Business Licenses LLC President David Polatseck. “But…we saw that these were not necessarily the states with the most complicated or complex business licensing requirements on a national level.”
For notifications when Jan Norman on Small Business has new information, send a request to jnorman@ocregister.com
Business licenses and permits are the silent way local governments increase taxes without the public knowing. Raising taxes is a political killer… raising permit fees and requiring business license goes unnoticed by the voting public.
I don’t know what the permit costs the roofing contractor to put on a new roof on my house… but I know I am paying for it… and when the city raises the permit fees we all pay.
I might want to use a contractor in Irvine for a small job - but he doesn’t have a HB business license to do business in our city… this hurts businesses and us as consumers.
I run a home based business - it is just me - no employees. I pay $91 a year to the City of HB for this privilege yet get no special benefit from the city.
The hidden tax system… Permits and Licenses.
Businessnameusa.com says that in addition, business licensing services can help small business owners save time when obtaining all licenses to start their business.
In addition, http://www.businessnameusa.com is a site that can obtain all your legal documents and business license to start your business in 24 hours. This type of service is only offered by http://www.businessnameusa.com . Highly recommended if you want your business licenses expedited, i.e., filed on the same business day you order them.