Do I Need A Business License For A Mobile Notary Service

Updated 1-31-22. Starting your new Notary business concern may seem equally free and easy as hanging a shingle, but Notary businesses, like many others, may crave certain licenses and requirements, including a business license. Depending on where you live, that shingle may represent advertising at home, and at that place'southward a license for that.

If you lot're randomly notarizing documents for free here and at that place, y'all don't need to worry near obtaining a business license because you're not running a business concern. That'due south piece of cake. Figuring out who is required to get i is a much tougher question, but it boils down to where the Notary lives.

Some jurisdictions, including cities, counties and states, don't require you to go a license at all; some expect at gross receipts; others look at whether yous're doing concern at abode and earn anything; while some jurisdictions just want you to register and pay a fee no affair what you lot practise.

You'll want to contact your local, county and state authorities to determine what licenses and permits you need, fees you lot must pay, and agencies with which you must register.

Co-ordinate to the U.Southward. Sleeping room of Commerce, "Fifty-fifty veteran entrepreneurs are often unsure virtually which city, county, state and federal agencies they have to contact before opening solar day. And getting this process right is really of import — one missed regulation can be a huge setback (or fine) for your business." The bedroom also suggests that you may want to talk to a lawyer, accountant or other expert, unless you're also an expert in the field of business concern regulations (which is unlikely).

Hither are some business organisation license basics, including how to get started and which types of local agencies to consult, plus some resources for further exploration if you're not yet a Notary merely are because starting a business.

Business license basics

Getting started is the hardest part. If y'all're researching the issue yourself, you tin start with the metropolis in which your concern is located and so movement on to research county and country rules. According to the Pocket-sized Business organisation Administration, a business owner such as a Notary wouldn't need any federal permits unless they're too selling something regulated at the federal level, such as booze or firearms, an interesting, albeit unlikely, combination.

Laura Biewer, a Notary entrepreneur who runs At Your Service Mobile Notary out of Modesto, California, said she has a business license from her city that allows her to run a business from her home address that costs about $75 a year. She also must file a simple city tax return that runs near .002 percent of gross acquirement. In addition, she has a business license for her DBA, (Doing Business organization Equally) "At Your Service, Mobile Notary," which was filed with the canton clerk.

"If Notaries are only haphazardly notarizing docs here and there information technology is non a business, and then no permit needed, but if ad themselves to become business concern they should consider complying with their urban center and county requirements," she said.

According to the City of Modesto'due south website, a license is required of all home and commercial businesses inside the urban center. A concern physically located exterior the city limits performing a service inside the city also must have a license.

Of class, these rules apply to but one corner of the country — every jurisdiction'southward rules vary. Houston, Texas, for example, does not require a license, said mobile Notary Tracee Jordan.

Jordan, who runs 24 Hr Notary Houston, immediately filed her business name as a DBA when she started out, but after significant inquiry, she decided she needed to incorporate in order to take her business to the next level.

At that bespeak, she sought legal counsel, and she and her attorney agreed on forming an LLC, or Limited Liability Corporation, which separates her personal assets from her company's assets in case she is always sued. Dissimilar types of corporations have different benefits, costs and tax implications, she said.

Regulations can become much more complicated if the Notary has employees — some jurisdictions crave additional liability insurance, payroll taxes, and more, but if the Notary is running a sole proprietorship, they wouldn't have to worry about rules for companies with employees.

Where tin can I get assist?

If all this seems a little overwhelming, or you can't beget an attorney, there's free assist. The U.Due south. Small Business Administration provides significant resources to people starting businesses through SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a resource partner. SCORE offers referrals to experienced local mentors who can help guide Notaries through regulatory red tape.

The organization also offers helpful templates, including business plan templates; webinars on everything from compliance to marketing; and access to subject matter experts across your specific industry — for example, Notaries can find access to people with advertisement or legal expertise.

Local government resource are also available; for instance, if yous're a Notary in California, the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Evolution is a great place to check out dissimilar requirements.

Jordan recommends Notaries wait for a mentor who knows the local rules. It's really tough to discover a Notary willing to mentor (Jordan chosen it the "needle in the haystack"), but if you have the time and patience to look, the results are worth it. Discussing business regulations should exist an of import topic for the two of you lot to talk over.

Some Notaries take a haphazard arroyo to compliance, or don't actually sympathize how to professionalize a business, she noted. Mastering regulatory requirements and determining the correct corporate structure for your needs are simply a few examples of how to work on, rather than just in, your business.

Source: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2021/02/should-notaries-get-business-licenses-it-depends#:~:text=Business%20license%20basics,-Getting%20started%20is&text=According%20to%20the%20Small%20Business,interesting%2C%20albeit%20unlikely%2C%20combination.

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