Business licenses for different city locations

[techroc]

I was wondering about having different business licenses for clients in different locations.

Is a license required for each city you may consult or offer IT services in? What about for each county? Is there a way around this by using other state resources/licenses or such?

Say I go to a client's location that is in another city or county, do I need a business license for the city location/county that they're in?

I am in California, and was wondering if anyone could provide some input on this.

All replies are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Xander]

My business license is good for the whole province.
Is it common for American towns to have license that's only good for their own town?

 

[Paul Rodgers]

My business license is good for the whole province.
Is it common for American towns to have license that's only good for their own town?

In New York it is statewide.

 

[BryanVest]

I was wondering about having different business licenses for clients in different locations.

Is a license required for each city you may consult or offer IT services in? What about for each county? Is there a way around this by using other state resources/licenses or such?

Say I go to a client's location that is in another city or county, do I need a business license for the city location/county that they're in?

I am in California, and was wondering if anyone could provide some input on this.

All replies are appreciated. Thank you.

Depends do you have just a local business license through city hall or through the state?

 

[NETWizz]

They are probably done by counties but not the entire State, which I presume is roughly equivalent to a province.

Typically, counties here seem to want their taxes too, which is the problem when there really aren't any State regulations and certainly no federal regulations provided you don't spam, make unsolicited calls, cheat, or do anything fraudulent.

Generally speaking, the Federal government has no restrictions. It is not like the federal DEA, ATF, FBI, CIA, NSA, or DHS (they like 3 letter acronyms) are going to come down on you. The State probably has some silly rules, but they are unlikely to enforce them. However, the county will do their best at the local level to cheat you out of money.

i.e. They will try to make up business licences, local taxes, all that stuff.

 

[techroc]

Depends do you have just a local business license through city hall or through the state?

I'm actually in the process of getting my business set up.

In California, I'm pretty sure you need a business entity or DBA, as well as a state license which is through B.E.A.R. (Bureau of Electronics and Appliance Repair)

On top if this I was told that I needed separate business licenses for each city that I operate or offer services in.

I will be based in one city, but I don't have a shop (will be offering on-site support).

I would like to service other cities around my area, but wasn't sure of the legality of this.

 

[ATTech]

In California, you only need a license for the specific city/county that you are physically located within.

 

[techroc]

Thank you all very much for the replies!

In California, you only need a license for the specific city/county that you are physically located within.

What about offering services, or doing business outside of the city or county limits of where you're licensed?

Do you know if a separate city license would be required for services performed in an outside city location?

 

[ATTech]

Thank you all very much for the replies!



What about offering services, or doing business outside of the city or county limits of where you're licensed?

Do you know if a separate city license would be required for services performed in an outside city location?

Again, you only need a license for your physical location, as in, the address that you put on the business application.

 

[vdub12]

I'm actually in the process of getting my business set up.

In California, I'm pretty sure you need a business entity or DBA, as well as a state license which is through B.E.A.R. (Bureau of Electronics and Appliance Repair)

On top if this I was told that I needed separate business licenses for each city that I operate or offer services in.

I will be based in one city, but I don't have a shop (will be offering on-site support).

I would like to service other cities around my area, but wasn't sure of the legality of this.

The B.E.A.R. license is stupid. Its basically just a tax. Anyone claiming its a license to work on computers has no idea what they are talking about. Its nothing more then a $75 a year tax on computer techs. I honestly believe everyone should refuse to pay it.

 

[NorCal Internet]

Just an FYI... The B.E.A.R. license is *ONLY* required if you are servicing RESIDENTIAL clients. B.E.A.R. does not require you to have a license if you service strictly business computers.

I found this pretty interesting, and didn't believe my interpretation of their rules, so I confirmed it with them. Apparently, and not really so suprising, California doesn't care if business gets screwed by "Unlicensed" techs, only if residential users do.

And, as VDub mentioned, this is really just a tax on techs, since there is no background check, no qualifications checks or requirements, or anything. They just want to know who you are so that that can audit your ads and fine you if you are out of compliance with their advertising requirements.

I wonder why people are bailing on California!?!?

 

[TopLevelComp]

B.E.A.R license is such a waste, just another bureau that's wasting money.

 

[nesrinamb]

I started my business in southern California, what I had to deal with licensing was that every city that I worked in wanted to get some licensee fees so even when I didn't have a physical location within the city I had to register my vehicle for a fee. But its different in every city go to each of their web sites and see what their rules are.

To be honest I'm annoyed at how licensee departments nickle and dime you. So certain city's I have started to advertise remote repair and luckily they cant do anything about that because I'm operating on the internet not in their city.

 

[techroc]

Just an FYI... The B.E.A.R. license is *ONLY* required if you are servicing RESIDENTIAL clients. B.E.A.R. does not require you to have a license if you service strictly business computers.

I found this pretty interesting, and didn't believe my interpretation of their rules, so I confirmed it with them. Apparently, and not really so suprising, California doesn't care if business gets screwed by "Unlicensed" techs, only if residential users do.

And, as VDub mentioned, this is really just a tax on techs, since there is no background check, no qualifications checks or requirements, or anything. They just want to know who you are so that that can audit your ads and fine you if you are out of compliance with their advertising requirements.

I wonder why people are bailing on California!?!?

Can you link me to any resources containing such information about no b.e.a.r. for servicing small businesses? (if you don't have to go out of your way)

 

[techroc]

I started my business in southern California, what I had to deal with licensing was that every city that I worked in wanted to get some licensee fees so even when I didn't have a physical location within the city I had to register my vehicle for a fee. But its different in every city go to each of their web sites and see what their rules are.

To be honest I'm annoyed at how licensee departments nickle and dime you. So certain city's I have started to advertise remote repair and luckily they cant do anything about that because I'm operating on the internet not in their city.

Hmm, did they notify you about not being licensed? Or did they demand such taxes involved with doing business in their city limits? It is annoying, I just want to create a legit operation without having to worry about simple things such as licensing to haunt me in the long run. I thought maybe if I'm licensed in the city of my physical address, that I didn't have to get any additional licenses to support surrounding cities.

I understand what you're saying about remote support. You are still in your own city limits while providing remote assistance... so what can they do? If someone from another city came in to get their computer serviced at the physical licensed location, it would be a pain if I had to have a license for the city that they're located in.

p.s. Thank you all for your kind support and replies which are greatly appreciated!

 

[NorCal Internet]

Can you link me to any resources containing such information about no b.e.a.r. for servicing small businesses? (if you don't have to go out of your way)

It's right in the first paragraph of the application:

"...or computer systems normally used or sold for personal, family, household or home office use."


Here's a copy of the e-mail response I got, and the original request:



Mike:

You are right, if the company is only conducting computer repairs on businesses, then it does not need a license from us. The Bureau's jurisdiction only covers repairs done on consumer's or individual's (residential) computers.

Hopefully this answers your question.

dc


DALE CHESSEY
California Department of Consumer Affairs
916.574.0283 direct
916.574.2069 office
Dale_Chessey@dca.ca.gov

Confidentiality: The contents of this communication, together with any attachments, are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed and may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure.

Shalom Rojas/BEAR/DCANotes
01/03/2008 03:48 PM To Dale Chessey/BEAR/DCANotes@DCANotes
cc
Subject Fw: Quick Question





Shalom Rojas
Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau of Home Furnishings
shalom_rojas@dca.ca.gov
Work: 916-574-2046
Fax: 916-574-2120
----- Forwarded by Shalom Rojas/BEAR/DCANotes on 01/03/2008 03:50 PM -----
"Michael Colvin" <mcolvin@norcalisp.com>
12/31/2007 12:38 PM
To: <beartalk@dca.ca.gov>
cc:
Subject: Quick Question


I’m considering adding PC/Network service to my list of product offerings. In review of your applications for both Repair and Service contracts, it appears that the licensing requirements apply specifically to items used in a household, or “Residintial” in nature.

If a business focused solely on performing PC repairs, network services, etc STRICKTLY for business entities (Not including home offices), would they be in violation if they didn’t have the BEAR license? IE, if they we’re a Commercial customer only business, versus Commercial and Residential.

Thanks in advance!

 

[nevellholmes]

Well I had this issue when I first got my License. If you get your License from the city or county courthouse then your only good for that county. If you get your license from the state dept. then your good for the whole state. Easy enough for me was that they had the application to send to the state capitol in the county courthouse. I sent that off then applied for my Federal Tax ID and I was golden 3 weeks later.

 

[techroc]

Thank you very much Michael, that was very much helpful indeed!

It's funny how that works out hehe