Oconee
County Small Business
Startup Information
- The first thing
to do before starting a business in Oconee County is to build a business plan.
Contact the Clemson Small Business center, by phone @
864-710-4717 or on the internet @
http://business.clemson.edu/centers/sbdc/sbdc_about.htm ,
for help with building the business plan. Business Plan
Information may also be found @ Plan-A-Biz
(http://www.planabiz.org/).
- Second, research
legal structure (i.e. Sole Proprietorships, General and Limited
Partnerships, C and S Corporations and Limited Liability
Companies) and sit down with a Tax Accountant to determine which
legal structure is best suited for your business.
Requirements and License Information
The
information listed below is a vital first step in starting a
business:
·
Register the name of your prospective business
o
Call the Secretary of State’s office at 803-734-2158
to see if your choice of name is available. Then register the name
of your business with the
county
Clerk of Court at
864-638-4280.
·
Get a Federal ID number
o
This can be done by completing a SS-4 form (go to
www.irs.gov). Then, fax this form
to the IRS at 631-447-8960 or telephone the IRS toll-free at
1-866-816-2065 for more information.
·
Obtain a business license
o
Although Oconee County
does not require a business license. However, the towns/cities in Oconee
County
may, you will need to contact the offices of the town/city your
business will be located in to determine if and what necessary
license are required:
§
Salem
Town of Salem
5-A Park Avenue
Salem SC 29676
864-944-2819
§
Seneca
Seneca City Hall
221 East North 1st St
Seneca SC 29679
864-885-2700
chall@seneca.sc.us
www.seneca.sc.us/content/blogcategory/40/65/
§
Walhalla
City of Walhalla
PO Box 1099
Walhalla SC 29691
864-638-4343
walhallacoc@bellsouth.net
http://www.walhallasc.com/index.htm
§
Westminster
City of Westminster
PO Box 399
Westminster SC 29693
864-647-3202
wcoc@nuvox.net
http://www.westminstersc.com/
NOTE: Depending on what type of business you open. You may be
required to obtain a business license in more than one town/city.
·
Register your business with the SC Dept. of Revenue
o
Use form SCTC-111 (can be found at
www.sctax.org). The form may
also be used to obtain an employer withholding number and a retail
license. A retail license is $50 and is valid as long as your
business remains at the address it is registered under.
·
Contact Health Dept.
o
Contact the Oconee County
Health Dept. @ 864-638-4170 to see what if any requirements there
might be concerning you prospective business.
·
Permits
o
Permits or License Needed:
City of Walhalla: (864) 638-4343
§
Municipal Registration from Oconee County
for new construction
§
Building Permit from City of Walhalla
§
Business License from City of Walhalla
§
Sewer/Water Approval from City of Walhalla or Sewer
Commission
City of Seneca: (864) 885-2737
§
Municipal Registration from Oconee County
for new construction
§
Building Permit from City of Seneca
§
Business License from City of Seneca
§
Sewer/Water Approval from City of Seneca or Sewer Commission
City of Westminster: (864) 647-3202
§
Business License from City of Westminster approved for specific job
§
Building Permit from Oconee County
§
Sewer/Water Approval from City of Westminster or Sewer
Commission
Outside Municipalities (Walhalla, Westminster, Seneca, Salem,
West Union, Fair Play, Townville)
§
Building Permit from Oconee County
§
Sewer Approval from Sewer Commission or Septic
Approval from DHEC.
§
No Business License Required from
Oconee
County
·
Other Specialized Permits
o
You may need to file applications with the SC Dept of
Revenue (www.sctax.org/Publications/startbusns.htm)
if you require any of the following:
§
Alcoholic beverage license
§
Bingo license
§
Tobacco manufacturer’s license
§
Coin operated device license
§
Gasoline dealer license
§
Soft drink license
§
Admissions tax license
Call
the Forms Office of the Dept of Revenue at 803-898-5599 for more
information.
·
For more information on retail businesses contact
the following:
o
Small Business
Development
Center
– Clemson University
425 Sirrine Hall
Clemson University
PO Box 341392
Clemson, SC 29634-1392
864-710-4717
www.clemson.edu/sbdc
o
Oconee
County Library
501 W South Broad St
Walhalla, SC 29691
Phone: (864) 638-4133
o
Oconee
County
Planning Department
415 S. Pine Street
Walhalla, SC 29696
www.oconeesc.com/planning/default.htm
o
Oconee
County
Building
Codes
Phone: 864-718-1005
cchambers@oconeesc.com
www.oconeesc.com/Building-Codes/web/index.html
o
Business Information Center
SC Dept of Commerce
PO Box 927
Columbia SC 29202
www.state.sc.us/commerce/
803-737-0400
1-800-248-1334 (in
SC)
§
For more information on business dealing with
Industrial – Manufacturing, Distribution, & Warehousing contact the
following:
o
Oconee
County
Economic Development Commission
502 East Main St.
Walhalla, SC 29691-2028
864-638-4211
jalexander@oconeesc.com
http://www.oconeescedc.com/
Finance Information
·
Write a business plan
o
The Business Plan is the most vital part of starting a
small business. It is the first thing a Loan Officer is going to
want to see when you apply for a small business loan. For help
writing a business plan contact the Small Business Development
Center at Clemson University,
by phone at 864-710-4717 or at
www.clemson.edu/sbdc.
·
Check your credit score
o
Contact EQUIFAX at 1-800-685-1111. Copies of your
credit report can be purchased for a small fee.
·
Contacts for financial assistance
o
The Appalachian Development Corporation is
organized for the primary purpose of furthering the economic
development and social welfare of the Counties of Anderson,
Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee,
Pickens, and Spartanburg,
and their environs with specific emphasis on the area by promoting
an assisting the growth and development of business concerns,
including small business concerns in such area. The principal
objectives of the Appalachian Development Corporation shall be to
benefit the community by fostering increased employment
opportunities and expansion of business and industry for the
citizens of the stated area. Furthermore, the Appalachian
Development Corporation will lend to any person, firm or corporation
any of its funds.
Contact the ADC:
Appalachian Council of Governments
P.O. Box 6668
Greenville, SC 29606-6668
(864) 242-9733
or
Obtain a loan application online @:
http://www.scacog.org/rlf/application.html
o
The Rural Business Services (RBS) of USDA Rural
Development makes its mission to enhance the quality of life for
all rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive
businesses than can prosper in the global marketplace. To meet
business credit needs in under-served areas, RBS Business Programs
are usually leveraged with the resources of commercial or other
private-sector lenders. Business Programs of RBS are listed below:
§
Business and Industry Guarantee Loans
§
Intermediary Relending Program Loans
§
Rural Business Enterprise Grants
§
Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants
§
Rural Business Opportunity
Grants
For
information and/or an application package, contact:
USDA – Rural Development
Rural Business – Cooperative Services
Strom
Thurmond
Federal
Building
1835 Assembly Street,
Room 1007
Columbia, SC 29201
803-765-5881
www.rurdev.usda.gov/
OR
Contact
the Area 1 offices in
Spartanburg
@ 864-814-2471, ext.123
Other Helpful
Resources
·
Oconee County
Library
o
The Oconee County Library has a special section
devoted to small business information. Also, the library offers free
internet access to all.
·
TriCounty Technical
College
o
TriCounty
Technical
College
offers many different courses on small business and small business
start-up. The links provided give an more in depth explanation of
the courses offered.
§
http://www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/oic/render.cgi?webname=btc&handler=courseListDepartment&departmentCode=BP
§
http://www.tctc.edu/lifelong_learners/business/smallbusiness.html
§
http://www.tctc.edu/lifelong_learners/business/score.html
·
Other Helpful Links
o
Dept. of Revenue (www.sctax.org/Publications/startbusns.htm)
o
Plan-A-Biz
(http://www.planabiz.org/)
o
Worklink
(http://www.worklinkweb.com/homepage.cfm)
o
infoMentum
(http://www.infomentum.org/)
Frequently Asked Questions?
1. Does
Oconee County require a business license?
Oconee County
does not require a business license, however cities and towns within
the county may require business licenses.
2. What permits are required to start a child daycare?
Child Daycare licensing is conducted by the SC Dept of
Social Services. The regional office contact number is
1-800-637-8550, or information can be found online at
http://childcare.sc.gov/main
The County Building Codes Department will need to be
contacted for information on building permits @ 864-718-1005.
3. What permits are required to start a nursing home?
Licensing for nursing homes and adult daycare is
administered by the SC Dept of Health and Environmental Control
(DHEC) Health Licensing Division. The contact number is
803-545-4370, or online at
www.scdhec.net/health/licen/procedures.htm
The County Building Codes Department will need to be
contacted for information on building permits @ 864-718-1005.
4. Can you provide
me with a zoning compliance letter for a daycare / nursing home?
The County’s Planning Dept can provide you with a zoning
compliance letter. You will need to have your property tax map
number available. The contact number is 864-638-4218.
5. Where do I get information about required permits /
regulations for a poultry hourse?
The SC Dept of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC)
regulates agricultural animal facilities. The Region 1 Environmental
Quality Control Office can provide you with more information. The
contact number is 864-260-5569, or online @
www.scdhec.gov/environment/water/agpage.htm
The County Building Codes Department will need to be
contacted for information on building permits @ 864-718-1005.
6. Who regulates water withdrawal for business use from streams /
lakes? How much can be withdrawn without a permit?
The SC Department of Health & Environmental Control
(DHEC) Environmental Quality Control Office can provide information
on water withdrawal regulations. The contact number is 864-260-5569.
7. Where do I get information about / apply for a septic permit?
The SC Department of Health & Environmental Control
(DHEC) regulates septic systems (onsite wastewater treatment
systems). The local office contact number is 864-638-4185. General
Information can be found online @
www.scdhec.gov/health/envhlt/onsite_wastewater
8. How do I obtain a sales tax ID number? Contact the Sales
Tax Office at (864)638-4238
9. Do I need architect or engineered plans for new construction
or remodel? Commercial construction may require plans to be
submitted for plan review. Commercial remodeling may also require
plans. For more information regarding permits contact Oconee County
Building Codes (864) 718-1005
10. Can I pull permit as an owner (for a commercial business)?
Commercial Construction over $5000 or any structural,
electrical, mechanical, or plumbing has to be permitted by a SC
licensed General Contractor.
11. How do I contact the Sewer Commission or DHEC?
Oconee
County Sewer Commission
(864)972-3900 or DHEC (864)638-4185
12. Do I need encroachment permits from the County or State?
If a new driveway or road is being cut off of a County or State
maintained roadway encroachment permits are needed. For more
information contact Oconee County Road Dpt. (864)886-1072 or SCDOT
(864)647-0798
13. What are the zoning laws? There is currently no zoning
in Oconee
County. For more information, contact
Oconee County Planning (864)638-4218
14. What do I need to do about change of occupancy? For
information regarding Change in Occupancy contact Oconee County
Building Codes (864)718-1005
