How to obtain business License???

[PipeDreamer07]

I have been doing some contracted welding for this pipeline company and we have moved to another state and there they want me to get a business license and some insurance where in other stated we have worked I fell under there insurance and we shown I was employed by them. Now I have to get all this done with in a month and not even sure which dirrection to go first. I also heard this that it is better to go Inc. or LLC. and is a cheaper rate to go, is this true? and who to call, what to do?

:confused:

[petersenj20]

LLC or Inc or sole proprietor is a choice you need to make based on your circumstances. I started an LLC because of liability limits.

Get in contact with the license office for your county or city whichever you are in. Mine was a county and each have their own rules that must be obeyed. I got a business license and incorperated (LLC) with the state. GA. They have a website with all the info I needed. I'm sure MO has this too.

Also need tax ID's for state (if applicable) and Federal. The license office can direct you after the license is taken care of.

My total cost was $100 for the business license, $200 for the Incorporation, $100 for the incorporation expedite fee. If a sole proprietor you can save on the corporation fees, but it has other issues. If incorporating, you need to make sure the company name isn't already taken or will delay the process. The business names were listed on the web site I mentioned.

With the expedite fee I had all said and done in a week and a half. Not including all the research leading up to it.

Trademarks and logos are a whole nother topic I have avoided as I don't need to make money. If I ever get to a point where this is an issue, I will look into it.

[Sandy]

There generally can be two components in these things. One is a business license and the other is a contractors license. Neither one is a thirty day ordeal. Not when you are talking about gov't involvement, money and mail time and all.

Depending on what it is you will be doing besides welding both a business and contractors license may be needed.

[WelderBoy]

Not sure about where you are, but in the state of Washington you need a contractor's license to to pretty much anything with your hands. $12,000 for a general contractor's licnese if you will be performing more than one type of task. For example, welding & repair are two different things. If you are only performing one type of task, a specialty contractor's license is all you need. That is only $6,000. But once you get a specialty contractor's license you are limited to that one type of work. If you get it for welding, you can't swing a hammer and build anything out of lumber, pour concrete, or anything.

[lewray]

Man that stinks

[WelderBoy]

Man that stinks

It's actually really good. It keeps the low bidding little occasional job guys from taking business from the serious contractors. I personally am a combination of both at the moment until I get more contracts lined up and can quick my current day job.

[DDA52]

I'm glad I don't have to do all that BS. Fighting low bidders just takes a good track record, which they will NOT have in most cases. No Lic board is gonna tell me what I can and can't do.:nono:

[calweld]

In California, anyway, if you are doing any work at all on real property (this means anything connected to the real estate or the building), a contractor's license is required. If you don't have one, under the law you have essentially entered into an illegal contract, which is not enforceable. In a nutshell, this means if there is any disagreement or payment issues between you and the general contractor and/or the end customer, with no contractor's license the courts don't want to hear about it, you have absolutely no recourse.

[PipeDreamer07]

Thanks for the input and stuff, good place to start...I only weld pipe and pipe only, nothing else maybe repairs on some equipment, Dozerz blades and track and back hoes' and stuff nothing structual...thanks for the info, man i really like this site and learning alot stuff from other peoples post...thank you once again..

[PipeDreamer07]

Hey welder friends keep burning those 7018 and i will keep burnin 6010 & 7010, sure like my bead better on 7011 and 7018's takes alot of pipe to get a good cap on 6010.

[calweld]

And by the way, you get a ficticious name statement thru the county records office, and a business license thru the planning department, of whichever county or city you plan to be based in. Many times, you can look up the county or city online, find out what's required, download the paperwork, fill it out and mail it in, with a check of course, don't even have to go to the physical location or courthouse. If you want to consider an LLC or an Inc., that comes thru the state, any state, best to talk to your accountant or your lawyer here, don't depend on any of us "internet experts" :jester: :jester: :jester: More checks, need I say??? :laugh: Insurance?? ha, start shopping now, you need to find a good independent agent who specializes in commercial lines, some states it's easy and cheap, other states it's hard and expensive, but the right agent can make life much easier for you either way. California happens to be a hard and expensive one . . .

[calweld]

And one other suggestion for anybody doing something like this or considering starting their own business . . . don't put "welding" into your business name, it's a red flag for planning departments and insurance companies . . . Nobody likes welders . . . sometimes you can get yourself classified as something else related . . . Millwright, equipment repair, fence builder, etc. etc. But if your name says "welding", it's kind of hard to ignore . . . call it Enterprises, Ag services, Pipefitters, Construction, whatever, but not welding.

[WelderBoy]

calweld, I don't understand why that is a red flag. If you need welders, you skip the companies that specialize in welding?

[lewray]

It's actually really good. It keeps the low bidding little occasional job guys from taking business from the serious contractors. I personally am a combination of both at the moment until I get more contracts lined up and can quick my current day job.


Very good
I never thought of it that way...

[PipeDreamer07]

I can understand about the low bidding thing, which is real good, I couldn't tell you how many times I have been cut do to pricing but the work is always out there, I look at it this way, quality is a hard thing to come by and theres quanity welders out there that shouldn't even be welder, look like a rooster roosten above there welds but I guess in time they get better just like all of us.. Now theres a good start and I will be surfing today to check that out, thanks again all for the input..." I really like this web site, alot of useful info."