Automobile repair shops often must acquire an occupational license in addition to a standard business license.
Starting your own business is a dream for people across the globe. Having the freedom to set your own hours--even though those hours may be long ones--and be your own boss can be an attractive prospect. If you want to start an automotive repair business, the first item you must have, specifically for legal purposes, is a business license. There are 70,000 separate licensing jurisdictions in the U.S., and requirements and types of licenses vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so check your area's laws before you begin the process.
Instructions
1. Contact the county clerk's office in your county's courthouse. This office records all documents for the county and city, such as birth, death and marriage records. The office can give you a form to fill out to begin the process of local licensing.
2. Contact the department that handles taxation and revenue in your state capital. It will provide you with a specific registration number you will use when filing state taxes for the business.
3. Contact the IRS to obtain a federal Employer Identification Number, or EIN. This number tracks your tax information, which is required by law. The EIN also makes it easier to track yearly expenses, especially once you begin to hire employees.
4. File a fictitious business name registration (also known as a DBA, or "doing business as," registration). This allows you to operate under a name other than your own (for instance, Super Auto Repair, rather than Joe Smith's Auto Repair). Such registration makes clear who is the legal owner of a business that doesn't have the owner's name in it. Not all states require a fictitious name registration.
5. Acquire a sales tax license or seller's permit if you plan to sell anything--such as oil, antifreeze and bulbs for taillights--to the general public.
6. Apply for a state-issued, automotive repair occupational license. You can sometimes apply for this through the county courthouse and have the form faxed or mailed to the state department. Otherwise, consider filling out your form on the website provided by your state's Better Business Bureau.
7. Check with your local government on zoning laws. Some municipalities may prohibit particular types of businesses from operating in the area in which you wish to locate your auto repair shop.
Tags: Auto Repair, automotive repair, begin process, county courthouse, name registration
