Do you need a license for craft fair/online/etc?

[smriti]

Do you need to register as a business for selling handmade items at a craft fair/online like Etsy/etc.?

For those of you who have registered as a business and/or who sell, can you please share your knowledge. I live in WA and was planning to participate in a craft fair this year. I read on the state website that there's a temporary license good for two events in a year. That would be fine with me except that if I want to have an online shop like on Etsy, I would need to get a more permanent license.

All the paperwork involved seemed quite daunting and I was wondering if we're required to register at all.

TIA!

[stampingdeborah]

I work at the state tax commission and we have a temporary License that
you sign at the fair when you have a both. But if you sell anything from a website
or to people you know on a perment basis you need to register as a business and pay sales tax it's a pain but it's the law. if you sell your cards at a consignment shop or a store they sometimes will pay the sales tax then you might not need one. but each state
has there own rules. plus some of the supplies that you buy to make your cards with are
tax free and you need that tax number to get your supplies tax free. like your paper and
ribbons and emplishments. your stamps and inks you have to pay sales tax on. have fun
selling your cards its not that hard once you know what you are doing.

[smriti]

Thank you so much for the info Deborah! It's good to know it from someone right with the tax dept. and makes me much more comfortable now! What you've said pretty much matches with what I read on our state's website.

Would anybody who has registered share their experience? If that someone is from WA then it's all the more helpful!

[HeatherHolbrook]

It depends on your state and what they require for taxes. I'm in KY and need only a business occupational license for my Etsy shop and I was also a CTMH rep and that's all that was required as well. If you plan on buying your supplies wholesale you'll need a state tax ID number (at least here in KY you do) I don't have one because I don't buy my supplies wholesale but I do keep track of everything for tax time, etc. Plus if you do shows and collect sales tax you'll need to pay that back to your state.

I would suggest asking a local accountant, describe to them what you'll be doing and they'll let you know what you need and who to contact. That's what I did.