Business Owners
 

I am thinking about starting my own little side business guys and I have a few questions for any business owners out there. First off I am thinking about starting a small engine repair shop at my house and doing boat motor repair, and some automobiles. I have already got a LLC what other kind of license might I need to do this legal and legit?

Will have to get a business license from the city/parish so they can get their taxes. Make sure there are no zoning issues.

occuppational license

Do yourself a huge favor and just keep it quiet. Take on only enough to keep you busy but, not enough to clutter your place up to the point that it urks the neighbors. The tax this and, occupy that, city this and, parish that will wear you smooth out! Oh yeah, sign permits...God forbid you want to hang a sign! In most cities, there's a permit for that too!

That said, if you still insist on getting all those people in your pocket, pay your sales taxes monthly! I know some folks do it quarterly and, annually and, they struggle to make the payment. Set it up online at parishe-file.com or .gov?...Can't remember for sure. They changed it recently but, it's the easiest way to handle that.

Also get you an attorney to make sure you have all your legal protection over your business
I’m opening up another LLC this month and you have to make sure you are fully protected from any outside source.

Do whart Southern said. Advertise by word of mouth. I use to bring my boat to an old man on Coteau Road. He had a sign, if you don't plan on paying cash leave! You couldn't just bring him your boat either, he would call you when to bring it that way he never had more than 1 or 2 boats in his driveway.

I did what "W" said. my first call was to the lawyer. cost about $500ish but he took care of everything! don't fall for the LLC over the internet for $50.... let a lawyer do it, you'll be glad later I anything happens. O yea pay taxes monthly... it's a big bill if ya wait for the end of the year!!

you also need to protect yourself from potential lawsuits. the only exposure i see that you may have is if someone gets hurt on your property. your homeowners insurance may not cover it if they are there for commercial purposes. i would just check into that.

and also make sure your auto insurance covers things like boats being towed in case you have to take a clients boat out for a test or something and get in a wreck

are you gonna do this full time or just on the side? I have a lawn business thats now just a side job and keep it hush hush and run it by word of mouth so I dont have to deal with all the extra crap thats associated with a small business, you can pay some tax and write off a few things but keep your business small and pocket more money..... unless you plan to go full blown repair shop and then that will create a lot of unneeded overhead and headache

My buddy does landscaping and odd jobs. He printed up some business cards dropped them at gas stations. He only returns in receipts for the lowest tax bracket or something like that so he gets alot back at income taxes

My father owns a big Husqvarnrna/Tanaka/Honda shop on the west coast. Sometimes if you need a part, and the distributor is out it pays to have one shipped to keep a customer. He has been there for forty years and has a big pile of obsolete and used stuff too. Keep my contact info and get at me if you need anything. I stop by the shop every other day just to see my brothers etc. Networking works.

Thanks Guys and it would be a side job until I see that it could become full time and that is only if I can triple what I make in a year know