I need some (american) business advice

[Karl Johnston]

Well my girlfriend is moving to Cleveland to go to university because she has a scholarship there..and now I need to go too. Problem is I have a Citizenship to several countries in Europe and Canada but not the USA. You can imagine I really want to go too, and despite having the right to work in 30 something countries under the commonwealth act (or whatever its called), live and go to school...I can't work in the states without a citizenship or visa of some kind, to my knowledge.

Now it's kind of spotty up here in Canada about when and why you need a business license..so I was wondering, how does it work for pro-photographers in the USA (specifically TN if there is anyone out there). Do you need a business license to earn an income as a professional photographer, in the USA, or set up shop? I'm guessing you do...but you know I've talked to some photographers down there and they have no business plans, no business license, no permits..they work out of a warehouse or rental building or their own home and garage..

How does it work for you guys down there? I have a business license up here for Synergy Studios Photography.

Desperately need some guidance, not to worry I'm looking into a few sources of info but I would like some practical advice from working photogs down there-who are earning a full time income, because that's what I need.

Logic is telling me I'm screwed, stuck in Canada and Europe and I'll probably be at a distance for a long time if I have any hope of working down there :( but oh well, figured I'd look for advice anyway..love sick fool, you know how it is..

[Odie23]

Karl,

I grew up in Cleveland, but left when I joined the Air Force, and way before I got into photography. However, I still have friends in town and will try to get you some contact info for some photogs and the chamber of commerce in town. Laws vary from state to state so this is the best I can do for you right now.

Girlfriend is going to Lee University I presume? Beautiful campus in the heart of downtown. You both will be very happy in that area. Good Luck.

Odie

[strmrdr]

In most states you can work as "your name" without a license as long as you sell a service only in a lot of fields, others require a licence.
In pretty much all states in order to use an assumed name you need a licence.
ie to work as Synergy Studios Photography you would need an assumed name certificate in the county you work out of and that will function as a business license.
If you sell goods then you need a reseller license(sales tax certificate in some states) which requires the county business license.

[strmrdr]

You will also need a work visa either way.
That will be the hard part.

[Karl Johnston]

Odie! That's awesome, man, I'd love for any help or information you can offer!

Alas I guess I would need the visa, eh? That'll be my first step, but that information is pretty good, thank you.

I guess I could just use my name and work to save the assumed name. Would art classify as a good sold by the business or could I get away with that without the reseller license? Would 'a lot of fields' fall into portrait, wedding and commercial photography services?

Trying to learn the territory, I know it's difficult to ask for info on-line but I find you get the first hand account by asking real people rather than generally phoning around gov't offices.

Okay first thing to do is find out about this visa...

[Naturalist]

fyi Karl, you're gonna have a helluva time trying to find northern lights in TN. :lol:

[Karl Johnston]

We know each other well enough I'll just have to call them for a visit ;)

I wonder ...would it be possible, in theory, to base my business up here in canada but go to freelance down in the USA? Hm...Or I could set up direct deposit monthly payments with all the retailers I sell out of...

[FlyingPhotog]

fyi Karl, you're gonna have a helluva time trying to find northern lights in TN. :lol:

He's gonna have an even harder time finding Cleveland in Tennessee... :lol:

[CAL Imagery]

He's gonna have an even harder time finding Cleveland in Tennessee... :lol:
I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that...

[DDCSD]

He's gonna have an even harder time finding Cleveland in Tennessee... :lol:

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that...

There's a Cleveland in most states in the US, including Tennessee.
http://www.cityofclevelandtn.com/

They even have a university there. ;)

[DDCSD]

Karl, if you plan on selling at a retail level, you'll need a sales tax license. If you plan on selling to other businesses and they sell your work, you likely don't.


The best place to ask this type of question is the State of Tennessee's Small Business Administration.

http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/tn/index.html

And Tennessee's Dept. Of Revenue.
http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/


Getting a business license/sales tax license is easy, and likely free (it is in SD). They are more than happy to help people start up businesses.

You biggest problem will be with US Immigration.

[FlyingPhotog]

Whoops...

I've got to get these glasses tweaked :oops:

[Karl Johnston]

Sweet, thanks guys.

Yeah ...I know how hard US immigration can be :( originally tried to go from the UK to USA but their restrictions were way too damned high. You basically need to be a doctor/lawyer/judge/nurse or marrying someone in the USA to get full citizenship. Now I know people who go down there to school..but they can't work..that's the only thing.

[DDCSD]

Sweet, thanks guys.

Yeah ...I know how hard US immigration can be :( originally tried to go from the UK to USA but their restrictions were way too damned high. You basically need to be a doctor/lawyer/judge/nurse or marrying someone in the USA to get full citizenship. Now I know people who go down there to school..but they can't work..that's the only thing.


Just sneak in. Works just fine for about 20 million other people. ;)

You really can't work on a school visa? That seems odd. I guess they only let insanely rich kids come to school here.


Oh, and thanks for reminding me to file my sales tax return!

[CAL Imagery]

Sweet, thanks guys.

Yeah ...I know how hard US immigration can be :( originally tried to go from the UK to USA but their restrictions were way too damned high. You basically need to be a doctor/lawyer/judge/nurse or marrying someone in the USA to get full citizenship. Now I know people who go down there to school..but they can't work..that's the only thing.
You don't need to be of a specific vocation; you need to be living in the US long enough, be in good "moral" character, and pass the citizenship test(s). That statement's hyperbolic unless the test is so hard, difficult for me to believe, that you need an advanced degree to get citizenship.

What is full citizenship? I've never ever heard any types of citizen other than just plain ole citizen.

[Odie23]

He's gonna have an even harder time finding Cleveland in Tennessee... :lol:


Jay,

Cleveland Tennessee is located 25 miles north east of Chattanooga. It's the county seat of Bradley County and is the twelth largest city in the state. It's also my hometown and the home of Lee University. It's also the world headquarters for the Church of God, the Church of God of Prophecy, and the Church of God of Jerusulam Acres. It's in a very beautiful part of the state. The city and countryside are very photogenic, so if anyone is in the area please stop by and check it out.

Odie

[Karl Johnston]

You don't need to be of a specific vocation; you need to be living in the US long enough, be in good "moral" character, and pass the citizenship test(s). That statement's hyperbolic unless the test is so hard, difficult for me to believe, that you need an advanced degree to get citizenship.

What is full citizenship? I've never ever heard any types of citizen other than just plain ole citizen.
I dunno about that, from the information I'm reading you have to be on NAFTA's TN list of professional vocations...I don't really have any qualifications or diploma/degree, I'm working on a business admin one but every single vocation/degree needs 3 years of experience...

Finally if I don't have an employee or sponsor I can be one of the following:

Diversity Visa lottery winners
War veterans
Philippine Natives
U.S. citizens living abroad due to past immigration problems whose cases could be reopened
Special Occupations such as ethnic performers and people who sell and service Canadian-made products in U.S. (Note: Other Occupations may also be eligible)So....either I've lived there before (nope) or I need to be an..."Ethnic performer?" :roll: A Phillippine native? A lottery winner?

....Uh it aint looking good, apparently if I were to do that I would have to be sponsored by an employer, have enough finances to support myself for at least 2.5-3 years without being allowed to work, from what I understand..

Hm..I understand where you're coming from, though, and you are correct...but 3 years of financially supporting myself ? That's gotta be about 50 grand in US dollars.

Maybe I should try for a student visa and see what I can do down there :(

Hm....I wonder...maybe I could get on to a commercial photography program in a school or something like that....now there's an idea....

[FlyingPhotog]

Jay,

Cleveland Tennessee is located 25 miles north east of Chattanooga. It's the county seat of Bradley County and is the twelth largest city in the state. It's also my hometown and the home of Lee University. It's also the world headquarters for the Church of God, the Church of God of Prophecy, and the Church of God of Jerusulam Acres. It's in a very beautiful part of the state. The city and countryside are very photogenic, so if anyone is in the area please stop by and check it out.

Odie

Thanks Odie,

I stand totally corrected. My apologies to our Tennessee members.

[CAL Imagery]

I dunno about that, from the information I'm reading you have to be on NAFTA's TN list of professional vocations...I don't really have any qualifications or diploma/degree, I'm working on a business admin one but every single vocation/degree needs 3 years of experience...

Finally if I don't have an employee or sponsor I can be one of the following:
Diversity Visa lottery winners
War veterans
Philippine Natives
U.S. citizens living abroad due to past immigration problems whose cases could be reopened
Special Occupations such as ethnic performers and people who sell and service Canadian-made products in U.S. (Note: Other Occupations may also be eligible)So....either I've lived there before (nope) or I need to be an..."Ethnic performer?" :roll: A Phillippine native? A lottery winner?

....Uh it aint looking good, apparently if I were to do that I would have to be sponsored by an employer, have enough finances to support myself for at least 2.5-3 years without being allowed to work, from what I understand..

Hm..I understand where you're coming from, though, and you are correct...but 3 years of financially supporting myself ? That's gotta be about 50 grand in US dollars.

Maybe I should try for a student visa and see what I can do down there :(

Hm....I wonder...maybe I could get on to a commercial photography program in a school or something like that....now there's an idea....
Try looking up actual US government websites, not information from some illegal international institution: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ce2b2cd1f7e9e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCR D&vgnextchannel=96719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD.

[Odie23]

Karl,

Looks like my photographer person in Cleveland may be out of busisness. At least I can't find any contact information for him. Anyway, his name is Johnny Hughes, and he's a heck of a nice guy if you can find him. (I'll keep searching for him...) The Cleveland/Bradley County chamber of commerce should be able to help you out whit specific questions you have about the town. Their website is http://clevelandchamber.com/ Hope this helps...

Odie

[Karl Johnston]

Cheers Odie, I appreciate it