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I will be offering virtual business services online and could potentially be "working" from anywhere. Where should I get my business license? Does the city I get it for legally matter?

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What do you mean by business license? The question doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Are you asking which state you should register your business in? Also, when asking questions of this nature you should state your country. – Zuly Gonzalez♦ Mar 20 '12 at 4:34
In the United States. Business is an LLC, registered in CA. My question is does it matter what city to get the business license for? – user16817 Mar 20 '12 at 4:42
What business license? You have to be more specific. Are you referring to some sort of permit? That is dictated by the county. Did someone say you needed a license, did you read it somewhere, or are you assuming this? – Zuly Gonzalez♦ Mar 20 '12 at 4:56
the business license that you have to get in order to conduct business..I am assuming I will need to get one? – user16817 Mar 20 '12 at 5:40
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I think you need to do some more research. I am not familiar with CA laws, but most states don't require a special license to engage in internet commerce. Usually you just need to register your business in the state. But in any case, if CA does require such a thing, the answer to your question is CA. You should call the CA Secretary of State to get some clarification. – Zuly Gonzalez♦ Mar 20 '12 at 6:09
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3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

I will be offering virtual business services online and could potentially be "working" from anywhere.

Stop delusions.

Seriously.

How you get money? No bank transfer, no registered address? You can not run a 100% virtual business. YOu can run a business with all activity online, but you still ned to take delviery for stuff, need an address for the tax office, need to take invoices for stuff like hosting - and the hosting company also wants an address.

On top you will find that not living anywhere is a progblem and the moment you live anywhere your business is legally required to be there unless you have rented offfices.

"100% virtual" is an illusion of people that ignore what it takes to run a business.

In reality you will not live on a ship and / or move from city to city - yes, in theory you could, but you likely will not. Seriously, I could not. I really want to havea decent desk (also for some nice screens), a place for my servers at home etc.

So, you have a basis and are not fully virtual - and your local laws pretty clearly very likely sstate a b usiness must be registered where it is conducted.

So, sorry, no 100% purely virtual.

Only exceptions I see is the homeless traveller with an ultrabook that writes a travel blog ;)

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I don't think you need to get a license for a virtual business. All you might need to do is register the business with the government for tax purpose and it also depends on your country. Where are you located.

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A business is a business and will require a license if the municipality you are located in requires one. The idea of a virtual business is a misnomer and is understood incorrectly in this post. This business owner will need a physical address to create a business entity both with the state they live in as well as for Federal tax purposes. – Tim Mar 20 '12 at 12:53
Already have gotten a EIN. – user16817 Mar 20 '12 at 17:57
You need that for Federal Tax purposes but a business license is a separate license you need within your municipality. In my city, they look at every federal tax return for a business filed each year and determine if you have a license. There really is no way around it and it's the right thing to do if you are going to run any kind of business. – Tim Mar 21 '12 at 11:46
up vote 0 down vote

I live in VA and have a Virginia based LLC and I still have to get a business license from the city I live in to run my online business. I am assuming that you are in the same scenario and so the answer is yes, you will need a business license from your city if one is required and most cities do. Check with your city to make sure but this is probably going to be true.

If you don't get one then you may get away with it for a while but based on your federal tax returns they will catch you so its best just to comply with the law and pay for your business license up front.

Good Luck, Tim - VA

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Thanks! This is the best answer I've gotten out of this question. Very helpful. – user16817 Mar 20 '12 at 17:57
Hey no problem, hope it all works out for you. – Tim Mar 20 '12 at 20:32

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