I need a business license?

[crazycolubrids]

I received a call today from the Lloydminster city hall saying that I need a business license in order to sell my snakes from my home. Does anyone else need to have a business license to sell your reptiles?

[bear24]

That's gotta be a joke. phone your MLA.

[joeysgreen]

I know on the Alberta side it is fine to make money from a home-based hobby as long as it's not a significant part of your income. Further, I"m certain if you count all of your expenses, you'll find that you arn't actually making money (especially if you are spending your profits on more snakes/reptile equipment).
Recall that if you are making $30,000 gross you need a GST/HST number from the federal government and will have to collect GST.

If you are planning on opening that pet store, I would just get a business liscence that will eventually encompass that. Talk to your accountant. There is benefit in opening a company, lets call it crazycolubrids. This company, for now, will include your home based business. Your pet store then is opened by crazycolubrids; not you. I think this affords you some personal financial protection should the pet store go bankrupt. Again, talk to your accountant as I'm only relaying what I"ve seen.

Ian

[kaley]

I think that stuff like that usually depends on the city/town by-laws...I know that people in the wee little town Delisle have gotten into trouble for things like that.