Conference noted::equitation

    Do you mean for IRS & federal tax purposes? That's tough! You have to 
    either show a profit or convince them that you are trying to make a 
    profit. You have a few years' grace period but then it's "Show a
    profit, convince us you're doing EVERYTHING possible to make a profit 
    or you're not a business!"
    
    As for the requirements to get a small business license, you'd have to
    check with your cty/county/state bureaucrats to get the right answers.
    They vary a LOT from one place to the next.

    The problem we ran into is my partner is an Oregon state resident. 
    Oregon doesn't require a small business license, but we are operating
    in California.  I guess I will have to call and check that out.  But
    who do I call?
    
    Virginia

    Try your phone book under the listings for your county's offices. Look for 
    department like Licensing or Business. That's who we have to call up
    here for everything from Dog licenses to business licenses.

    
    
    The only thing that matters is where you put your business address. 
    You can rent a mailbox from one of those mailing centers and that can
    be your business address.  Just don't do it in Costa Mesa - they have a
    city income tax which they collect through their city business license.
    If you have a choice, it's better to put your business in a place that
    doesn't require a business license.
    
    Irvine Valley College and Saddleback Community College (and probably
    Orange Coast College, as well) have night school courses that teach you
    the basics for evaluating and starting a small business.  There are
    also several books that can be very educational - I can recommend a
    couple, or you can check the business section of any decent book store.
    
    If you and your partner are using your last names in naming the
    business, then you don't need to file a fictitious business name
    statement.  Otherwise, visit the County Clerk's office and register
    your business name - you'll need the paperwork from the Clerk's office
    in order to open your business checking account.
    
    Your business checking account????  Yes, this is one of the elements
    that helps to convince the IRS (and your vendors) that you're serious
    about starting up a legitimate business.  It also helps you to collect
    all of your business expenses into an easy-to-find location when it's
    time to prepare that income tax stuff in April.
    
    Oh, yeah, it helps to have a business phone, too.  Once you get your
    dba (Doing Business As - another name for the fictitious business name
    statement), you can get your business phone, and then put the business
    phone number on your business checks.
    
    For icing on the cake, and a really pro appearance, get business cards
    and stationery printed up.
    
    Sounds like a lot of work, huh?  Well, it is...but if you do it right,
    it's a good investment.  I won't begin to write about partnership
    contracts & liabilities - which is something that you must have already
    given serious thought to...
    
    P.S.: Happy Birthday!
    

    Thanks for the B-day message.
    
    WEll, we moved the horses yesterday and talked about the business
    thing.  He doesn't seem to want to get the license right.  He plans on
    relocating the business to another state in about 1 year.  Then we
    would have to do it all over again.  So for now we are just going to
    muttle through and see what happens.  Thanks for all the info.
    
    Virginia

    Virginia,
    
    Since you are trying to raise babies, you may have a chance to succeed. 
    Also I would recommend setting up the business under your own DBA, sole
    propriotership (sp?) and then you can hire your friend to work for you.
    At least in TX a DBA (doing business as) can be obtained by checking
    with the county court house,  then find a name that has not been
    chosen.  Sometimes there is a small fee.  Once you have the DBA, you
    can also get the checking account.
    
    Partnerships are sometimes a very bad deal and should be treated like a
    marriage, but you can get divorced in a marriage and you can't get
    divorced in the partnership.  Also you could be forced to pay the other
    person's debts, so maybe you might be better to tackle this yourself.
    
    Also Happy Birthday from another one of your friends.
    
    bruce

    So Bruce, 
    
    You decided to grace us with your words of wizdom,.
    
    Well, we are going to hold off for a bit.  I think the whole thing is
    going to be moved to Oregon in less than a year.  
    
    Thanks again,
    
    virginia