Filed the articles last month, got the stamped approval back and an EIN. Thought that was the finish line. Then I called the city about a zoning certificate and the woman told me I can't operate a business out of my address without a conditional use permit, which takes 6-8 weeks and requires a public notice sign in my yard. Nobody told me any of this when I registered. Feeling pretty stupid about it honestly. Is this normal for everyone or did I just skip a step?
Licensing
I got my LLC approved but still can't legally start operating
Registering the LLC is the easy part and it's the only part the state makes you do without asking questions.Everything else is local. Zoning, occupancy, health dept if applicable, sales tax permit. In my county the zoning certificate was the thing that took longest.
very normal. the LLC is basically just a legal shell. it doesn't give you permission to do anything.
What kind of business is it? That changes a lot. If you're not getting foot traffic and it's just you at a desk, some cities have a home occupation permit that's much cheaper and faster than a conditional use. Worth asking specifically about home occupation rules before you go down the CUP road.
The public notice sign is what would bother me. Neighbors seeing that before you've even started can create problems you don't need.
It's consulting, mostly remote, no clients coming to the house. I'll ask about home occupation specifically, thank you. The person I spoke to just said 'conditional use' and I didn't know there were other categories to ask about.
Then definitely ask. A lot of codes allow remote office use as a home occupation by right, meaning no CUP at all. But you have to be careful how you describe it and stay inside whatever limits they set, like no signage and no employees on site.
You didn't skip a step,the step just isn't advertised. I went through the same thing two years ago. What got me was the sales tax permit, I assumed I didn't need one because I sell services. Turns out part of my billing was taxable. Lesson was to call the state revenue office and the city both, and write down names of who told me what.
Seconding writing names down. When i had my zoning question answered I asked them to email me the determination so there was a record. Took an extra day but saved me when a different inspector had a different opinion later.
also check if your city requires a general business license separate from zoning. mine does and it's a flat annual fee, completely different office from planning.
so realistically you're looking at 6-8 weeks before you can invoice anyone?
Depends what they say about home occupation. If that's allowed by right I might be able to start much sooner. Calling tomorrow morning. I'll update here in case anyone else is at the same stage.