WOMEN in BUSINESS - February/March 2009 - (Page 35)

Are there regulations that affect all businesses? some kinds of regulations affect—or potentially affect—all businesses: · businesses open to the public must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You may be able to get information about it through your city or state’s economic development office. building codes set certain standards that construction must meet; they also may require you to get a permit if you do renovations. You can get information from your locality’s department of building or department of safety. Zoning ordinances regulate which types of business are permitted in certain areas. · · Does the size of the business affect how it is regulated? it can. The size of the business often affects the extent of the regulations. The laws of many states, for example, exempt businesses with fewer than four or five employees from having to carry workers’ compensation insurance covering injuries to employees. (even if your business is exempt, however, you might still decide to carry workers’ compensation insurance because of the protection it will give both you and your employees in the event one of your employees is injured while working in the business.) A number of other workplace laws kick in once you employ a certain number of workers. What kind of licenses and permits do i need? what licenses and permits are required depends on the type and location of the business. Licenses. All states have statutes and regulations that require tests, proof of financial responsibility and compliance with other requirements to obtain a license to engage in certain businesses or professions. A state license to operate a day-care center is one example. Doctors, lawyers, architects and structural engineers have to be licensed by the state before they can practice their profession. in some states, even barbers, bill collectors, funeral directors and an assortment of other businesspeople have to be licensed. The type of businesses subject to these licensing requirements varies from state to state. Your state should be able to tell you what’s required. most cities and many counties also require businesses located in their jurisdiction to have a business license. in reality, this is a tax based generally on the gross receipts of the business rather than a regulatory license designed to protect the public against shoddy work and incompetence. Avoiding this tax can be an important factor in choosing the location of a business. Permits. some businesses exempt from state licensing regulations are required to obtain a license or permit from a county or city to perform certain operations. building contractors, for example, have to get a city or county building permit to build or remodel a house or commercial building. Copyright © 2004 American Bar Association F E B / M A R 2 0 0 9 w o m e n i n b us i n e s s 35

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009 Contents ABWA Member Benefits Letter from the Executive Director Letter from CEO ABWA Board News A New Era Unfolds Money Matters ABWA Announcements Personal Skills Style Breaking Down Barriers Legal Matters Business Spotlight Workplace: Working Online to Build ABWA Teams Mind & Body Workplace

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

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