I will be officially starting a handyman business in January 2004′. It is a sole proprietorship LLC. I will be performing work in three seperate New Jersey counties. Camden County, Gloucester County, and Atlantic County. All of which are located within the southern part of New Jersey.
My main question is: what is required by LAW, in regards to obtaining a business license? What are my responsibilities in regards to the different jurisdictions.-
State Vs. County Vs. Township business licensing??????
Any help or advice is GREATLY APPRESHEATED!!!!!!!!!!!!**!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You! Chipper 12/27/03
Replies
Chip-
You'll need to apply for a DBA in the county in which your office is located. You may also need individual licenses for certain towns- Woodbridge, for example, has a $25 fee and one-page application to work in the town, though no one gets the license. As of right now, there's no state licensing for contractors.
Good luck,
Bob
Do you know if a business license is needed, regardless of the type of work being done. Home repairs versus home improvents?
The "DBA" or "doing business as" license simply allows you to do business as "Chip's Handyman Service" or "Chip's Home Improvements". You won't be able to open a checking account in the company's name without it. It's not a "business license" per se, as is required in some states such as California, or as is required to be an electrician or plumber in NJ. It says nothing of your business skills or experience- just that "you" are now "Chip's Handyman Service".
The local licenses vary from city to city, but where they're required, they're required for ANY work on a homeowner's house- they're designed to "protect" the owner from unscrupulous contractors (yeah, right....like a $25 fee and a one-page application is going to do that...), and you usually can't pull a permit in the town if you don't pay the license fee.
Bob