Business Start Up!

@walkthruglass I would check with Boulder’s gov website and see if they require any type of licensing. Years ago when I was in Durango I needed a license from the city. The firemen had to come a check where we stored our cleaning equipment. There’s no license requirement for state of Colorado window cleaners (at least not those who do residential/commercial under three stories), but each city/town may have different requirements than the state.

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@walkthruglass oh crap… I looked at Aurora site, I guess I’m supposed to have one here. When I started in Denver; nothing on their site indicated I needed one.

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I’m happy it helped bring it to your attention to! :wink:

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According to Aurora’s site I needed to have one even when I was located in Denver. I really don’t want to find out in the other town/cities surrounding the Denver metro area if they require licensing as well. At least I’m official in Aurora now as I just submitted my application for a business license.

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In most cases States make it pretty easy to go into business because they want the tax revenue. I would reach out to your local city clerk. If you plan on going sole proprietor then its most likely just a matter of getting your tax ID number and registering your “Doing Business As” (DBA) name. Another thing to consider is banking. You should keep your business and personal banking separate. Go talk to your bank or local credit union and see what the requirements are for opening a business bank account. You shouldn’t need much more than a tax ID number for a sole prop, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

I think its great that a 17 year old is thinking about the legal aspects and looking to do it right. Keep it up!

Bonded just means the client has a course of action if they are unsatisfied with the job or if you breach a contract. Unless it is different in each State I don’t think it is a requirement unless certain commercial clients require it or if you are bidding on government contracts.

Be sure in your answer. Don’t say, “I heard I don’t need it.” It sounds like you’re unsure in your answer. Just say, “I’m not required to be bonded unless I bid for a government or certain business contracts, but I am insured for liability up to $1M on any job that I do” I think most people who are asking you probably mean to ask if you are insured. If its a residential client asking I would just say, “I have a $1M GL policy.”

You should only have to have a license for the city in which your business is located. It would be a nightmare burden to get a business license in every city you provide services in. I imagine that would be a lot of licenses in a 30 mile radius around Denver.

You are showing good inititiative @CrystalClean99 .
I recommend getting guidance from your local Chamber of Commerce and possibly from the Small Business Administration. I am sure you will find them to be helpful.

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I’m not sure about being bonded, but you need to get custody and control. Look into it with your agent. It’s way reassuring that if something happens to someone else’s property that they hired you to have custody and control over, that your covered. Just Liability won’t cut it. That’s in case someone gets injured or property damage to stuff you aren’t servicing (ladder falls on a customer car type stuff). I’m sure others can chime in better on the “why”.