Legal Aspects of Breeding Ball Pythons?

Hello. I am planning on starting a little hobby breeding with some pastels, black pewters, & ghost pinstripes. Was wondering if to sell the babies, (I plan to sell babies online if you need to know), do i need to get a small business license? What are the tax regulations and legal aspects relating to hobby ball python breeders? I want to make sure i cover all my bases before i dedicate myself to breeding my snakes. Would prefer an answer from someone who has a business or has experience in business. Not just someone whose dabbled in research. I need exact details and processes, for some reason its not talked about much when people talk about breeding snakes. Thank you for any information.

You would have to get the information from your city office in the business licensing department, and they will give you every detail you would need as far as if you would need a license and what steps would need to be taken to obtain it. Every state, county, and city has different rules and regulations so it is hard to say what is required where you are located.

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Originally Posted by BrianB801

You would have to get the information from your city office in the business licensing department, and they will give you every detail you would need as far as if you would need a license and what steps would need to be taken to obtain it. Every state, county, and city has different rules and regulations so it is hard to say what is required where you are located.

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This is 100% correct, a good place to ask these questions is your local borough office. They have all the information you need to start a small businesses since they deal with state, the county and the borough you live in.

I'm in accounting so I can tell youa bit about that aspect. The IRS doesn't consider it a business unless you've mad a profit 3 of the last 5 years and they consider intent. You have to have set out to make a profit. They, also, don't allow claiming most expenses from a hobby. When considering whether you made a profit, you have to consider everything; Food cost of equipment, cost of animals, cost of supplies, electricity, percentage of mortgage/rent goes for the space you use, etc. When you coonsider it all, it's pretty tough to make profit on your hobby. They would probably lose more money in deductions then they'd ever collect in missed tax revenue.

As was said there are individual rules with states, counties, and municpalities. I would check on-line if I were you or if you call do it anonymously. With current attitudes toward our hobby, you don't want to make yourself known if you can help it. They should have the info on their website. Even my bankrupt city of Flint, Michigan has put all city and tax ordinances on their site.