Business License Question

I had registered my business license at my home address (USA) when I first started my business, then when I grew I hired on some independent contractors that I pay on commission and moved into an office space. My accountant said that it was not a big deal to switch the business license to the new address. So I have had the business registered at my house and have been working out of the office.

Do you think I would have a problem continuing to have things set up this way. Also the reason behind not just switching the license to the office is because I have been growing very fast and I don't want to pay the $300 bucks plus another $150 for a fire inspection every time I move. I was just wondering because I ran into an unhappy client (one of those guys that no one in town does business with because he's never satisfied, and I didn't find this out until it was too late.) and he said that he looked into my business and found that my registered business address was not the one listed on my business card. And that if I didn't credit him he was going to have my business looked at and try to sue me.

Do I need to do a change of address? Or am I fine because everyone that works for me is technically an independent contractor and we can work from anywhere. Also forgot to mention that we do not have customers by our office.

Thanks in advance for any helpful advise!

WebOracle said:

Thanks in advance for any helpful advise!

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Best advice you can heed is to contact a lawyer that specializes in small business or licensing locally in your area. Licensing issues differ from state to state and county to county...and change as often as every quarter!

Unless there's someone from your county that has dealt with this exact thing in the last two months, don't trust anyone but a specialist. Especially if it's something that might stop your growing business in its tracks.

Yea I've decided to fork over the $450 I didn't think I would run into an issue. But that's business right... Anything that can happen, can and will happen.

Good choice. And sorry to hear about the PITA client you picked up. Hopefully you can shed him quickly. Nothing worse than an idiot that tries to take advantage by threatening "legal stuff."

Wow - Sounds like your PITA clients is a real jerk. But if it's winter time in your neck of the woods, maybe down the road you could offer him some 'free' work have a nasty "slip and fall' and then see how good ole 'Lawsuit Larry' likes being the recipient of his own medicine. Sure, I know it's not legal, right or practical and of course you shouldn't do it but you got to admit, it sure would be fun to watch him squirm

WebOracle said:

I was just wondering because I ran into an unhappy client (one of those guys that no one in town does business with because he's never satisfied, and I didn't find this out until it was too late.) and he said that he looked into my business and found that my registered business address was not the one listed on my business card. And that if I didn't credit him he was going to have my business looked at and try to sue me.

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With this crew here just dropping his name could seriously damage his business ...so do so please ha ha

JQ

Switching the address on the license will probably save you headaches in the long run, but I don't think you are legally obligated to change it. You could say your home is your business headquarters I suppose. It shouldn't matter if your business cards don't match your business license or not. I wouldn't worry about getting sued as long as you refund his money.

The threat of 'I'm gonna sue you' is usually one thrown out by a**holes who are used to bullying people to get what they want or just to mess with people.

99.99999% of the lawyer in the world are not going to take a lawsuit over $425 FOR FREE or on a contingency payment. For your PITA client to get a lawyer involved is going to cause more than he's threatening you for. He could ask the court to award legal fees, but courts are getting tired of small lawsuits that ask for big legal fees. Small claims courts usually don't allow lawyers for the litigants.

If you haven't done it already, get a document prepared that states that whatever you pay him in refund was a full and complete release of any and all claims, etc.

Of course, being an a**hole he won't sign it. BUT, you can use that to show that you tried in good faith to refund him.

If you have paid him, send him a letter -registered, make him sign for it- indicating that the payment he received was for 'full and complete release' etc. as per your agreement. Again, it's not 100% protection but it will really piss him off.

Mainly, learn to get a contract signed up front that says if you deliver what you said you'd deliver there is no refund. Period. IF they won't sign it, that's immediate evidence that they are a PITA and it's not worth the few bucks you'll get to deal with the time and stress they intend to throw your way.

So I'm in the process of switching my business license over to my office. I payed a visit by the PITA customers office to go over what I am doing for him to make him happy. I am running some free adwords ads for him and showed him how to check them. He is very computer illiterate so I think part of the problems stem from that. All in all I was calm with him and ended up leaving his office with both of us shaking hands. I think they are other underlying issue with people sometimes and they may take out their frustrations towards whomever they can. Since I have been working with this client( 2 months) I have know of him having 4 doctors visits and have seen lots of medication around his office. Thank You everyone who chimed in with their advice.