I'm relatively new to this, so yeah, it may be a stupid question. I've looked up a bit of information and have received both yes and no answers to this question, so I will ask here just to get more information. Do you need to have a business license in order to sell things online, such as shirts and merchandise etc etc? I've seen things where it says you need a business license in order to get loans and government tax credits and more, but I'm speaking from a websites point of view.. I'm making websites atm that will, in the soon to come future, that will have things such as shirts, calenders and other items for purchase. Thank you for your time and I appreciate all (related and intellectual) answers and responses.
Hi FallenShadow. I am a lawyer here in Spain, and I manage diverse online businesses, including a web design company since 2006. I will tell you that I am not familiar with USA law, but I know other legal systems in Europe, and can confirm you that in this legal area it is necessary to register any professional and commercial activity according to certain previsions of social, merchant and tax regulations before starting selling goods or providing any service to comply with aspects related to social insurance, accounting records, invoicing, etc. I doubt that it is very different there in the States. What I mean is that selling products or providing a professional service online is the same thing that doing it from a shop or office. Just a question of procedure. Moreover, nowadays there are special legal bodies in all Western countries to address and regulate online commercial and professional activities, among many other issues and problems derived from activities in the Internet. So you should comply with both of them. You’d better look for a legal councellor or firm specialized in business law to ask for advice before getting into trouble.