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  Tammie T Everly January 27, 2017 at 12:54pm

  Thanks Karen-
  I have already done all the FL state requirements .I actually had my 'inspection' this morning. It was pretty easy and only took a few minutes [& cost $75]. I think this scenario must be unique to my city. The main reason I gave in and went down this route is because I want to participate in a little farmers style art market in my town on Saturdays and to apply you must have a city permit. Other wise I probably would have ignored all this craziness. I appreciate your input. :-D Warm Regards,
  Tammie
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  Tammie T Everly January 27, 2017 at 12:50pm
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  Karen Holtkamp January 27, 2017 at 10:48am

  I did a sweep of Florida shows a few years ago and spent more than a full day trying to chase down a license to no avail.  Eventually I ran out of time so I did the shows without a license, collected sales tax, and caught up with the paperwork later.  I feel your pain.

  It sounds to me like the problem is declaring yourself as a home-based business.  In my experience, the key to vendor's licenses is where you sell your art as opposed to where you create it.  For example, a brick and mortar shop has a vendor's license, and none of the art sold there is created on the premises.

  In Ohio the kind of license you need is called a Transient vendor's license, meaning that your "storefront" moves from place to place, i.e. the far-flung art show locations.  The license is provided by the state government and will cover shows throughout the state.  When you participate in shows in other states you'll need to get a similar license in each of those states.

  Inspections of your workspace shouldn't be necessary.  The only time your workspace should come into play is in getting insurance, which will generally cover you at your workspace, at the shows, and transporting art between the two. 

  My advice is to go online to the Florida government website, click on something to the effect of "sales (or sales and use) tax", probably click on "applying for a license", and if it's not immediately clear how you can get the kind of license you need, find a phone number to call and prepare to stay on hold for quite a while until a live person shows up.  If that person isn't helpful, hang up and call again, or try calling a different department.  You may get lots of unhelpful information but eventually you'll find someone who gets it and has the answers you need.

  The earlier suggestion to contact your local art group is a good one, which might prevent the need to work your way through the government.  If that doesn't work, there are plenty of AFI member artists who do Florida shows -- try sending them a friend request and ask your questions directly to them.  The two that come immediately to mind are Nels Johnson and Geoff Coe, who are always helpful.  Many others are reachable through AFI as well.
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  Tammie T Everly January 17, 2017 at 7:49am

  Thank you everyone for your input.  I am going to do some more investigating with my city & county.

  I am pretty low tech and at this point do cold connections so there is no dangerous equipment. {Although I am taking a soldering class with FGS society next month, so who knows from there... :-) } 
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  Renee Davis January 16, 2017 at 3:13pm

  I am a jeweler and in Florida. I have never heard of having an inspection for a home based business. The only time I would do this is if I had the public on my property. One thing to look out for is that most insurance companies will not cover any loss caused by gas tanks in the house. You may want to check with your insurance company.
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  Larry Sohn January 16, 2017 at 2:44pm

  I can offer a view from both sides of the inspection issue.
  I've owned properties, rentals, business,, as well as construction company and been an inspector.
  I do not fear nor feel any problem with getting inspections. Yes, the fee can be a burden. However if the fee is nominal then I would always recomend the inspection. With inspections there are 2 possibilities:
  A) Nothing is wrong and you get a "clean bill of health"
  B) Something is wrong and you get to address it before suffering a loss of some type.
  In either case it offers you some protection in case of a loss as credibility / liability now is shared with the inspectors office. This can help in numerous ways.
  No one likes to pay for motor vehicle inspections --- I would not be willing to drive a car that did not have one. i would not live in a house that did not have all the appropriate inspections.
  This is not to side with inspectors, my company had to have inspections of our own work. These inspections could not be performed by me (conflict of interest). I welcomed them. I'd rather they found something if I missed it. Same thing for my properties. Inspections are good... if the inspector is good.
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  michele blank January 16, 2017 at 12:59pm

  Not necessary. Get a state license.
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  Cindy Welch January 16, 2017 at 10:14am

  I don't know about Florida (I am in Louisiana) but maybe it's a local reg, as in your city or county but not a state wide thing?  This is where it would help in talking to other artists in your town.
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  Mindy Colton January 15, 2017 at 8:20pm

  Do all of that as a Sole proprietor business... don't know of anyone who has had to be inspected. An accountant who works with people in the arts will know the rules too.
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  Judy Christian January 14, 2017 at 10:47pm

  I would try to get some information online as well as by talking to some other artists.

  It may not be necessary-who knows?

  Best of luck with your new home.