Gwinnett County is the second largest county in Georgia and is among the top three counties in Georgia for job creation. A large percentage of those jobs were created by small businesses with between 1 and 50 employees. Some of these companies started life as home-based businesses. Gwinnett County, Georgia makes it relatively easy to operate a business without interruptions from home.

Obtain a tax identification number from the IRS.

Go to the IRS website. Click “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online” on the left sidebar. Answer the interview questions for yourself and your home business and submit. After the IRS validates all the information you enter, the IRS will provide you with your EIN right away. Download, print and save this EIN confirmation notice. The IRS will send another permanent EIN confirmation in the mail.

Obtain a business license from Gwinnett County.

Go to the Gwinnett County website. Download the Business License Application Form, Gwinnett County Business / Labor Tax Initial Application. Make sure the home address on your Georgia driver’s license matches your home business address. If you’ve moved and it doesn’t match, go to the nearest Georgia driver’s license office and update your address to your current address. You MUST include a copy of your driver’s license or ID card with your home business license application. Print the application and complete all sections. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Sign the application. Then submit the completed application in person, at which point you will be told how much you owe. Mail in the application and you will be billed. Once you pay, you will be issued a Business / Occupational Tax Certificate for your home business. This is your business license.

Check the zoning laws in your area.

Visit the Gwinnett County Planning Division website. Check for updates to determine if your area has specific zoning restrictions.

Get liability insurance.

Contact your insurance agent and request a business premises liability insurance and / or a personal general insurance policy.

Summary

Gwinnett County generally allows you to operate your business from your home if the traffic flow from your business does not interrupt your neighbors. Allowed home-based businesses include retail entities such as a small barber or hair salon, a daycare center, and similar entities. If you’re concerned about disruption, you can meet people at Starbucks and rent space at a UPS or PakMail store or similar mail facility that uses suite numbers instead of PO boxes. (FedEx and UPS do NOT deliver to PO Boxes).

If you are going to have customers, employees, or suppliers who come to your home, make sure that you and your business have enough liability insurance coverage to cover any accidents or incidents and protect your personal property from a lawsuit. Be sure to apply for your business license annually and remit tax payments based on your business profits.