Legal Question in Business Law in California

Freelance Webdesigner Questions

I am a college student who have been making websites since 1999. I would love to use this ability to create websites for small startup businesses with limited budgets.

My questions are:

1. Is it alright to not apply for business license to be a freelance webdesigner catering for small businesses with easy websites just for advertising (not creating websites for corporate, ecommerce or anything that has databases or heavy coding)?

2. Will just by having a contract protect me without the proper setup of a business? Such as business license, business permits, insurance, etc?

3. Will there be any issues with regards to building free websites for small business owners such as in craigslist to build my portfolio?

Thank you in advance


Asked on 5/25/07, 3:03 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Johm Smith tom's

Re: Freelance Webdesigner Questions

You don't have to be a business but you would limit your liability with one. A good contract will cover most of your needs. Contact me and I'll tell you about the issues you need to consider.

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Answered on 5/25/07, 3:48 pm
Timothy J. Walton Internet Attorney

Re: Freelance Webdesigner Questions

1. Whether you need a business license depends on your local jurisdiction. Cities may charge a different amount of tax, so it may cost under $100 to operate in Mountain View, CA, but over $100 to operate in San Jose, CA. Some cities may not charge anything at all.

Operating without proper licensing is not recommended.

2. I guess that would depend on the contractual terms.

3. Maybe. If you need specific information about your situation, then you are seeking legal advice and need to hire an attorney.

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Answered on 5/25/07, 4:18 pm


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