What do you smell?

[Kirk_Allen]

I contacted our County Court house regarding business licensing requirments for our business since we are moving to a new county.  Wanted to make sure all was in order.

I was told we only have to do three things.
1. Come in and pay $5.00 for an Assumed Name registration
2. Advertise in the local paper (A SPECIFIC LOCAL PAPER) for 45 days anouncing your business.  Cost( $150.00)
3. Bring back proof of publication/advertisement for the required 45 days and they would issue a certificate number for the assumed name of the business.

Now I dont know about you folks, but I smell a rat >:(  A great big DANG rat and I will be on the phone in the morning with the states attorney to get to the bottom of this. >:(

[Jeff]

yep. We get by with just the 5 bucks for a DBA

[Frickman]

If we have our last name in our business name, like "Brokaw's Sawmill", we don't even have to register with the county, assuming we are organized as sole proprietors. Zoning, however, is a whole different thing. If you want to start up a sawmill or another business you're in for a fight.

[Tom]

I don't use an assumed name and no "DBA" rules apply.  I'm a sole proprieter and I am the business.  It cost me the $40 (I think) a year for the license and it is recognized by surrounding counties.  Perhaps if I set up a store front in the other counties it would be different.

[Roxie]

Our area has the advertising rule, and they pick the newpaper with the largest circulation in the county.  The reason they make you advertise it and then issue the certificate is to give anyone with a similar name time to come forward.
It is an aggravation, but different counties have different rules.   :

[DanG]

Just a thought on the "specific paper" rule.  It may be that they've had problems with people placing their legal notices in out of town papers, so that potential respondants wouldn't see them. That was going on around here a few years ago.

$150 sounds a bit steep, though.  Does it have to be published daily for 45 days?  I think the rule here is to publish 3 times withing 45 days. ???  I haven't seen any "ficticious name" ads in a long time. They must not require it any more.

[Arthur]

easier her in Australia.

you need to check with the registered names and fill in a form for an ABN (Australian Business Number).  Costs nothing but time and is then yours and yours only across ALL of Australia.

If you also tick the primary producer status there are all sorts of benefits.  Australian made work vehicles are heavly discounted, deisel and alternate fuels are subsidised, etc,etc.

As a sole proprietor or Partnership with a small turnover you can seperate personal income from business and register for simplified tax.  This means you can pay yourself under the tax threshold personally and show the business making no profit (no tax).  Any tools or suff bought that is under $1000 is tax right off and only needs to be lodged on your asset list.

The gov also helps with business like ours with a new exporter grant to help promote our products abroad.  Only reason I can afford to come to the USA for the Sun Belt Expo.

at least they can do something right here.

[karl]

Here it is $30. to the states attorneys for fictitious name. period. If there is a problem with the name being in use already they notify you and you get to pick another. Imagine that - Simple AND from a government agency besides. ;)