Well, as it turns out, I need a “Home Improvement Contractor” licenses to ply my trade in Massachusett. So I went looking for the appropriate forms. I was unable to find an on-line “live” form but I did find the PDF kind at the Executive Office of Public Safety
One of the form’s requirements is to include my LLC filings and In my rush to file I forgot to include the document with my mailing. In about a week, I received the whole application back with the error noted. Whoops. My fault. I screwed up. Slow down, yada yada yada…
Yet, in retrospect, this seems like a truly silly request. Because, As I said above, any web enabled person can verify my corporate status.
Is there anyone in the Patrick Administration who is looking at how the Secretary of State office can work together with the Executive Office of Public Safety?
Just askin’
Mark
at the Tech open meeting that’s happening TONIGHT at 7 on BMG!
Renewable energy stuff is exempt but I still have to file a form – thanks for reminding me…
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Mark
SS-4 gives you a Federal TIN (Tax Identification Number) which Mass. will also use. You should have it before you set up your bank accounts, as you do not want the money from your busines commingled with your personal accounts.
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Also – if you went the LLC route, you may be liable for minimum corporate tax, worker’s comp, withholding, Federal requirements for filings, etc. – so it’s important to stake out a firm line early on.
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WHY did you incorporate? What kind of liability did you foresee – that a turbine blade would go wooshing through the air and hit someone on the head?
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I have a bias, as I have been involved with a self-employed business for 26 years, with no liability claim yet, but none of the goofiness associated with corporate filings either. A decent liability policy should have covered you. There is a rush to incorporate where there is no need – by and large, unless you have significant personal assets to protect with a corporate shell, and are grossing $200,000 per year, you don’t need it.
I’ve got the EIN already…
Thanks,
Mark
It isn’t just about the big tort claim. Businesses sometimes –often, even– fail. If his business fails, it can be very painful to be individually liable to inventory vendors.
LLC’s are specifically NOT corporations, although they may voluntarily choose to be taxed as such. In fact, they are often recommended as a way for small business to have liability protection while avoiding the complexities of incorporation.