How do you license an art design or pattern?

License Needed for Selling My Art?

• Hi, I'm a photographic artist, currently trying to market my work. I'm hoping to sell to interior designers as well as individuals. I'm wondering if I need a license to sell my art. I live in Whittier, CA. I also do garden design, and will be obtaining a license for that soon (see my answered google question regarding that topic). If I do need a license to sell my art, can I use the same license as that I will be getting for the garden design?....or does it have to be a separate license? If I can use the same license, do I have to list both "business's" on the form? Will the license be good to do business in other cities? Thanks much.

• Answer:

  Hi there Nerv~ According to the City of Whittier website, “the City requires that any person conducting, carrying on, or transacting any business, trade profession or occupation in the City of Whittier must obtain a business license from the City.” (I apparently cannot post a direct link here. Therefore, from this page: http://www.whittierch.org/index.html , click on City Hall. Then, in the left hand side menu, click on “City Clerk—Treasurer”) You will need to apply in person, at: Office of Business Licensing 13230 Penn Street Whitter, CA 90602 562-4643410 If you have two separate businesses, you need to have two separate business licenses. The Planning Division will check the zoning on your business license application. There will probably be restrictions. (Some common ones include no business signs allowed, or only small signs allowed, or limitations on traffic your business creates...it depends on the city code and your neighborhood.) You should also know that in Whittier, “private mailbox addresses are for mailing purposes only and cannot be used as a business address. A separate license must be obtained for each branch establishment or separate place of business. Whittier Municipal Code Section 18.10.02 regulates businesses based out of the home. Contact the Planning Division of the Community Development Department at (562) 464-3380 for the regulations.” (“Business Licenses,” http://www.whittierch.org/index.html ) You can download an application for a business license here: http://www.whittierch.org/index.html If you will be operating your sales under a business name, or a name other than your real one, you will need to have an assumed business name (called a fictious business name in Los Angeles County. Here is information about this filing and it’s fees, from the County of Los Angeles website: http://regrec.co.la.ca.us/clerk/naming.htm ) In Los Angeles County, you will also need a Seller’s Permit; for information on this, be sure to see this County web page: http://www.boe.ca.gov/info/reg.htm You may need to obtain a tax ID. Your city/state can give you information about this. A tax ID may also prove helpful when it comes time to buy supplies; it will help you buy them wholesale. You will not need to apply for a business permit for other cities, unless you are physically selling in another city (that is, your place of business can be found in another city). You may also find this brief article on “Starting a Business,” hosted by the Whittier Chamber of Congress, helpful: http://www.whittierchamber.com/startbus.html Good luck! kriswrite Keywords Used: sell* art "business license" ://www.google.com/search?q=sell*+art+%22business+license%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=30&sa=N "city of" Whittier California ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22city+of%22+Whittier+California&btnG=Google+Search