What's legal and what's not with home businesses today

Filed in archive business tips on November 26, 2006

Whether you own a home business that's a few years old, or you're currently thinking of setting up a home business, it's important to remember that all businesses operate in a legal environment, and you need to make sure that everything your business is involved in is completely lawful. If you started your home business several years ago, you might not know that certain laws governing home businesses have changed between then and now. If you're just about to start a home business, you might not be aware that certain aspects of your operations are not allowed under the laws in your hometown.

Statutes governing home businesses range from national laws to local ordinances. These laws differ from place to place, so what is legal in one area may be illegal in another. And laws are constantly changing, so what used to be legal may be illegal now, or vice versa. For example, in Fauquier County, Virginia, current zoning regulations prohibit residents from conducting retail operations in their homes. In this county, Avon or Mary Kay representatives can't sell or even store their products at home. In Seattle, Washington, the city government closed a bed-and-breakfast at the request of city residents who want to ban bed-and-breakfasts from their neighborhood. The owners of the bed-and-breakfast are contesting the city government's decision. In Mississippi, African hair braiders won a significant legal victory in 2005 when new legislation was passed exempting them from certain requirements of Mississippi's cosmetology board. Before the legislation was passed, African hair braiders had to complete many hours of cosmetology training before they could get their licenses.

To ensure that your home business is completely legal, consult a commercial lawyer in your hometown. The lawyer will help you identify the laws relevant to your home business and make sure that you are not in violation of any statutes or regulations, whether national or local. While it's important to get legal advice before you set up your business, you should also remember to consult a lawyer from time to time, even if your business is already several years old, because laws are always changing.

Sources:

Zwire

IJ