Do I need a business license?

Just wondering if I need to get a business license before I try an application for the CJ affiliate program? Will they accept individuals if they like your site?
What if it is a brand new site with little traffic stats yet?

 

No, you don't need a business license. I operate as an individual (sole propreitor) and haven't had any problems getting approved. If you run a nice site that is in line with what the advertiser is looking for, you shouldn't have any problem getting approved as an individual.

 

If you are in the U.S., you legally need a business license to operate. You may also owe city and state business taxes, as well. A sole proprietorship IS an option when you register your business name. CJ is not going to care if you have a business license. Only the city and state in which you reside will.

 

Those statements are both false. There is no such thing as a "business license" in the US. Additionally, if you are choosing to run your business as a sole proprietorship, you are only required to register your business name if it is different from your legal name. For example, John Smith can do business as John Smith without filling out any forms. If John Smith wants to do business as "John's Marketing Service", he must register his business name as a DBA (doing business as) with his local county government (most, if not all states, do this on a local rather than state level). As a sole proprietor, you can simply file your business taxes with your regular taxes - you'll just need additional papers such as a Schedule C. I'm not a lawyer or tax attorney, so please contact one or read up on this on legal resources (websites, books, etc...) before making a decision regarding how to structure your business.

If you want to form an LLC, Partnership, Corporation, or anything similar, you'll most likely need to register with the state (or another state) and get a federal EIN (Employer Identification Number, used for tax purposes in place of a social security number) from the IRS.

 

I disagree. A business license may or may not be required DEPENDING on where you reside in the U.S. You have to check with the state and city in which you live. They ALL have different guidelines for whether you need one or not. And yes, there IS such a thing as a "business license." There isn't any "U.S. business license," true. It's state issued. Sometimes it is known as a different name, it just DEPENDS on the state in which you live.

 

If you operate under a trade or D.B.A you are required to register at the county and state level in certain states. However, if you choose to operate as a sole proprietor under your own name, there are no legal requirements.

You simply keep track of your earnings and expenses and report them on a Schedule C on your personal Tax Return each year. I've done this the past two years per the advice of my accountant.

Affiliate marketing is still something I do on the side of a regular job though. If ever it becomes something that I can do full time, I may consider a single member LLC in which case I will need to file some paperwork.

Wikipedia entry for sole propreitorship
"An entrepreneur may opt for the sole proprietorship legal structure because no additional work must be done to start the business. In most cases, there are no legal formalities to forming or dissolving a business."

 

Why would you post such things. 90% of what you said is BS. You do not need a business license to register for CJ. You can use your SSN instead and fill out a W9 form.
assuming you reside in the U.S...

 

I have a business license so how can there not be such a thing?

 

What kind of "business license" do you have, and where do you live?

 

CJ accepts just about any websites except adult sites. You don't need business license to sign up with CJ.

 

Okay, moron. You apparently didn't READ my posts. I specifically said CJ doesn't give a damn if you have a business license or not. It's your city and state who might. They want their taxes right???? Have fun in jail if you don't pay your taxes.

The rest of you people (if that's what you go by) do whatever floats your boat.

Whoever posted the Wikipedia quote, um, sorry! Wikipedia is NOT an authority source of info. You can go and change it yourself if you want to. It's total B.S. You can't trust a damn thing there since it can be edited by anyone and everyone.

If anyone actually has a brain here, check with your city and state to see if they require registration of a business entity or license for the type of business you are doing. Hell, it's only like $10. Give me a break. I'm not here to argue with people. Only to point out the obvious to someone who may not know.

Now, before anyone post because they feel "cool," read the THREAD.

 

An interesting question with several spicy posts. Here is my opinion:

CJ requires your tax id, if you reside in the US. And it may require similar tax id's for other countries. You need to fill out a W-9 if you wish to get paid as well. CJ does not require you to have a business license to register. And for good reason...

The requirements to have a business license (permission to run a particular business) varies from state to state, county to county and city to city. CJ has no legal requirement to determine if you have a proper business license. Note that where I live, I do not need to have a business license to operate a website where affiliate sales are made.

On the other hand, I do have to pay taxes on affiliate income... State and Federal income tax forms need to be filed and taxes paid. (For me, last year, this meant a self-employment filing through a Schedule C.) I also have to pay property taxes on the computer I am typing this post on.

But CJ does not care about this - they only care about there legal requirement, which is to file a 1099 with the Federal Government, if necessary, for the payments they make to you. Thus the need for a Federal Tax id.

You should check with your state and local governments to determine if you need to have a business license for the work you are doing.