Did you get that memo? | Rena Tom / retail strategy, trends and ...

Posted by Alyson Thomas ? Monday, April 30, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?

Milton's Red Stapler by Nat Smith Illustrations at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NatSmithIllustration

One of the best things about being part of a local community of creatives is the constant transfer of knowledge. When you have your head down in your business, it?s easy to only pay attention to your own issues. But being a part of a group of small-business owners means that you can constantly be alerted to new information relevant for your biz.

Such was the case this last week when a Kyla of the SF Etsy Team posted about a new California Board of Equalization (BOE ? our state sales tax collection agency) memo, explaining a new ?sub-permit? requirement. Up until now, if you were a seller in California, you registered for a seller?s permit for your permanent place of business. For brick and mortar shop owners, this was their shop, obviously. For online sellers, this typically is just your house, studio, or office. That one seller?s permit was all you needed, and you were free to sell at ?temporary? locations like craft fairs without any further regulations.

As of April this year, the BOE is requiring California sellers to file for an additional sub-permit for each temporary location at which they sell. This means you need to file with the BOE for every craft fair, flea market, or trunk show at which you?ll be selling. Thankfully, there is no additional cost, but there is additional effort. California sellers will need to either call the BOE or visit a BOE office to register their temporary selling location. Applications by mail can take 2 to 4 weeks, while in person applications can be done immediately. By the summer, the BOE will have an easier online registration process, hopefully in time for the craft show season.

More information for California sellers can be found here: http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/specialnotices.htm (Click on the April 2012 notice)

Even though this new information is specific to California sellers, the larger point is that new laws, regulations, and requirements pop up all. the. time. As a small-business owner, you have so many federal, state, and local agencies, boards, and regulatory bodies to answer to that it is fairly difficult to stay up to date on everything, all while trying to make your business succeed (and sneak in some free time too!). Ignoring or just plain being ignorant of these regulations can cost you time and money down the road. That?s why being a member of a small-business group, whether online or in person, local or nationwide, is so imperative to the health and legal security of your business.

- Alyson Thomas, Drywell Art

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