can i do photography for money without a license..?

[Lauren]

i have a business card, its only me. small setup at my house. a Facebook page for it.

and what would i need to do to make it legal if its not

[Tom]

Unless you live in a Commie country you should be able to. Not like you are a Doctor or anything.

[MLAW42]

While wishing I could agree with TOM, truth is that in most U.S. cities, even when licensing is not required, permits or similar are. For example, most people assume they can simply set business as long as they pay tax every month or at least pay the federal tax at end of the year. In Miami for example everyone setting up any type business, including home business must apply for a license. This is applied for at a certain office (the name of which escapes me right now). But for those attempting to use part of their home as home office or other business (where absolutely NO public can come in to view or buy anything!), that person has to apply for a permit at the city offices where upon interviewed by city employee he or she will explain what part and how many square feet of the house will be used for that purpose.

As most people know (or should know) even for established commercial places, there are ONLY certain businesses which can be established in those areas. For example each individual commercial place which some people see in certain areas, such as doctors, dentists, photography, florist, tattoo parlor, etc., no one can simply come rent the place out and set up any business. They have to go by the city and see what the zoning is intended for in that area. There are places where only light industrial is permitted. Most people think "Oh, I have it made, I can set up my wood craft shop or my auto paint shop!" No. There are zoning rules and regulations for everything.

In your case, depending on how easy (or hard) your city is regarding these things, then you'll know what to do. Some of our relatives, having great skills in many areas but lacking the English language in order to take and pass the general contractor's exams, have never been able to set up their dream business! Some of my friends are still going around seeing if they can find the perfect niche in the least expensive place so they can set up their arts craft shop, but everything here is so expensive.

Something people should always take into account before they have their business cards done, is that all their phone numbers, and website, etc. should already be printed, in order to avoid more spending creating new cards later. If no website available, then a simple email address would do.

If I can give you one more tip: Depending on what type photography you will be doing, then it would be advisable to obtain a license sooner, for example if you will be contacting people, making appointments and then photographing them at their place of choice. It is always advisable when working with the public one on one to have proper licensing. Art should not have to be licensed, but as we all know government is Big Brother and we want to avoid as much problems as possible!

Good luck in your endeavor. If you know you're good at what you do, then go for it!