Angela Bell

I thought two years spent on planning budgets for my latest project, what is currently referred to as a fast casual restaurant, would have been more than enough time to discover what taxes, licenses and inspections were required. But, I was wrong. On the day that I went to the town offices to apply for a business license, the day before I was due to open, I was handed a pile of forms, forms to be completed and sent in along with my local sales tax of 2% to be collected on every sale and payable on the 15th of each month.

Local sales tax? I had already programmed my cash register and it did not include a 2% tax to be used for downtown improvements such as brick sidewalks, underground utilities, landscaping, lighting and annual celebrations to increase tourism. Although I had previously had communications with the town building inspector, town manager, police chief, fire chief, town clerk and landlord, never did I see or hear anything about a local sales tax. At least I had twelve hours or so to reprogram my register!

Small business entrepreneurs, those of you starting a food service or retail store, here is a list of taxes, licenses and inspections to use as a guideline so you will not be caught off guard as I was in this latest endeavor.

• Fire department inspection


• Third party fire suppression inspection


• Building inspection


• State, city or local occupancy permit


• State health department permit


• State, county or local health department inspection


• City or local trash removal permit


• State liquor licensing inspection


• Federal income tax


• State income tax


• State sales tax


• County sales tax


• Local sales tax

And coming soon---world sales tax for sales made on the world wide web!

Buon Appetito e Buona Salute, Chef Angela Bell

Beyond the Bull (an “eat smart” kitchen)

233 W. Main St., Central, SC 29630

http://antiaginggastronomy.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ChefAngelaB