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I don't need a Sales Tax Permit in our state. What should I send you?
Not every state has a sales tax (don't we
wish, here in the land of 8.25% sales tax!). But every state has some form
of business registration. Check with your town or county clerk to see what
documentation is required and how to get it.
I have a beauty salon / dry cleaning
shop / auto repair shop / liquor store / restaurant / plumbing business / pet shop. I buy
everything for my business wholesale. Can I buy wholesale from Sunshine?
Probably not. Sunshine sells at wholesale "to the
trade". If you have a stained glass business, you're the "trade".
Try looking at it this way: Sunshine is an established business ... a
stained glass supply business. Should we be able to buy our beauty supplies
/ auto parts / wine / faucets / pet supplies at wholesale? We'd love to cut
the cat food bill down here at our warehouse, but just because we have a tax
number, we shouldn't be able to go to the Pet Food Wholesaler and get kitty
food for our shop cat at for the same price our local pet shop buys it for.
I don't have a Business Checking
Account. I just use my personal checks.
If you are running a business and mixing your cash with
the business' cash, you are looking for a big headache come audit time. Keep it simple
(and separate) and
use two accounts.
But my bank charges me $5 a month for a
business account!
So? It's worth it come tax time. And
should the IRS show at the door, you'd gladly pay the $5 just to keep them from digging through all
of your personal stuff.
The monthly fee is a business expense and it's deductible.
What's my Federal Tax ID Number?
If you are working as a sole proprietor, the ID# is your
social security number. If you're a corporation or partnership or have employees, you will
have an EIN (Employer Identification Number)
I don't have a Business Card or
Letterhead.
Get them! At the very least, you should have cards
printed. They are the cheapest way to get your name out there. Letterhead and stationery
is nice, not required. But if you want to have a professional appearance, get it! Your
kid's notebook paper doesn't cut it.
I don't have Promotional Material.
Everything is by word of mouth.
Word of mouth works when you're a hobbyist doing the
local church bazaar.
But if you are presenting yourself as a business, you need at least a professional looking
brochure that you have produced. (Please don't send any craft show program that has your
name listed along with the dozens of others there ... if you didn't print it, please don't
send it).
A newspaper ad (display ad, not a classified ad) promoting your stained glass business
will work fine.
And of course, the ultimate piece of Promotional Material ... your Yellow Pages Ad!
But I don't have a Yellow Pages Ad.
A Yellow Pages Ad is not mandatory, but it
truly establishes you as a credible business.
Credible to those seeking your services and credible to those looking to verify your
business.
I have a Yellow Pages Ad, but the
book hasn't come out yet.
If you have a Yellow Pages Ad arranged, but your
directory has not been published yet, please send a copy of your contract.
I'm just starting my business. I don't
have anything you are looking for. But I need to buy wholesale so I can make some money.
How can I get started if you won't sell to me wholesale?
This is the "which came first, the chicken or the
egg" question.
In this case, you're wholesale AFTER you send the stuff in, not before. Like
every other business, you start with all the paperwork, get your business
checking account, do up some promotional stuff and get rolling, lining up
distributors and customers.
Until you get everything together, you need to buy your materials at retail. Going back to
the cat food example above, until Sunshine Glass sets up a pet shop, we need to buy cat
food at retail.
I have all the paperwork you're
looking for. What about the $650 order?
If you are already buying at wholesale from another
distributor who uses similar qualifying standards, please include a copy of a recent
invoice from them showing purchases made at wholesale prices. If you've made an opening
order with them, there is no need to torture you with one from us.
We will accept invoices from any distributor that endorses and follows the
AGA guidelines. Invoices from "wholesale to the whole world" or "deep
discount retail" establishments are not accepted for this requirement.
If you have a store front, please send a photo! This will also exempt you. Sorry, a photo
of your house, your stand at the last craft show or a photo of your Pet Shop will not fill
this requirement.
It looks like I'll have to make the
$650 order. How do I do that?
Once your application and paperwork is received and
approved, we'll send you our Complete Wholesale Literature Package which will include our
Catalog, Confidential Wholesale Price Sheet plus updates, sale flyers and a cover letter
with your ID#. Once you get the package, put your order together. Call it in, fax it in or
e-mail it. We'll take it from there!
I can't make the $650 order
right now. Can I make a couple of smaller orders and combine them?
No
I've been a retail customer at
Sunshine for years. I have receipts that total over $650. Do I still need to make the
$650
order?
Yes
I can't believe you are asking
for all this stuff!!!! Why do you need all these photocopies? How come you have to have a
Yellow Pages Ad? A newspaper ad? What's wrong with the photo of my front porch? It shows
my suncatchers nicely displayed on a card table, why isn't that good enough for you? You
need a $650 opening order? What's wrong with you people?
Our experience shows that those that
complain the loudest are those that are the least qualified. Applicants that are truly
qualified for Wholesale Status will have no trouble sending in the documentation requested
and are glad we require it knowing we won't be giving out wholesale prices to just anyone
with a tax number and business card.
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