A Business License To Sell At A Flea Market?

Did you know that you need a business license in SC to sell at a flea market? I didn't.

My girlfriend told me that she needed one, but I didn't think that applied to flea markets. Has that always been the case? Is it like that everywhere, or just SC?

Val was selling at the flea market this morning and agents from the SC bureau of flea market taxes was asking to see people's licenses. They had to either produce one, buy one on the spot for $50, or be fined $500. $50! To sell at a flea market! Sounds like extortion to me. I can't believe it. SC must be hard up for money. It's a good thing I wasn't there -- I would have given those people a piece of my mind (and I charge $50/hr for that with a $50 minimum).

That's got to be one of the worse taxes there is. I can see paying a tax on stuff you sell, or income, but not to be able to sell, especially at a flea market (in this economy). We were there both days last weekend and didn't sell a thing. So, not only would we be out the money it costs to reserve the table at the flea market but we'd be out the $50.

Other people who were selling at the flea market told Val that today was the first day in 6 months that they had seen the agents from the SC bureau of flea market taxes, so I guess we just had bad luck.