Insurance, Licenses, And Copy Rights

[Really Well Cut]

If I have a company name what sort of protection should I get to keep it mine. Also what licenses are required if any. I'm sure that there are licenses for such things like fertilization and such but are there any others? Finally what kind of insurance is needed?

[srlawnservice]

reply

Most counties you only have to file a fictious name. In my county that cost is ten dollars. Not sure what legal rights that would give you but it prevents anyone else from filing in the same county with the same name. It will also allow you to maintain bank accounts, credit cards, etc. You will also need to file for a federal tax ID number.

To generate income you need a small business license. In my county that is fifty dollars the first year and a small percentage every year after for businesses grossing more than twenty thousand annually, otherwise it's a wash.

Other licenses are dependent on the services you offer. Pesticides and herbicides generally require some type of certification. (in my county, only if provided for compensation...so if you do it as a favor..well maybe that's a legality but....) Mowing and mulching should require nothing more than insurance. If you're getting more complicated than that you would have to look at your local county tax authorities web page.

RL
SR Lawn

[aemt]

reply

I would go and speak with an accountant to determine what you need to do. I spoke with my accountant last week, and there is no reason for us to get a Federal Tax ID number. He told me that unless we were hiring employees, we don't need one right now. We are doing this part-time, and not making a ton of $$$, so our circumstances may be different from yours.

It cost us 9.00 to get a certificate of assumed name from our courthouse to protect our name. We were required to get no other licenses by our county.

Talk to your insurance agent. That's what we did to get our insurance set up. they can direct you on the proper insurance to carry for your business needs.

As for licenses, my area doesn't require any unless you are spraying chemicals. We can use granular fertilizers without any.

Better to be safe than sorry...Take a day off from mowing and visit an accountant, insurance agent, and courthouse.

Maple City Lawn Care
La Porte, Indiana