Rules and Regulations for the Ebook Publishing Business.

By Michael Hopkins
Posted Sunday, January 2, 2005

Some questions and answers in relation to the rules and regulations that apply to anyone wishing to start an ebook publishing business.

Q. 1 - Do I have to buy a business license to run a business website? If I decide to start an e-book publishing company, do I have to register it the State or Federal Government?

This is a quote from Angela Wu's "Online Business Basics" that should help answer these questions and other related issues...

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Business registration and licensing requirements will vary depending on where you live. This is not intended to be legal advice; please consult with a lawyer or your local chamber of commerce for information on your specific situation.

Check zoning regulations. Make sure that you are allowed to run a business from your home. Some residential areas may place restrictions on the types of businesses that can be run from your home. Try calling city offices first; if they don't have this information, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Purchase any required licenses or permits. Once again, you will need to check with local authorities to find out what licenses and permits you need.

Decide on a business structure. Many Internet home businesses start out as sole proprietorships; visit the US Small Business Association for more information : (http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html)

Register a business name. This is usually a quick and easy process. Start by calling your local government offices, or even the business department of your local bank. They should be able to tell you where you can register a business name.

Look into opening a business banking account. Make an appointment with your bank to discuss your situation. They'll be able to make suggestions on the best package for your needs.

Consult with professionals. Depending on your situation, you may need to use the services of lawyers, accountants or bookkeepers, insurance agents or brokers, and others.

This isn't an exhaustive list, but it's a good start. Many cities also have organizations dedicated to helping small businesses -- check your Yellow Pages or the local Chamber of Commerce to see if there's one in your area.

Excerpted with permission from Online Business Basics, a beginner's guide to marketing a business on a shoestring budget. (http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/)

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Q. 2 - Do I have to get an "ISBN" number for my ebooks, and if so - how do I go about doing that?

No, you don't need to have an ISBN. You'll find additional information here... (http://www.00ebooks.com/ISBN-copyright.htm) (http://publishing.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa062797.htm)

Q. 3 - Are there rules and regulations to ebook publishing or writing - and if so how can I find out what they are?

I'm not familiar with any rules or regulations associated with ebook publishing specifically. Basically, you need to stay within the limits of responsible legal and business behavior in general. Be truthful in your advertising, use disclaimers, and so on. You'll find details of the various regulations in this free ebook: (http://www.bizzydays.com/downloads/WebLawLinks.exe) I hope this goes some way towards answering your questions.

About the Author
Michael Hopkins is owner of BizzyDays Ebook Publications. Visit now to download original ebooks for FREE at:
(http://www.bizzydays.com) This article first appeared in Michael's newsletter 'Ebook Times'. To subscribe visit: (http://www.bizzydays.com/free_newsletter.htm)