We romanticize home-based businesses (HBB). Just look at the examples often given, Amazon, Hewlett Packard, Apple, Disney, Dell, Harley Davidson, and Facebook to name a few.
We look at these and other
companies and reflect on better times and the ruggedness of starting a home-based
business or HBB. In other words, a rag to
riches story; or starting at the bottom and climbing to the top.
In reality, these companies
are the exception. In addition, like most other endeavors romanticized, the
actual events do not fit the story.
I am not going to dwell on
the story of a rag to rich story. Rather
(you guessed it) another post on permitting and zoning.
We visualize the individual
hard at work in their garage or at a dining room table, hunching down to
finalize a product or service. It is as
American as apple pie.
But a HBB has challenges. I
am only reviewing the permitting process.
In many US cities and
counties, homes are subject to zoning and permitting. These ordinances go back a century or more. While the nature of business has changed due
primarily to adapting technology, the zoning and permitting has not. The link to the article is a brief on this
subject matter. The publication is “City Journal” and the authors are Olivia
Gonzalez and Nolan Gray.
Part II will be posted next month.
