Did you know that in many cities and towns, people who work from home have to have a business license? And that includes you?

Yes, indeedy.

Now, there's a good chance that no one will know, assuming that you keep a low profile and get along with your neighbors. But it's the law, and the expense is tax-deductible, so you probably should do it. The Small Business Administration has a list of state agencies that you can talk to, as well as a great list of other business regulations you might need to know about. In most cases, it's a local license and not a state one that you will need. Nolo Press has some advice on that. Chicagoans, look here.

Is there any benefit to this? Well, I can access the public library's online databases for free, and I often do for work, so I guess that I'm getting something in exchange.