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Found advice on here about trying to start a wedding photography business. the advice I found was do not get a business license at first and try a couple of weddings and see if you are going to stick with it or not. All may not agree on it but my question is in California it sounds like the total price charged is taxable. is that correct? then if so how do you report sales tax if you don't have a license? and if the reply is don't then I would ask about my bank, they opened us a business checking account without a business license and or fictitious name. does the bank report income deposited into that to any one? I am only asking in case this business does not take off what do I do about sales tax?
Check with the county clerks office and get all required licenses and permits. Consult with a tax attorney on the sales tax issues, laws vary from state to state. Also consult with an accountant to set up your books or take an accounting course, you want to be able to see how your business is doing, with the accounting books you will never know if you being successful or not.
Why not pay a visit to an accountant, tax adviser, attorney, or even your banker to start? I, for one, would not trust financial advice coming from a bunch of strangers here on Y!a.
*EDIT*
I did not mean to say any particular person's advice was bad. but asking on a forum like this is a crap shoot. You'll have some people who know what they're talking about, and some with who don't. Also laws are different from state to state. I just thought it would be a great idea for the OP to check with a trained person in his area. sorry if I stepped on your feelings, J-Man, no harm meant.
Here in NC the license for photographer's is $50 per year. Not too bad. but, we also only have to charge tax on goods, not services. so, my time is not taxable, but my prints, etc. are. If I do a bundle that includes X number of hours and X number of prints, then the whole amount is taxable and must be reported as sales tax.
HOWEVER, by setting this up as a business I am also able to take deductions for my camera, supplies, travel, advertising, bank fees, checks, business cards, etc. etc., even a part of my home since I have a home studio, all on my personal tax returns. This will be my first full year, I showed a loss last year for the partial year and will show one again this year. but as long as I have *some* income each year I can keep showing a loss for a while. and, since I still have a day job, that can result in more money coming back to me at refund time.
Our accountant is the most honest you will ever meet. so, for NC at least, this is all above board.
Generally speaking (I'm no tax lawyer ) I believe you have to make over a certain amount of income to be liable for income tax.
Your best bet is to keep all your business associated documents together in one place, preferably in chronological order and at the end of the year have your tax preparer go over them.
As for a business checking account, I don't know how you opened one with out a valid tax ID #, for which you would need a registered business name. I'd just open up a plain old CA, in your name, and have your "clients" make checks payable to you.
One other note, as a former small business owner (photography) I can advise you to get some training in running a small business. Sadly the best shutterbug in the world won't stand a chance against others who are better at marketing and general business. It was the shortcoming of my little endevour…
THX: Ara57, No harm, no foul and I did'nt thumb down ya, matter of fact I'm gonna give you a thumb up just because someone did.
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For youngsters, the beginning of the school year can bring the excitement of new clothes and school supplies, an opportunity to meet new people and participate in new challenges.
From the perspective of teachers and administrators, it’s about keeping their students interested, ensuring they learn what they need to learn and keeping up with new ways of teaching. Educators are trying to meet the challenges of preparing a generation of students for the very different world of the 21st century, despite the uncertainty brought about by dramatic budget cuts in education.
San Jose Unified, Cambrian and Union School districts have all planned with an eye toward helping students achieve in the best ways they can and acquire the skills that will be necessary for this century’s jobs.
Most districts these days are less concerned about rote memorization and test questions and more concerned with critical thinking, collaboration and, of course, technology.
Union School District
Union School District, located mainly in the Cambrian area, has made it through the past several years without any furlough days. its class sizes are small and the district hasn’t laid off any teachers, says superintendent Jacqueline Horejs. she attributes much of this success to the district’s board of education.
“We have a wonderful board of education that has kept us from suffering from the winds of economic change that have been afflicting state and city budgets. they have protected us against crises. In spite of any cuts, we’ve been able to deliver top quality education,” she told the Resident.
The district consists of a preschool, six elementary and two middle schools. its teaching program uses a system of flexible instruction. Teachers assess the students’ abilities and place them in groups.
Unlike older teaching methods, Union’s groups are flexible. once placed in a group, a child can move based on reassessments. These weekly assessments aim to ensure that no child gets bored or lost, and teachers can focus on each student’s needs to determine whether to provide extra instruction or enrichment activities.
Each campus in the district also has before- and after-school activities. Some schools offer language clubs or classes. Guadalupe Elementary, which serves children in the Almaden and Cambrian areas, offers students a number of options including a math Olympiad, robotics club, algebra club, after school arts, digital photography, Zumba and even manners and etiquette as well as holiday cookie decorating. Meanwhile, Oster Elementary has a weekly math club that meets with Xilinx Corp. employees.
“One key to our success is our staff. we have a family culture, a shared vision,” Horejs said. Constant assessment allows the district’s schools to discard instructions that don’t support learning, while ensuring valuable teaching through the critical assessments. In addition, the district’s home and school clubs fund programs including one called music and art vistas.
Guadalupe Elementary’s school enrollment is approximately 590. While class sizes are somewhat larger this year, they remain on the small side. Kindergarten through third grades have 22 to 26 students per classroom, up from 20 to 24 a year ago. Fourth- and fifth-graders’ classes have grown to 30, up from 20 to 24 last year, with a new fourth/fifth combo class of 28 students, principal Roberta Zarea said.
The school has hired three new teachers, two to replace retirees and one to teach the new combo. Two of last year’s three temporary teachers have returned.
Math and reading intervention classes are offered to students before and after school. “Most of the students enjoy these short classes, because they see their performance improve and it boosts their confidence,” Zarea said.
The school also offers an after-school enrichment class called the Mouse Squad. about 25 children in this group meet once a week for online training and problem-solving. Mouse Squad members are then available to help teachers and students with digital problems.
The Cambrian School District was able to reinstate 10 teaching positions and five classified positions for this year when the state didn’t slash school budgets. but, said superintendent Debbie Blow, “We could still be facing mid-year cuts.” the district has four elementary schools and one middle school.
“I think there’s a strong possibility of mid-year cuts taking place in February, which is a good time for them to happen because we can probably get through the remaining school year. we plan for the worst and hope for the best,” she said.
In August, the board of education approved a five-year strategic plan to bring Cambrian schools’ instruction into the 21st century stressing critical thinking, creativity, innovation and collaboration. In fact, principals from Union and Cambrian districts collaborated before school started and created a podcast describing what 21st century learning looks like, Blow said.
The administration stresses district training for teachers using specific tools and accountability to implement what they have learned. Teachers apply to specific groups to learn a particular concept, such as critical thinking or digital literacy. they put that learning into action, for example, by making video podcasts to communicate to others.
The district has part-time librarian instructional assistants. it has one counselor at Ida Price Middle School. Class sizes remain the same as last year.
Again this year, the district will take six furlough days, including three that previously were scheduled for teacher in-service days and Thanksgiving week.
Kathy Kimpel, principal at Bagby Elementary, said that class sizes remain about 24.5 students per classroom. the school has added a special day class and now has three special education classes. It’s been able to hire three teachers, one each for third, fourth and fifth grades and two new teachers for the special education classes. three teachers returned from leave.
Bagby parents offer a unique program, asking each family to donate $200 and thus eliminating the need for student fundraisers. It’s a suggested donation, and parents don’t have to give anything but are encouraged to give what they can. “Anything is great,” Kimpel said, because it means students don’t have to go door to door selling fundraising items.
Many parents also donate their time, about 200 hours per week in total. “We don’t have the money to pay for teacher’s aides and parents are an integral part of our school program. However, we do have [district-paid] aides for the special education classes.” Kimpel said.
The school’s Home and School Club last year raised $19,000 for computers on wheels, providing 31 laptops with access to the Internet. the fourth- and fifth-grade students using the laptops can save their files to Google Docs and log in at home to continue their work. Other Home and School Club gifts include field trips, assemblies, technical materials and other classroom materials. the club also sponsors an ice cream social to break the ice at the beginning of the school year, as well as the father/daughter dance and the mother/son picnic.
San Jose Unified, with 42 schools is one of the largest districts in the Bay Area. It’s made up of 26 elementary schools, two K-8 schools, six middle schools and eight high schools.
Its teachers, principals, administrators and classified employees all met on Aug. 12 for an “energizing” speech by superintendent Vince Matthews. the speech described the need for the district to close the “opportunity gap” and ensure all students receive the instruction necessary to prepare them for the 21st century.
“I’m serious about making progress to close the achievement gap and build the skills necessary to survive in this century,” Matthews said. “We need to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist today, to teach them to shift skills as the market shifts. our students need to have the ability to be agile and the ability to be able to adapt.”
The entire district workforce is needed to make these changes, he said. To determine the changes, he and his staff are working on a strategic plan to emphasize collaboration, critical thinking and the ability to articulate clearly through oral and written communication.
This year, the district has no furlough days scheduled. with previous state budget cuts, the district lost a number of its counselors and librarians and increased class sizes. This school year, Matthews said, it’s helped not to have to make more drastic changes. “I don’t expect mid-year cuts, but I do expect much deeper cuts in 2012-13 and 2013-14,” he said.
Even though counseling is critical to students in middle and high schools, the district can afford only one or two for 600 to 800 students. “Teachers help pick up the slack, as do administrators,” he said.
Teachers do most of the library work now. the district’s class sizes were increased two years ago to 30 for K-5; 31 for middle schools and 35 for high schools. Matthews noted the district is offering intervention classes, supplemental skills classes and credit recovery classes after school.
Graystone Elementary has 763 students this year. It’s also welcomed five new “positive, strong educators” to its staff, principal Priscilla Spencer said. others new at the school include assistant principal Sheila Brewer, an Almaden resident, and four student teachers.
The school stages several fundraisers, most through the Home and School Club. the children sell wrapping paper and other holiday items before the winter holidays. the club holds a dinner-auction in February, and parents buy scrip throughout the year. Hicklebee’s is a corporate sponsor for the school. the award-winning Willow Glen children’s bookstore holds fundraisers and shares authors with the school, bringing six of them to speak to students during the 2010-11 school year and offering signed books to parents.
Library media aides work about 10 hours per week, Spencer says, and parent volunteers supplement them to help teachers with student library visits and to put books back on the shelves.
Trace Elementary this year welcomed about 1,000 students, one new teacher and a new part-time assistant principal this year, according to principal Anacelia Rocha.
Zetha Nobles will be working at Trace on Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Tuesday as an assistant principal.
Trace is moving a portion of its classes into a bilingual immersion program. the program began last year with one kindergarten class and added a first-grade class this year with the new teacher. Each year a new grade will be added to the program until it works through the fifth grade. the school is phasing out its Academic Language Acquisition program as the bilingual immersion is phased in.
As at other San Jose Unified schools, Trace’s teachers are focused on addressing 21st century skills. the school is 60 percent Hispanic and its achievement gap is evident, Rocha said.
Guitar classes for the fourth and fifth grades are new this year at Trace, which is a visual and performing arts school. there are also three full-time teachers for drama, music and visual arts and part-time teachers for band and orchestra. All of these are funded by the district. the school has two libraries, one in the temporary classrooms on the Hoover Middle School campus serving kindergarten through second grade. the school suffered a devastating fire just before school started last year, but new construction is under way. the libraries will be combined once the building has been rebuilt so all classes are together.
Rocha also is implementing a schoolwide parent participation program. Volunteers in Action will encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom, library or playground as well as at school-wide events. Pathways to Success will provide opportunities to support children’s education at home such as with homework or reading.
Booksin Elementary increased enrollment by about 30 students to 784, principal Debbie Baccino, said. the school has added a new first-grade classroom, making five; a new second-grade class, making four; a new fifth-grade class, and a second/third grade combination class.
Teachers are aligning the school’s instructional program. Each grade’s teachers work together to determine the common core standards for maximum instructional time. “We want to provide academics beyond the test; information and knowledge across subjects while engaging technical based understanding,” she said.
Once the standards are determined, students will solve problems as pairs or a team. “They must listen, participate and consider others’ ideas. We’re starting this in kindergarten, developing skills they can use with each other and to see that different answers can solve the same problem. In other words, we will be helping kids to talk about the process and share their thinking.”
The school has a nurse on campus two days a week and a health clerk five days a week during school hours. A library media specialist is at the school Tuesdays through Friday and parents also help out.
The school’s parents have formed the Booksin Education School Community Association, which works like a PTA. the group does fundraising for the school, which goes toward the Art Vistas program and field trips, supports teachers in the classroom and funds after-school tutoring.
BESCA volunteers read one on one with each student in a classroom, freeing teachers who don’t have the time to read with each student. they also work as garden docents and support the school’s science teacher. “I would say there’s anywhere from two to four parents per day per class on campus. Many come for recess and lunch. there are more volunteers here in the morning,” Baccino said.
Booksin also has a range of after-school programs organized by BESCA members and provided by outside vendors.
Preparing today’s students for a rapidly changing, highly technological future would be a challenge all by itself. Fortunately parents, corporate and community volunteers have risen to the occasion, and that, at least, is a silver lining.
