When you start an online business, are you required to register it in the same way as an actual, physical, small business? If so, with whom do you register it?

It's a business - so you should be required to register it, same as you'd register any other business. I don't know of any US states, at least, that don't have some level of business registration requirement.

Check with your county office and they'll tell you what you need to do to register your business in the area where you are, as well as what taxes you may need to pay/file/be aware of. They may also tell you what state filings you need to make.

If you're in the US, look for books by Nolo Press (www.nolo.com). They detail starting up small businesses fairly well.

In the UK it needs to be registered. I am not sure where you are from though so I figured I would mention it from a UK perspective which is where I am.

Most places require a business to be registered and have definitions of what is considered a business. I'd imagine in the US your town office would have some sort of booklet or forms and what not to help you out. I know I planned on clearing my afetrnoon and heading down there to ask but I live in a small town and it takes at least 20mins to get through the latest news before they get down to business.

Since I work as an Independent Contractor from home I haven't ever been required to register as a business. I did however get a TIN number which in turn made the IRS contact me and ask if I had opened a new business. I explained to them exactly what I do and they said that I didn't have to register since I did it from home and I was the only person working. With some of the wah companies I've seen that hire IC's, it is just a given that you do have to become incorporated. So far, that has not been the case with the one I work for.

Thanks all. I have a TIN from other at home, independant contractor work, and that is part of the reason I asked this question.

I have heard of Nolo but never looked at any-I'll check them out, thank you. And I am in the US (for another eight months anyway ).

A simple online venture making some money, is different than a real business, online or offline, you would require to register it.

If its making over $XXX its considered a real online business, becoming a part of your month income stream.

As posted above, check with the proper offices in your country or state to see the laws on business registrations.

I doubt that it would be based on anything as simple as a dollar amount as to whether or not it needs to be registered. There are things such as registering for tax purposes, and they would all come are part of registering a business. If nothing else, you would need something like the off the shelf business packages?

I think it depends on type of business and specific country or region legal requirement, however most of people recommend to register once the business start making some profit.