Quote:
Originally Posted by pamelakay  Thanks for all the input everybody! I appreciate it 
So..do I really need to sign up my little business anywhere right now?
Would I be breaking any rules/laws if I just started selling online at this point in time?
Because I notice there have been people on here who will randomly make like little outfits or bandanas (not anyone with a big business going on...they just made these outfits in their own free time cause they were feeling creative...) and then they post pictures and sell them to people. I assume they don't have a business connected to that..they just made something out of "hobby" or whatnot, and decided to sell it.
Right now, that's basically what I'm doing and would like to keep doing.
I've already been making special little things for friends of mine and selling it to them. I find a lot of them really like my stuff and they keep telling me to start selling online or something so more people will know about my stuff...so I'm hoping to expand it a little more and just open up a little website where people from different states can order if they like my products. If more and more people start buying, then my little "hobby" can grow into some sort of extra $ for me. I guess my biggest question right now would be: Would it be alright to keep it that simple and just do that (since this is a very small thing right now)..or do I really need to go out and register and let some legal company know I am doing this? I just need to know who needs to know about me doing this type of thing (afterall, it's still a very very small business right now), so there are no legal issues.
Also, I really would like to copyright/trademark the name I made up to use for my products as well as my designs..because I use a lot of my own designs that I created solely on my own. I've been looking around for how to do that..anyone know anything about this?
Thanks again for all the advice! |
You don't have to register your business as long as it is small, you only have to declare your income from it. As far as trademarks and copyrights that's a quite expensive and time consuming thing to get going and it is very easy to get around it. Same with patents. It only makes sense if you do big business. Pet apparel is a billion dollar business and if you find your 'niche' you'll make money on it. So what if somebody steals your ideas... at least they have to buy the first one from you...
Most of all, you are not only selling your outfits but your personality and customer service too!
I would not worry about this aspect of the business too much right now. I think first you have to get organized and find out what sells and what not. Just start and see how it goes...