Taxes, Licenses, Permits! Oh, My!

This post is in response to questions I have received from some of my small business owner clients. Please be aware, that this post is not in response to any of you individually, but to all of you as a group.

Here are a list of questions, I have received and here are resources for where most of your answers can be found.

Questions:

1. Do I have to have a seller’s permit from the Franchise Tax Board if I am only selling my hobby crafts?

2. Do I have to have a seller’s permit if I only sale items at online auctions?

3. Do I have to have obtain a business license if I work at home?

4. Do I have to collect sales tax for items I sell online?

The Answer to these questions depends on several factors, but the most likely response is YES to all four questions. It is better to operate under the assumption that you need a seller’s permit, you need a business license, and you need to collect sales tax. (If you find that you fall under an exception or exemption, then lucky you!)

Here is a list of resources for more information.

California Franchise Tax Board On-Line Seminars

Internal Revenue Service Small Business Seminars

Free Online Accounting for Your Small Business

Small Business Administration Permit Search

by Attorney Judith Elaine Hoover on 06/13/12

Disclaimer: The contents on this blog are informational only and not meant, intended, nor should be considered legal advice, advertisement, or solicitation for business. The material posted on this blog is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship, and readers should not act upon it without seeking professional counsel.

Furthermore, the information contained on this blog is not specific to any particular set of circumstances. All links to outside information are meant to provide further information on the topic addressed, I make no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained herein or in the attached links.

Calculating Cost of Goods Sold

          Recently my start-up business clients have been talking to me about how to price their items. Cost of goods, also known as COGS are the first step in making a fair determination of how you should price your items.

What Does COGS (COST OF GOODS SOLD) mean?

          COGS, or Cost of Goods Sold, is the actual cost of the item you are selling. The cost is calculated by taking stock of all the supplies and materials used in making your item. Supplies and material include cost of materials, packaging, and shipping.

 For example if you make dresses, the supplies and materials that can be calculated in your COGS are buttons, zippers, fabric, thread, the pretty paper you package it in, and the cost of shipping it to your sellers.

How Do I Calculate COGS?

Beginning Inventory + Inventory Purchases + End Inventory = Cost of Goods Sold

• Step One: Make an inventory list of all the items you have on hand.
• Step Two: Any new items you acquire during the year keep track of.
• Step Three: Make an inventory list at the end of the year.
• Step Four: Subtract that end of the year list from the inventory you started out with + what you acquired during the year = COGS

For example: $500 (beginning inventory of supplies) + $1000 (new supplies and materials purchased) – $800 (end of the year inventory of supplies) =$700 (the Cost of the Goods that you sold during that year).

COGS ARE BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS

Please be aware that COGS are based on certain assumptions. The calculation assumes that you sold the old inventory first and waited until that was gone to sell your new inventory. The calculation also assumes that the cost of goods did not change throughout the year, so you may have begun with lesser quality cotton and then decided to switch to organic or bamboo cotton when you acquired new supplies that are not necessarily taken into the calculation unless you make allowances for it.

Why Do I Need to Calculate COGS?

–If you do not know what your COGS are, then how can you accurately price the items you are selling online?

-They are tax deductible!

by Attorney Judith Elaine Hoover on 04/11/12

Disclaimer: The contents on this blog are informational only and not meant, intended, nor should be considered legal advice, advertisement, or solicitation for business. The material posted on this blog is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship, and readers should not act upon it without seeking professional counsel.

Furthermore, the information contained on this blog is not specific to any particular set of circumstances. All links to outside information are meant to provide further information on the topic addressed, I make no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained herein or in the attached links.v