Bristol, PA
Glass jars of dried leaves, a mortar and pestle on the counter, and a scent of mint and chamomile.
Short answer: In Bristol, Pennsylvania, businesses are required to obtain licensing before they start operating. For an herb shop, that means the Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License, a federal tax ID number (EIN) and a local business license, plus a structure and name registration.
Pennsylvania calls its seller's permit the Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License. When you buy inventory to resell, the paperwork is a Form REV-1220 Pennsylvania Exemption Certificate. Not a sales tax license. A business selling only to resellers applies for a wholesaler certificate instead; it cannot hold both. Pennsylvania issues a separate wholesaler certificate to businesses that sell only for resale; any retail selling requires the sales tax license instead. Herb retailers buy dried herbs and packaging using a resale certificate, so they don't pay sales tax on stock, then collect tax when selling to customers.
Tip: Keep health claims modest and label ingredients clearly; herbs are old, but regulators are fast readers.
Industry code: NAICS 446191 (Food (Health) Supplement Stores), 456191 under the 2022 update
Get your Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License filed · Start your LLC, DBA and EIN · Business licenses
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All Businesses Need a Bristol Business License & a Trade Business Name ( Bucks County Trade Business Name required if using a trade name).
Retailers / Wholesalers, Need a Reseller Tax ID, & a Business License.
Employers Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN), a PA State Tax Id ( State EIN), & a Business License.
Corporations, & LLC Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN)& a Business License.
Partnerships Need a Federal Tax Id Number (EIN) & a Trade Business Name, but also need a Business License.
Sole Proprietors May Use a Federal Tax Id Number as a PA Business Tax ID but also need a Business License.
Instead of filing a Trade Business Name, You Can Incorporate in PA or form a(n) PA LLC & You Will Not Need To File A DBA
Requirements below include websites as well as home-based or eBay Businesses.
1. Herbs 99% of new businesses are required to get a(n), Bristol business Id registration ( business tax registration or business permit).
2. Herbs Starting businesses using a company name other than the legal owner's name need a (n) Bucks County DBA Doing Business As Trade Firm Name Registration.
3. In PA a business tax ID registration (occupationall business license ) and a DBA Doing Business As Fictious Business Name are ncessary for most businesses but if your business sells any taxable items, you will need a sales tax ID number. ( A.K.A PAseller's permit, state id, wholesale, resale, reseller certificate).
4. If you are thinking of hiring help, you will need a tax ID called a state EIN and an IRS tax ID number called an EIN Employer ID Number. I.e., a PA Federal Tax ID Number and a(n) PA State Employer Tax Number.
5. Instead of filing a fictitious business name DBA Filing in Bristol, Incorporate in PA or form a(n) LLC.