Home-Based Business Legal Essentials

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• Business Structure and Registration

  Selecting a business structure and registering your business.

  • Choose a business structure

    Decide whether an LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation best suits your needs.

  • Register your business name

    Check name availability and register your trade name or DBA (Doing Business As).

  • Obtain an EIN

    Apply for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for tax purposes.

• Licenses and Permits

  Acquiring necessary licenses and permits.

  • General Business License

    Acquire a general business license from your local city or county.

  • Home Occupation Permit

    Check if your city or county requires a home occupation permit for home businesses.

  • Professional Licenses

    Obtain any specific professional licenses required for your field of work.

  • Health and Safety Permits

    If applicable, secure permits related to health and safety regulations.

• Zoning Laws and Regulations

  Ensuring compliance with local zoning laws.

  • Verify zoning restrictions

    Check local zoning laws to ensure your home business is allowed.

  • Apply for exceptions or changes

    If necessary, apply for zoning variances or conditional use permits.

• Contracts and Legal Documents

  Setting up contracts and other legal protections.

  • Create client contracts

    Draft and utilize contracts for services or goods provided.

  • Non-disclosure agreements

    Use NDAs to protect confidential information shared with others.

  • Partnership agreements

    Formalize any business partnerships with legal agreements.

• Record Keeping and Legal Compliance

  Handling records and complying with legal standards.

  • Set up accounting system

    Establish a system for managing your business finances and taxes.

  • Understand tax obligations

    Learn about federal, state, and local tax responsibilities.

  • Keep detailed records

    Maintain comprehensive records of income, expenses, and contracts.

• Employment Laws

  Compliance with employment laws if hiring employees.

  • Understand employment law

    Learn about the laws related to hiring and employment standards.

  • Prepare employment contracts

    Draft employment contracts that comply with local laws.

  • Implement HR policies

    Develop policies for human resources in accordance to legal standards.