Can you believe this

Think the issue is misunderstanding of what a business is. It is not i interpreted the same for all. Right or wrong

I would say a business is something that earns you income to pay your monthly bills/survive.

In the case $400 a month income is a hobby, yes it is still a business.

I have yet heard on this forum where a guy is asking questions to start a business as a hobby, having income to live without it. They always need the income generated from it to live and pay bills.

You are in the very minority that does NOT require a license and insurance. Most places in this world, you can’t open a business checking account WITHOUT a business license.

If your local requires you to make 400 a month and then requires you to get a license, I wouldn’t call you a “business” until you have a license.

With your logic, you are a “store” and a “business” if you have a garage sale and sell a few bucks worth of items.

While I get lots of people don’t do things right, that doesn’t mean they are stupid, or that they are some kind of jerk. But when you aren’t getting a license and insurance, you are just flat wrong. You aren’t a business until you are an actual business. Until that happens you are just someone doing something for pocket money. You aren’t serious.

This subject comes up often, and I don’t care how anyone wants to defend it. Most don’t want to see why it’s wrong because they started their business the wrong way. Just because someone happens to be in a better position today, doesn’t convince me they did things right.

you’re misrepresenting my logic, and then stating your opinion as fact. the fact is, if you exchange services for payment on a regular basis you are a business.

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Its possible to start a business, license included in my area for under 100. It wouldnt be insired, but just about all the storefronts I do could care less, at least unless something breaks im sure.

License for my city (350k + in people) - $23
Big box improvement store $7 squeegee, $3 bucket, $20 pole, $14 strip pad, $15 business cards, $12 for microfiber towels=$94

I started with basically this, plus insurance, and its worked out fine so far. Of course I have many new toys since then that I have acquired. My wife says I am a tool junkie. :slight_smile: (woodworking, mechanic, some electrical, window cleaning…I may have an issue)

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This is where I agree, here I do not need a licence as such , however I am required to lodge my business name with the federal government department, this cost about $126 per year if I do not have this I cannot open up a bank account in my business name. the only way of getting around that is not to have a business name and your business HAS to be your full name you cannot add anything to it.

Do you need a California (CA) business license?

Of course you do! In California, if you operate ANY type of business you need a general California city business license. This even applies to California small businesses and home-based businesses, or a business that does not make very much money. While there is no California state busienss license, if you are in business in any city in California, no matter how small, you need to apply for a business license in your city.

Even though you live there, it seems you don’t know your own laws that well.
It took me 2 seconds to find the answer here:

Now it may be possible you live in a city that may not require one, but it seems ALL cities do.

So again, I’ll say the places that DON’T require a license for a business, are very small.

Even if you need the license/insurance, it still isn’t that much. The OP says he’s about $1000 invested so far. That is NOT a lot of money. At all. 10 years later when you have a successful business and you look back at the $1000 invested, you’ll laugh. Im pretty sure I was under the amount when I started. He is a solo operator. Not much to it.

I don’t think people are trying to be super stars but it’s window cleaning. It does not require much to get into. What it requires is your dedication and time to make it work and keep it going. That’s the real “money”.

I was probably under 1500(but that includes a full year of insurance at over 700. Which I pay monthly, so the first month of start up isn’t bad). That includes ladders and tools, uniform, license and insurance, website, business cards, car magnet- NO advertising other than these three things and I pulled in non stop weekend work👍 he isn’t doing this full time. No need to get crazy on marketing and advertising.

Need a vehicle? Now your start up investment just went up by the 1000’s.

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I’m not saying you should be 10K deep to start a business. But far too many people think you are a “business” if you have 50 bucks in your pocket to buy HD tools and decide to call yourself a business.

So if I have a crescent wrench and a pair of pliers, am I a mechanic now? :thinking::roll_eyes:

That folks keep defending that line of thinking is ludicrous. Many of those same people will complain when some “Bob” “steals” their account. Well, BOB is a business in their eyes, so why do they whine?

It doesn’t matter WHAT your business IS. There are proper steps to take to BE a business, both regulatory and moral. Bernie Madeoff had a “business” too, right?

I give no high fives to anyone who skirts the laws and rules.

Absolutely agree that the proper steps should be taken

@cruzzer3 I DO NOT encourage debt or paying interest but the more we put “skin in the game” the more likely our businesses will survive and eventually become profitable.

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In Texas there’s is no business license per se, just a sales tax ID. This allows us to charge sales tax and forward it to the state.

We are not required by the state to carry insurance.

So if I have a sales tax ID but no insurance, am I an illegitimate business? Not illegitimate in your eyes, but the eyes of the law?

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MN, no license for window cleaning. It’s usually businesses that are regulated by the city or a federal entity that have to be licensed.

I always find it amusing when I see local companies who advertise licensed and insured. I always wonder what they’re thinking the license they have is.

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you’re impossible to reason with

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I am a huge save Ramsey fan. Was told about window cleaning by my financial advisor which is a ELP. I have read some of his recommended books.

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My business is pretty much a hobby business. Don’t get me wrong I want the income. I have a very good paying job. But I work 10 days a week with 112 hrs put in bi weekly. I can not complain about my career income. I’ve always wanted my own business. I have zero and again ZERO. Intentions of this being huge. If I can make 12,000 a year extra to help further my retirement on top of my pension I will be jumping with joy. My original goal was to start a business that I can use that income to invest into more retirement and maybe to pay for some vacations once in a while. But I do not need my income from my business at all to pay my bills, buy food for my family. I just see your guys profession as a amazing art form. Great customer service and a physical job that can be very satisfying. I envy all of you that has started small like me and have grown to an amazing profitable business. I am so impressed every time I read on this forum. I do want to be successful. But I am not doing this for a career. Solely on my days off from my career job.

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Here in my area of Florida you do not NEED insurance, but it is wise to have. You do not need a license, but you do need to pay the City $65 in order to do business - so I guess one could call that a license. Contractors, electricians, and plumbers also need a license on top of paying the city to do business. So, perhaps the jargon is confusing?

Please explain how you work 10 days a week

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Sooo. Dude I’m here to learn. People are trying to help me. No reason to be upset man. First of all. What makes you a legal business? Let’s start with number #1 Do you have a company name that is registered within your state of operation? In my state we have to be registered as a business. I am registered as a LLC. That makes me a official business in Ohio. #2 Do you have a tax ID number with the federal government? Well, I have a tax ID with the federal government to pay my yearly federal tax on my income made with the registered Ohio business. 3# Do you pay local or state sales tax as a registered business. I have to pay quarterly into my state tax for any profits made from my registered business. #4 Do you have a bank account set up for your registered business that you used your federal tax ID number to open the account? Well I have a bank account registered to my business that I also used a federal tax ID number to open that account. #5 Do you have all state and local licensing to operate as a profitable business in your state and town? Well I also have all my state and local licensing in place to run a profitable business in my state and town. So with that being said. I see myself pretty much equal to you… In Ohio I am considered a legitimate business. I really do not see my self as a bucket bob. I am a tax paying business that is fully licensed and ready to do legitimate work. I just didnt spend thousands of dollars to buy equipment with my start up. I did spent about 500$ on equipment which was not needed but I want to be a good reputable business in my area. I am not arguing. I feel because I am trying to be frugal and smart with money this automatically put it into your head that im out there with a window washing squeegee I swiped from our local gas station window cleaning station. I am as registered as a business just like you or the next person is. I just want help man. I am learning. I dont care for conflict much at all. I am trying to do what is right and any smart business owner wants a return for their investment. So please just help me and lets all just get along.

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Im sorry I did a typo. I work 10 days a month. Actually 9 if we want to be technical. Then less with vactions and personnel days.

imo you’re on the right track and you’ll do well. Having a clear direction and matching expectations are huge.

I personally like being solo while others want/have multiple crews which works very well for them.

knowing your goals and or limitations will allow you too build towards them or around them.

once you get your pitch and pricing together sales will explode if you’re not careful, just for the fact you don’t need the income you wont have that pressure over you. many fail on this note alone imo

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