Do you have to have a business name?

[Jacq]

Hi everyone,
We started making soap last year but have only sold MP at the craft fairs (3 so far so we can't give up our day jobs!!) We have been making CP for some time but are waiting to get certified before we sell. Do you have to register a company name to sell on line or can you just have a web address? I did ring to find out and the guy said if someone of the same name sees our web stuff they can legally claim any profits we make as it is their name!!! This is all getting very complicated as we really only make enough to buy more materials and just enjoy doing it but I'm now scared in case we get into trouble!! Any suggestions?

Jacq

 

[Tabitha]

As for being "very complicated", when you sell your 1st bar of soap, it is a busine in the eyes of the law & govt, a business is complicated.

Legally, you should have had your biz papers, tax permits and insuarance before you sold your 1st bar of soap. You should have been collecting taxes on that soap too. It could seriosly come back & bite you. If a tax person walks up to your booth at the fair & asks to see your papers you will be in some serious hot water.

I wouldn't worry too much about someone else having the same name. do some google searches and check names out you are interested in. If you do use a taken by name by mistake & they contact you you can change your name at that point. If you are original with your name it shoudn't be an issue anyway.

If you call yourself Tammy's soap you can bet there are 50 other Tammy's soaps out there. If you call yourself Pink Sparrow Bath, you will probably be the only one.

 

[Jacq]

thanks for your reply Tabitha, really helped x

As for being "very complicated", when you sell your 1st bar of soap, it is a busine in the eyes of the law & govt, a business is complicated.

Legally, you should have had your biz papers, tax permits and insuarance before you sold your 1st bar of soap. You should have been collecting taxes on that soap too. It could seriosly come back & bite you. If a tax person walks up to your booth at the fair & asks to see your papers you will be in some serious hot water.

I wouldn't worry too much about someone else having the same name. do some google searches and check names out you are interested in. If you do use a taken by name by mistake & they contact you you can change your name at that point. If you are original with your name it shoudn't be an issue anyway.

If you call yourself Tammy's soap you can bet there are 50 other Tammy's soaps out there. If you call yourself Pink Sparrow Bath, you will probably be the only one.