Register your business 

By: Jim Yekrang
I got a letter from San Carlos City Attorney demanding to pay and register my business in the city of San Carlos. So I called to understand the reason I need to do so since I only receive my mail at a P.O. Box address in the City of San Carlos.

On the phone I got a customer services so I explained to her that I received a letter that "demands" payments for registering my business. She asked for some information and said yes what I can help you with. I explained to her that I do not run a business in San Carlos and I only receive my mail at a P.O. Box. She asked me where is the physical address of the business and I said there is no physical address since this is a consulting business and the consultants are at various customer locations which none are in San Carlos. So I do not generate any revenue from anyone in San Carlos. She said you are running a business here and that you have to register your business. I asked her to explain to me how I'm running a business here and she said since you have to physical location then you are running your business here.

After many back and forth of repeating the same thing, I asked her to explain to me what my registration is buying for me as a business owner since I do not have a shop or employee or anything else for that matter. She said that by paying for registration, you are complying with the city ordinance. So I asked her since I'm paying for something I would like to know the benefit of that, she repeated the same thing. I asked why do we have such an ordinance and she said there are a lot of people that run their business from their home here and they have to do the same. I asked how does that cost the city any money if one decides to run their business here at home. She said Mr. Yekrang, this is the city ordinance and "they" are enforcing that and you are not the only one. I asked her who "they" are and she said the city. I asked her if she is one of them, and she said yes. So I repeated my question with phrasing it with "they". She said the benefit is that you are doing business here!! I couldn't help but laughing and apologized for my laugh but insisted that there should be a benefit when you are asking someone to pay for something and I respectfully do not see any benefit of having a mail box here which I have paid for it should oblige me to pay for another fee.

I hung up and started thinking that what have we become as a country. Our income is taxed as heavily as ever, Almost everything else that we purchase is taxed heavily. Our government makes more money than the oil company from selling the gas. Our lives ran by ordinance and laws that only benefit a small percent of us and we are constantly reminded of we live in the best country in the world and that we are free. I guess my definition of free is different than being controlled and manipulated by ordinance and non-sense laws.