What you need is a simple business license from the District of Columbia, as that is your local government, as the local government is where you go to obtain your business license. As such it is essential that you do things by the book.

A business license in its dual form serves a single goal: keeping your business open. As such, it is true to its name. It is a license. As such the filing requires multiple clearance, from both the zoning and land use board, as well as the finance and clerks office. While this may seem like a waste of time, it is essential to your business operations.

The District of Columbia is not a place known for it's lack of beuracrats, and as such, the legal;ities involved are not inconsiderable, but certain things can be streamlined. Two considerations can be made paramount:

1. Firstly is the certification from the district itself that your business as you intend to conduct it and where you intend to conduct it are legal and acceptable to the Districts rules.

2. Second is the tax registration aspect of the license, which is of equal importance. By registering, you ensure you remain current in all local taxes.

03 - Since you are selling taxable merchandise, here are the licenses and tax ids you are legally required to obtain before starting online operations:

1. A business tax registration license

2. A DBA assumed business name

3. A federal tax id number also is required in most state for those that they get a seller's permit, and if you are a partnership or you want to use it instead of you social security number to open a bank account.

Also, note that forming an llc or incorporating eliminates the requirement of getting a dba. It is a good idea to form an llc to avoid personal liability from business transactions. Since you are dealing in taxable merchandise, you will need

4. A seller's permit.

Simply go online to www.businessnameusa.com

Answer our online questionaire before filling out our business information form as thouroughly as possible so that once you have completed each step of our payment system we will be able to begin processing your order immediately.

www.businessnameusa.com

P.O. Box 14927

Long Beach, CA. 90853

310-455-6675

Simply put, without a business license, you can't do business. Eventually, the District will catch up with you, and when they do, they will act in stages. First they will levy audits taxes and penalties on you before bringing you up on misdemeanor charges. Then they will simply enforce an abrupt police closure of your business.

Go online to http://www.businessnameusa.com/services/fees.htm to determine your fees on a state by state basis.