A new immigration law was just passed in the state of Alabama. If you are exhibiting in that state you will be asked to submit your birth certificate and driver's license to the county in which you are doing business. One week before many artists will be selling at the Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores we are being asked to submit this information. The county lady called us by phone and required us to fax or email the info ASAP. She had her hands full!
Besides this info we also had to apply for a business and county license to do business in their city and county. Cost: $132. This was a hidden cost as when we first applied there was no mention of these fees. It seems fair to say that we are a revenue stream for these two entities and they are making the best out of us coming into their state to sell.
There are many costs involved in doing any kind of business. Selling our wonderful art creations, unfortunately, does not exempt us from laws and licenses. If costs are eating away at your profit margin you may have to add a dollar or two to make yourself more viable to yourself!
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This is the city of Gulf Shores way to do business. For Daphne or Fairhope (same county) the event sales permits are much less. Last Daphne show even decided to void the city permit, so we needed to get only the county one. Also for Mobile county (most of my sales are there) the business permit is $130 plus taxes. It takes about 10 minutes to get it. When I remember how much it did cost to have a business permit in f.e. New Orleans, LA - in cash and in wasted time - it's a breeze getting it in Alabama. But it still cannot be compared with Texas - online from home and you print your own permit and it's for free.