Start A Business In Maryland 

 

Making Your Maryland Business Legal: 6 Basic Steps Towards Laying A Solid Foundation For Your New Home Business

Stay out of hot water by building your business on a rock-solid legal foundation from the very beginning. Before you set up shop and announce your new business venture to the world, take a look at these 6 steps toward getting your legal bases covered.***

1.) Obey Zoning Regulations:

Be sure to check with your local zoning office to see how the ordinances in your particular area may affect your business plans. Also note that if you rent, or live in a condo or town home, be sure to check your lease, apartment regulations, or condominium covenants for any clause that may prohibit a home based business. If you find that local zoning laws prohibit or limit your home business activities, you may be able to request a variance or some kind of "conditional use", "special use", or "special exemption" permit. You may even find that by changing certain aspects of your plan puts you into the position of meeting zoning standards.

Call 1-877-767-6272 or visit them online here.

 

2.) Select and register your Legal Structure/Business Entity:

Make sure your company is structured so that it protects both your legal and tax interests, and also fits your business goals.

These are 4 of the basic forms a business can take. This is usually determined by liability and tax issues, so consult your attorney and CPA, as there are advantages & disadvantages to each.

  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Corporation
  • Limited Liability Corporation, LLC

Call 1-888-246-5941 or visit them online here.

 

3.) Determine what state & local licenses and or permits will be required:

  • (Federal) Find Federal licensing requirements here.
  • (State) Call 1-888-ChooseMD or visit them online here.
  • (County) Find your County Clerks office online here.

 

4.) Register your Business Name or file a DBA (Doing Business As):

This will help you determine whether or not your chosen name is available, prevent your competition from using your name, and may also be necessary in order to open a bank account using your business name.

Call 1-888-246-5941 or visit them online here. <===PDF

 

5.) Obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) "aka" Employer Identification Number (EIN):

This is kind of like a (SSN) Social Security Number for your business.

Call 1-800-829-4933 or you can apply online here.

 

6.) Establish your state tax account:

Call 1-800-492-1751 or you can apply online here.

 

Helpful Websites:

ABA - American Bar Association

Dol.gov - U.S. Department of Labor

Free Advice - Get answers to legal questions free of charge.

Irs.gov - Maryland Business Information.

Law Guru - Get answers to legal questions free of charge.

Uspto.gov - U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

 

Recommended Books :

How to Start a Business in Maryland

Start a Business in Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia       

 

***Note: This information is not intended to be comprehensive and shouldn’t be used solely when starting your home business in Maryland. Because laws and regulations change over time and in different jurisdictions, there may be additional requirements for your specific business that this article does not cover. I strongly suggest that you consult with an attorney regarding legal matters and an accountant regarding tax matters pertaining to your particular type of business.

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