Marion said:
I think we may have two threads of thought going here.
What I was referring to was simply a license to do business. That is, any occupation which brings in money and hence is taxable at up to three levels.
Then there is occupational licensing or 'certification'. A different concept completely and I suggest you do a search on 'certification'. This has been exhaustively and acrimoniously discussed several times.
I would respectfully disagree that the topic of 'certification' has been discussed exhaustively and acrimonously. Web searches for "certification" are NOT RELIABLE- the majority of U.S.-based links are OUTDATED. I asked about the very topic no more than a week or two ago and my question barely elicited any discussion other than a few links - what I do know is that one tarot cerfication board in the U.S. is now-defunct and obselete (despite having a web site that immediately comes up on web search) yet the other organization certification board in the U.S. *is* legitimate. How's someone supposed to know? Short answer to the topic of certification: Get certified or endorsed from an organization *outside* the United States if you so choose. In the context of certification in the U.S., you're right - it can get acrimonious, not to mention having to keep track of who's still on first and whose on second, etc. Did anyone get "certified" from a U.S. group recently? That's two people - Marion, and myself - who would welcome some insight on the matter.
My understanding for U.S. businesses is that, if your business license is for "consulting" or "personal services," and as long as you file your taxes, and report your earnings to the IRS, there is no "registration" necessary. My understanding is that for business who *do* register as "psychics" or "mediums," et al, many cities will in fact seek some documentation on file -irregardless of whether or not such formalities with law enforcement agencies are publicized. Rule of thumb, pun intended: I've been told that fingerprinting is the norm (for those same law enforcement agencies to help fight fraud), but actual "licensing" does vary by municipality.
Hope that helps.