Licenses & Permits for a Michigan Sole Proprietor Retail Business

  

• ✅ Business License: Required for operating a retail business in most Michigan cities or townships.
  

• ✅ Sales Tax License: Necessary to collect and remit sales tax to the state.
  

• ✅ Assumed Name (DBA) Registration: If operating under a name other than your legal name.
  

• ✅ Seller’s Permit: Often required for businesses selling taxable goods.
  

• ✅ Zoning Permit: Ensures your business location complies with local zoning laws.
  

• ✅ Home Occupation Permit: If running the business from home, some areas require this.
  

• ✅ Specialty Permits: Depending on products sold (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, firearms).
  

Bonus Question

Do you need a federal EIN, or can you use your SSN as a sole proprietor?

✨📋 Licenses & Registrations for Your Vinyl & T-Shirt Biz

Here’s the checklist to keep your creative empire sparkling and compliant:

  

• ✅ Business License – The golden ticket to legally sell your artsy creations.
  

• ✅ Seller’s Permit – For collecting sales tax (because the tax man cometh).
  

• ✅ EIN (Employer Identification Number) – If you hire helpers or open a biz bank account.
  

• ✅ DBA Registration – If your biz name isn’t your legal name.
  

• ✅ Home Occupation Permit – If you’re crafting magic from your kitchen table.
  

Obtain all licenses and registrations here online—no standing in line required! 🎨

Licenses & Permits for Your Dropshipping Biz

  

• ✅ Reseller’s Permit – Avoid sales tax on wholesale purchases.
  

• ✅ Business Registration – Legitimize your online hustle.
  

• ✅ Sales Tax License – Required for Michigan, even if sales are online.
  

Food-Specific Must-Haves

  

• ✅ Food Establishment License – Non-negotiable for edible goods.
  

• ✅ Home Kitchen Inspection – If baking at home, expect a visit.
  

• ✅ FDA-Compliant Packaging – Leak-proof, labeled, allergy-aware.
  

Obtain everything online—no paperwork avalanches.

Licenses & Registrations You'll Need to Sell Candy

• ✅ Business License – because selling sweets is still a business, even if it tastes like childhood.
• ✅ LLC or DBA Registration – for a snazzy, legit name like “Sugar Overload Inc.” or “Candy Boss.”
• ✅ Seller's Permit – so you’re tax-ready when folks load up their carts with gummies and jawbreakers.
• ✅ Food Vendor Permit – yep, candy counts as food. Even if it’s 99% sugar and 1% nostalgia.
• ✅ Home Occupation Permit – if you’re making magic in your kitchen or garage candy lab.
• ✅ Food Handling Certification – because safety comes before sprinkles.

Is an LLC a Sweet Idea for an Online Biz?

Seller’s Permit & Reseller Life 101

• ✅ **Seller’s Permit** – Yes, you’ll need this if you're selling *any* tangible items (used or new) and charging sales tax. Even at swap meets or from your living room couch.
• ✅ **Resale Certificate** – This allows you to buy inventory (yep, even used stuff to flip) *without* paying sales tax. Hand it over to suppliers like a VIP badge.
• ✅ **EIN (Employer Identification Number)** – Needed if you plan to hire, open a biz bank account, or just want to look legit on paper.
• ✅ **Business License** – Usually required even for home-based resellers. Your city wants to know who’s hustling in their neighborhood.
• ✅ **Swap Meet/Vendor Permit** – Selling at Spring Valley’s flea market usually requires this extra permit—because the flea market wants to keep it classy.

Renewal, Resignation & "What If I Quit?"

• ✅ **How often to renew?** – Usually yearly. Set a reminder or your reseller privileges may ghost you.
• ✅ **Not selling anymore?** – You’ll need to formally cancel your seller’s permit through the proper channel (not me 😄). Can’t ghost your obligations.

Perks & Perks Again

• ✅ Yes, you can use the seller’s permit/resale certificate to open wholesale accounts and skip sales tax on biz-related buys.

Start Your Resale Empire