Is Facepainting Subject To Sales Tax In California

I am an independent contractor. Can an employer legally request that I come in to the office for weekly meetings?

I am definitely answering this one, with over 40 years of experience in attending weekly meetings.  You don't like it, then don't sign contracts for your scope of work. As a superintendent, I absolutely ABHORRED weekly meetings.  They were/ are, a colossal waste of time, but something upper management required. They are when Project Managers show up and act like they have a handle on the job.  However, I wanted to keep my job, so I held the damn meetings.  I got around what I considered a totally bullshit deal by having as short a meeting as possible.  Some of them lasted only ten minutes, and for that reason most of the required attendees were always on time, which was a benefit. If some 'newbie' asked a question that had nothing to do with the schedule, I ignored it with a comment such as, "I'll discuss that with you after the meeting."  But yes, meetings are typically written into the 'boiler plate' of the contract, and if I had a hard head that didn't attend there were provisions to fine them per the contract.  Repeat offenders were replaced with another contractor doing the same scope of work , which usually cost more, and guess who gets to pay for that?  You do.  So attend the meetings and read your contract to see what happens when you don't show up.

Are permits or licenses needed to sell on Etsy?

I'm not an expert but can share my experiences. I encourage you to consult with a small business attorney. At the very least, take a look at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s guide for starting an online business:More Than Just a Seller - How to Start a Business on an Online Marketplace. Then take a look at their guide to starting a small business. It explains steps to legalize your business at federal and state levels :Choose & Register Your Business. Also check out Etsy’s guide to starting a business with them: Beginner's Guide to Selling on EtsyWhen I started on Etsy I did not obtain any permits, licenses, etc because it was more like a hobby and I didn't expect to really turn the shop into a profitable business. I simply set up the shop and began selling. This is the case with many sellers. I've since decided to legitimize my business and have also begun selling in-person at craft shows, festivals, etc. I registered my business with my home state (free of charge) as a sole proprietorship (you might decide a different business structure works for you) and now I am expected to pay quarterly taxes. I also registered my business/trade name with my county, since I operate as The Washi Pot and not my own name (costs $50). If you have employees or depending on which business structure you choose, you'll need to apply for EIN for federal tax purposes. Since I'm a sole proprietorship I don't need one and taxes are associated with my ss# rather than a separate id#. In my state I’m not required to obtain a permit or certificate for what I sell and neither would a photographer. Something I haven't done yet, but might do is trademark my business name (costs about $300). I'm still investigating whether it makes sense for me to do this. I’m not too familiar with copyrighting, but I know some photographers do this to protect their work. There have been instances where Etsy seller have had their artwork copied or used without permission.Best of luck to you as you start your new business!