There’s a series of questions I ask every new client. A lot of it is background stuff, like “what are your goals” and “do you have specific financial or personal challenges at this time,” so that I can make sure that we’re on track to create something meaningful for their lives. But some of it is about the little things, the things you have to do to get and keep your business running. And there’s one box that, so far, not a single client has checked. That box is “do you have your city business license?” Almost nobody has one – and that can cost you. The City of Los Angeles sweeps business rolls every year and seeks out businesses that don’t have licenses, then collects licensing fees and fines. Some cities – Torrance, for instance – set a cap on the number of years of back fees they can go after; others may not. Many businesses, particularly those in the food industry, also need to have industry-specific permits. Even if you’re renting a certified commercial kitchen, your state may require a staff member certified in food handling to be on-site while you operate. Specialized packaging methods may require specialized permits as well. A good attorney can help you take care of permitting during your start-up phase. If the lawyer who is doing your business organization doesn’t know anything about permits, ask them for a referral to an industry specialist; there’s probably a lawyer in your area who works just with people like you. You can do a lot of the work yourself online, too; a great place to start at is Business.gov’s Permit Me Web site. Just enter your zip and select your industry from a list and they’ll come up with a step-by-step list of permits you may require, taking you from incorporation through business launch.