Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

RE: Need a business license

State: California

I created a software utility, which I am offering free to the public.  I applied for a fictitious business name to add legitimacy to the software, and website I built for it, and to register with the copyrights for the material I am making.  Fictitious business name sounds much more professional than "Billy-Bobs Utility" and that is important because I am also doing this to showcase my publication skills and add to my resume. 

So here is the million dollar question...do I need a "Business License" if I am not selling anything, not making any money, and ONLY have the fictitious business name (aka DBA) filed? 

I only ask because as soon as I filed the fictitious business name I got letters asking me to apply for and pay for a business license.  I don't want to do this because if I do I am sure I will get letters asking me to get a sellers permit, and then the feds will want an EIN, and I will get tax papers to fill out, and all kinds of correspondence...etc. 

If it turns out I do, I will just cancel the fictitious business name, not worth all this crap. 

But if I don't have to get the license, I will need to know how to handle it.  I am asking here first, because my last experience calling the city and I figured out these guys are like a business and they want money.  I want to be prepared when I talk to them and figure out how to articulate this. 

 

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