Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I would like to start my own eBay business at home to cut costs. There will be no manufacturing done at home and no customers stopping by, because I wouldn’t want my neighbors making a complaint to the city hall about customer visitation and manufacturing of products at home. I plan to store my inventory outside of my home so that I don’t violate city ordinances.

I know for sure that my city ordinances don’t allow home businesses of any kind, that’s why I plan to rent a "private mailbox" from a franchise offering "private mailbox" service, so that I would have my own "post office box” that has an actual street address.

Could I use that address as the business address when applying for my local business permit, an address that my city zoning department will no doubt double-check and find out that the address is already being occupied by an existing registered business, say, a franchise of an UPS Store, and suspect that I might be operating the actual business at home? And don’t city officials visit my business address to see if the place is in compliance with the city codes? Won`t they insist on inspecting the actual place where I conduct business?

Here is what I want: no first visit or future surprise visits from city officials to either the actual place where I conduct my eBay business or the "private mailbox". Please advise. Thank you.

wanghes,

can I pose a question??

sounds like you ,,  hmm  don`t know what it sounds  like, the mind isnt working well tonight,  lets start again..

Do you know someone, a friend or relative that you can rent some office space from, for 1$ a year ,  out of their home or office,  someone that doesnt have the same restrictions. 

would that solve your problem and still save the money,  you could still do everything from your home, as long as you dont create additional traffic from your clientel no one would be the wiser,

also, I`m not sure that they would actually visit thhe addres, is there any way you could find out?? 

 

mike

Hi Mike. Thank you for this wonderful idea of renting someone else`s office as my business address. It definitely would solving my problems with the city`s zoning ordinances and still allows me to operate a business from home.

I`ve asked the city officials when I picked up a copy of the city`s business permit, which I still haven`t sent it in yet, that whether they would actually visit the business address I enter on the permit application and they said they would, as they are required to.

I`ll try asking those businesses with a large office if they have any available space that I can rent.

Steve.

Well i`ve got 3 suggestions here

1. If you have an accountant, maybe you could use that address. Many businesses can run out of one building. You could have your bank account use that address, and all your government correspondence. It might not even be in your city. A small business accountant might have some more ideas for you.
2. I`m sure this isn`t the first time this has happened. I think the eBay store chat group might be able to help you.  Hey, and the Sloan guys just went to the eBay conference. They`ve got to be able to hook you up with someone.
3. I know you  said that a home business is not allowed, but you could give it one more try. Have a friend in the neighborhood go to the city, and pretend that they are thinking about opening an eBay business at home.  Its might be worth checking one more time.

nice job,   Jeff

 

Degrees,
Yes, I don`t always get the same answer twice from our officials either. It’s always good to get a second opinion. But be cautious. Just because you end up with the answer YOU want, doesn’t mean it’s the correct answer. If another city official decides to cause you trouble, because you didn’t follow THEIR interpretation of the rules, they could bog you down with legal problems.

Just because you agree with the answer, doesn’t mean it’s true. But I would still dig around and learn what I could, to support my decision (using another person to gain information is great).


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Thanks iouone2 for the heads up. I suspect that`s the case with every city, and I think no matter how many friends I employ to ask the same question, there will be no uniform answer from city officials to the issue. That`s why I try to read upon my city`s latest written, no oral answers from people, ordinances regarding this issue so that I have the most updated information.

Steve.

Also, if you can show that you are doing your best to comply with the qoutes provided by city employees, I would think there is some legal shelter there. In the event some official wishes to poke on you.

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Running into the same situation with my startup. I am still checking stuff out, but I believe that the rented mailbox idea will work. From what I have been given so far, having a mailbox space that has an actual address to it is fine. It is the same as if you were renting office space out of an office building. You see them everywhere where there will be one company on one floor and another comany on the next. Like I said, I am still checking on this to make sure all of my I`s are dotted and T`s are crossed.

Hello Engraver,

What "stuff" have you checked out so far regarding starting a business? Please share.

Steve.