Is a license required for your art and craft show booth, art and craft show, or online art and craft business?

The answer is it depends on the city, county, and state you live in. Every city, county and state creates their own rules and regulations regarding business licenses and special event permits etc. Each location will also have it’s own rules on tax collection at art and craft shows.

So how do you find out if you need a business license or special event permit for your craft business? Call your city offices and ask them what department handles business licenses and special event permits. You can also type your city, county, state and the keywords business license requirements or special events permits into a search engine.

My business is outside the city limits so my city won’t issue me a business license. My county and state don’t require business licenses for my type of craft business. I finally visited a neighboring city and was issued a business license.

You will usually need a business license to buy wholesale. It is to your benefit to get a business license even if you aren’t required to have one.

Register your business with your state as a DBA (Doing Business As) as this allows you to get a business checking account which will make doing your taxes so much easier.

Also read Starting Your Art of Craft Business-Legal Requirements to Start Your Business

Visit the State Resources page at Extravaganza Craft Productions for more information if you live in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, or South Dakota.

Know the requirements for your city, county or state and live in the areas mentioned above?

Please comment on this post with the address, phone number and website of places artists and crafters can contact for more information. I will add that information to the State Resources page to help other crafters in your area.

Art and Craft Show Expert Shasta McLaughlin provides articles, hints and tips, checklists and more for artists and crafters that sell handcrafted products who want to save time looking for shows, packing for fairs, and get more sales at festivals. Now she is revealing how to collect your customers contact information, follow up with them and make more money while working less. Go to http://www.extravaganzacrafts.com to get her newsletter, The Extravaganza Craft News, that will help you avoid mistakes, save time and money when preparing your craft show booth.