Dirty hands and elbow grease Bricolur Services

### Legal & Compliance Categories for an Online-Only Handyman/Landscaping Business in Brattleboro, VT

#### 1. State Tax Nexus (Sales Tax Collection Requirements)
• Where must this business collect sales tax?
• Vermont (VT): Must collect VT sales tax (currently 6%).
• Other states? Only if economic nexus thresholds are met (VT has $100K+ gross revenue or 200+ transactions/year in a state).
• Binding state: Vermont (primary); check other states via [Multistate Tax Commission](https://www.mtc.gov/).
• Digital goods/services taxation: UNKNOWN (VT does not tax most services, but check [VT Dept. of Taxes](https://tax.vermont.gov/)).

#### 2. Platform & Marketplace Rules
• Marketplaces used (e.g., Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, TaskRabbit, Facebook Marketplace):
• Each has take rates (10–30%), contract terms, and liability waivers.
• Some require business registration or insurance verification before listing.
• Who to check: Platform’s "Seller Policies" or "Business Terms" section.

#### 3. Business Registration & Foreign Entity Filings
• Vermont Business Registration:
• Required? Yes, if operating under a name other than the owner’s legal name.
• Issued by: [Vermont Secretary of State (SOS)](https://sos.vermont.gov/).
• Type: DBA ("Doing Business As") if using a trade name.
• Foreign Entity Filing (if owner lives outside VT):
• Required? If the business is registered in another state but operates in VT.
• Issued by: [VT SOS](https://sos.vermont.gov/).

#### 4. Payment Processing & Chargeback Exposure
• Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Square):
• May require business registration for merchant accounts.
• Chargeback risk: Higher for services (disputes over work quality).
• Who to check: Processor’s "Business Verification" or "Risk Policy" section.

#### 5. Public Exposure of Home Address
• Vermont Business Registry (SOS):
• Public? Yes, if registered as a DBA or LLC—includes address.
• WHOIS (domain registration):
• Public? Depends on registrar (e.g., GoDaddy makes it public unless privacy protection is purchased).
• Who to check: Domain registrar’s privacy policy.

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### Licences, Permits, Registrations & Insurance (VT-Specific)

#### 6. Vermont Handyman/Landscaping Business Licence
• Required? UNKNOWN (VT does not have a broad "handyman" licence, but specialized trades (e.g., electrical, plumbing) require certification).
• Who to check: [VT Department of Public Safety – Division of Fire Safety](https://dps.vermont.gov/) (for structural work) or [VT Agency of Agriculture](https://agriculture.vermont.gov/) (for landscaping).

#### 7. Vermont Contractor’s Registration (if performing construction)
• Required? UNKNOWN (VT does not mandate a general contractor’s licence for minor work, but building permits may be needed for structural changes).
• Who to check: [VT Department of Buildings, Housing & Community Development](https://dbhcd.vermont.gov/).

#### 8. Vermont Sales Tax Permit
• Required? Yes, if selling taxable goods/services.
• Issued by: [VT Dept. of Taxes](https://tax.vermont.gov/).
• Type: Sales Tax Certificate of Authority.

#### 9. Vermont Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Required? Only if hiring employees (IRS issues; free via [IRS website](https://www.irs.gov/)).

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1. What is the exact scope of services (e.g., hourly rates, project minimums, emergency vs. scheduled work) and how will pricing differ by service type (e.g., landscaping vs. carpentry)?

2. How many full-time and part-time crew members will you hire initially, and what are their qualifications, pay rates, and projected turnover rates?

3. What is the projected revenue breakdown (e.g., 40% landscaping, 30% carpentry, 20% other) for Year 1, and how will you ensure consistent cash flow given seasonal demand (e.g., winter vs. summer)?

4. What insurance coverage (general liability, workers’ comp, tools, vehicles) is in place, and what are the annual premium costs—with backup if claims exceed expectations?

5. How will you compete with existing handyman/landscaping businesses in Brattleboro (e.g., pricing, specialization, customer service differentiators)?

6. What is the marketing strategy to transition from social media (TikTok/Facebook) to a professional website, SEO, and paid ads, including budget allocation?

7. What legal structure (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.) is chosen, and why—noting liability and tax implications for a growing crew-based business?

8. How will you manage client contracts, deposits, and payment terms (e.g., 30% deposit, final payment upon completion) to mitigate non-payment risk?

9. What equipment/tools inventory is needed, and how will you finance it (purchase vs. lease) given a $XX startup capital requirement?

10. What emergency contingency plans exist for weather delays, crew absences, or unexpected material cost spikes?

11. How will you track job profitability (time spent vs. billed, material costs, overhead) to ensure sustainable margins (e.g., target 20% net profit)?

12. What exit strategy do you have for scaling (e.g., franchising, selling, or hiring a manager) if revenue exceeds $X/year?

The research above found the name, the entity status and the local picture. The plan itself is written from your answers to the questions above, because a plan written before anyone answers is a plan full of guesses — and lenders catch that faster now than they did before AI writers existed.

Answer the questions, hand them back, and the plan is generated from them with your numbers tagged [ASKED] instead of [UNKNOWN].