Dealing with TPTB (The Powers That Be)
Owning a small business is not for anarchists. If you don't like dealing with governmental bureaucracies, you're going to need to hire an administrative assistant pretty quickly. But if that's not in the cards right now, here are some suggestions for dealing with agencies that regulate businesses.
1. Never go to a governmental agency in person without a book, laptop or other form of entertainment to occupy yourself with while you wait.
2. Use the Internet whenever you can. More and more cities, counties and states have websites with all of the information you might need. This eliminates one big problem from the past. I used to know people who would go up to their city's business license desk and announce "I'm starting a business, we're going to manufacture hard drives." WRONG. Especially wrong if you're working out of your house right now and 3 years away from actually manufacturing anything. But if you have read all of the business license department's literature, you'd know.... you can't manufacture in a residential area. So you could say "I'm starting a design business" and actually get a business license.
3. RTFM - Read The Fabulous Manual. See point #2. It doesn't do any good if you download all of the applications but don't read the instructions before filling out the forms.
4. Agencies, and agency employees, will always give you the most conservative answer. When you ask if you can do something, and if they say yes, then odds are it's really yes (but get their name). If they say no, it may still be that you can do what you want - but laws are only black and white when they are in print. Applying them to any specific situation involves some interpretation. That's where attorneys actually come in handy. If you want to do something - get a second opinion from someone who's your hired gun, not the government's. To hire me as your hired gun call (408-955-9100) or email (nina@buslaw.com) me.
5. Even with all the above, sometimes valium is the answer.
