The paperwork map for Greetings At The Edge

Q: I have a website that I use to sell greeting cards, and I have also set up a store on Etsy to sell greeting cards.

A: Hi Ariana,
Greeting cards are light, flat and cheap to ship, which makes them ideal for online selling. A business license describes the shop, a sales tax permit covers every card that ships, and a resale certificate is useful if you buy paper, envelopes or printed cards wholesale. If you design the cards yourself, copyright on the art is something you own, and trademark protects the name. A home occupation permit may apply to the packing table at home. We find out which of these apply to Greetings At The Edge and fill out the applications. Here is the full map, item by item.

1. Business license: A business license for a greeting card company MAY ask whether you design, print or only resell cards, the channels you sell through, and where stock and printing equipment are kept.
2. Home occupation permit: A home occupation permit MAY apply when printers, paper and envelopes fill a spare room, usually limiting deliveries, loud machines, visiting buyers and stock stored outside.
3. Sales tax permit: A sales tax permit MAY be needed because printed cards are taxable sales, and paper, envelopes and printing supplies bought for resale can be purchased with a resale certificate.
4. Wholesale catalog registration: Selling cards to gift shops in bulk MAY require wholesale paperwork showing who your trade buyers are.
5. Copyright and artwork statement: A short note confirming that you own the art and sentiments on your cards may be requested.
6. Printer supplier agreement: If another company prints your designs, a copy of the agreement shows who produces the stock.
7. Employer registration: Hiring changes the list: an employer account, payroll tax setup and workers' compensation insurance MAY join the pile before day one.
8. Company papers: Name registration, LLC formation and a tax ID number are the three companions most owners add; we prepare each of them on this site.

The upside, with all five senses

The feel of heavy cotton paper, a foil-pressed flourish and a clever message make people smile and keep cards on their fridge for years.

Picture it

Picture Lavinia stacking her first run of letterpress birthday cards at Paper Finch Press, the license taped inside the lid of a card box.

A cautionary example

A buyer says a card used a phrase from another company and a rival demands damages, and an LLC protects your home and savings from that claim.

The numbers behind it

Business code (NAICS): 511191 (Greeting Card Publishers), 513191 under the 2022 update. This page lists 8 paperwork items for a greeting card company, and each one is marked as something you MAY need, since we confirm which apply.

Tip: Keep high-resolution files of every design backed up in two places, since a failed hard drive can erase years of work.

The greeting card business works because nobody can say it better than a stranger with a witty pen.

Ready when you are: start your order and we will find out what applies to Greetings At The Edge, fill out the applications and keep the paperwork moving.