Starting an LLC - looking for some advice

So, I’m looking at starting a small LLC—mostly sandblasting and some polishing stuff... skipping the lacquering for now because the equipment costs would totally blow my budget.

My goal is just to pull in maybe $300-$400 a month in profit, nothing crazy.

I've already got the gear, and I think I have a handle on the paperwork to get the business registered.

But I'm stuck on one thing—the workspace. How does anyone view a setup like this with basically zero technical requirements?

See, I’ve got this old workshop on my property—it's basically an oversized shed. It’s about 11x9 meters, with 13-foot ceilings hitting up to 20 feet at the peak. Huge space. Most of it is Zidati, with just a little bit of siding. It’s on the county tax maps, but I don't have the official Certificate of Occupancy or whatever you call it. The structure was built back in '59 along with the house, but the paperwork is a mess. We managed to sort out the papers for the main house, though.
Someone offered to help me fix it for $100 by drafting a project plan, plus maybe $83 some fees to get everything legalized. Apparently, they had all the records once, but they lost them 🤦

Anyway, let's just pretend that part is handled for now.

What's next? I could probably just draw up a tiny lease agreement between myself and my LLC so the business has an official address to use.

The real headache is the zoning and building codes—does the city or the SBA care about stuff like that? Especially for a niche business like mine. I can easily install ventilation (like a dust collection system) and add a bathroom if I really need to.

Thanks, guys!

Honestly, I don't think you need to go hunting for special rules specifically for an LLC vs. a single-member LLC regarding this. Whatever applies to a standard LLC pretty much covers you if you're running a solo operation too. I actually run my own business as a freelance IT consultant—so I don't really need physical office space right now—but if I ever decided to pivot into manufacturing or retail, I'd probably need to look into it. But based on everything I've read, the distinction between an LLC and a single-member LLC shouldn't matter here; it’s your specific business activities that determine your NAICS classification.

I actually posted a question on another subforum about those specific requirements—since, obviously, a carpenter and a baker aren't going to have the same setup—and they told me I should just reach out to the Chamber of Commerce or whatever regulatory body handles this. They should be the ones with the final word on it.

I gave them a call, but they honestly have no clue 😁 they kept mentioning stuff about sandblasting and lacquering, which is clearly just people working under the table... they told me I should reach out to the EPA or whoever else 😁 hold on, my permit for that building where I’ll be setting up should be finalized in a few days. Right now, it's registered as an agricultural shed. I’m planning to lease the space from myself to my own company, but I guess I'm wondering if I can go ahead and set up an LLC right away, even if the building isn't fully renovated yet?

Jessica Murphy61 said:So, I’m looking at starting a small LLC—mostly sandblasting and some polishing stuff... skipping the lacquering for now because the equipment costs would totally blow my budget.

My goal is just to pull in maybe $300-$400 a month in profit, nothing crazy.

I've already got the gear, and I think I have a handle on the paperwork to get the business registered.

But I'm stuck on one thing—the workspace. How does anyone view a setup like this with basically zero technical requirements?

See, I’ve got this old workshop on my property—it's basically an oversized shed. It’s about 11x9 meters, with 13-foot ceilings hitting up to 20 feet at the peak. Huge space. Most of it is Zidati, with just a little bit of siding. It’s on the county tax maps, but I don't have the official Certificate of Occupancy or whatever you call it. The structure was built back in '59 along with the house, but the paperwork is a mess. We managed to sort out the papers for the main house, though.
Someone offered to help me fix it for $100 by drafting a project plan, plus maybe $83 some fees to get everything legalized. Apparently, they had all the records once, but they lost them 🤦

Anyway, let's just pretend that part is handled for now.

What's next? I could probably just draw up a tiny lease agreement between myself and my LLC so the business has an official address to use.

The real headache is the zoning and building codes—does the city or the SBA care about stuff like that? Especially for a niche business like mine. I can easily install ventilation (like a dust collection system) and add a bathroom if I really need to.

Thanks, guys!

A structure built in 1959 doesn't need legalization, an occupancy permit, or a building permit. Before 1968, everything was considered legal by default. And honestly, they are. All you really need is a confirmation from the county assessor that the building shows up on the 1968 aerial survey.
Just file a request citing "minimal technical requirements."
The less you say, the better off you'll be.

I guess I phrased things wrong—basically, I just need to bring them an aerial shot so they can log it and call it a day.

Then they started throwing out all these conditions and whatnot, but I think I talked way too much there. 😁 It’s just a local building department; they shouldn't really care about how my business or company operates.

Honestly, they couldn't care less about my actual business. I just want to make sure this building is 100% legit, even though it basically already is—I just need that paperwork proving it was built before '68.

Once I get the paperwork sorted for my company (the 😁 entity), I'll draft a lease agreement where I, as the property owner, lease the space over to my own firm for use.

So, what's next? I suppose I just need to find whatever requirements the local zoning board demands and make sure I check those boxes.

NKD 25.61 says...

Now I should probably dig up the specific requirements for this type of business and try to stick to them, right?

That's the part that's actually messing with me—like, what happens if an inspector shows up?

Guys, I’m still looking for some guidance here. Once I get the green light next week that everything is built before the 68th—which should be Monday or Tuesday—I'll finally file the paperwork to set up my LLC.

So, this old farm building is getting a total overhaul—we're talking concrete floors, drywall, tiling, massive sliding doors, electrical, HVAC—the whole nine yards.

The plan is to use the space for detailing, maybe some polishing work, car shows, you name it.

But honestly, how am I supposed to know what else I'm legally required to have inside? Like, do I need a restroom on-site? Fire suppression systems?

That's what's really tripping me up.

I've got no clue exactly what's on the checklist for this, but here’s a few things I ended up needing myself—different line of work, sure, but honestly, most people probably need the same stuff anyway:

Fire extinguisher. Just one of those things you stare at on the wall and wonder if anyone actually knows how to use it. You think you do, right? Until the smoke starts hitting the ceiling and your brain just turns to mush. Is it even worth checking the pressure gauge once a year, or are we all just pretending everything is fine while the timer ticks down? Probably just more paperwork for nothing.
Sticker for the "fire extinguisher station"... you can get them for like five bucks... why does everything need a label? Does the fire just look for a sign before it starts burning? Probably not. Just more clutter.$10 Just look it up online... do a little digging on Google.
First aid kit. Just one. Is that really all we need? It’s funny how we think a little plastic box with some Band-Aids and antiseptic wipes can fix everything when things actually go sideways. You spend all this time worrying about the big stuff, the systemic collapses, the inevitable drift toward becoming a failed state... and then you trip on a curb or cut your finger slicing an onion. Suddenly, the whole grand scheme doesn't matter. All that matters is whether you have enough gauze. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? We prepare for the end of the world, but we rarely prepare for a scraped knee. Or maybe we do. Maybe the Band-Aid is just a placebo for the chaos. Who knows.
I’m not sure if this thing actually needs a sticker or not. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Who knows? Anyway, I went ahead and grabbed one. 🙂
Evacuation plans... it all depends on scale, I guess. The size of the crowd, the layout, the whole thing. If you're looking at something involving 1,000 people or more? It gets complicated fast. You can't just wing it when things go south. Is there actually a protocol in place? Probably not as solid as people like to think. Everything relies on how much prep was done before the chaos starts. Just one of those things.$500 It’s about that long, I guess. Even if it took me a whole damn year just to finally pull it off. 😁

Regarding the rental stuff... honestly, if I were you, I’d just pick a number and stick to it. It’s basically tax-free on your end, while the landlord ends up chipping in some small change—maybe 8 or 10%? Something like that. Anyway, from what I've heard around town, the rates usually hover around... $33 So, per square foot... which means 20 square meters equals... what, exactly? Just staring at the numbers. Trying to make sense of the math. It’s all just units, isn't it? Different ways to measure the same empty space. $667Sure, you could push for a bit more, I guess. Or maybe not. You can always opt for the smaller payments if that’s your thing, though let’s be real—you won't be renting anything decent at that rate. What's the point? $0.33 For instance.

Think you'll need this list:
· Electrical safety certs for all your gear and wiring
· Gas line leak test results (if applicable)
· Proof that the drinking water is actually safe to consume
· Soundproofing certifications for specific business types
· Ventilation efficiency ratings

- fire extinguisher - I get that part
- a sticker marking where the extinguisher goes (you can grab those on Amazon for like 5-$10 bucks, just Google it)
- first aid kit
- evacuation plan (depends on how big the space is, maybe 1000-$500 dollars roughly, though it took me like a whole year to finally get mine done)

I think I follow all that, I'm just stuck on the evacuation plan bit. Right now I've only got two rooms being used for work—one holds the compressor, which is soundproofed since it's diesel-powered, and the other is my workspace. Basically, there's just one door for each 😁


Electrical safety certification for equipment/wiring - already handled that one
· Gas line leak test (if needed) - don't use gas here
· Potable water safety cert - I use a private well, so what am I even supposed to do about that?
· Soundproofing certification – noise level testing for certain jobs – that'll have to wait, though I guess I'll need it for the room with the compressor.
· Ventilation efficiency cert - I'm just gonna have one single fan pulling air out...

Honestly, I can't find a single place that clearly lists everything required. Is this stuff kept secret or something?

Jessica Murphy61 said:- fire extinguisher - I get that part
- a sticker marking where the extinguisher goes (you can grab those on Amazon for like 5-$10 bucks, just Google it)
- first aid kit
- evacuation plan (depends on how big the space is, maybe 1000-$500 dollars roughly, though it took me like a whole year to finally get mine done)

I think I follow all that, I'm just stuck on the evacuation plan bit. Right now I've only got two rooms being used for work—one holds the compressor, which is soundproofed since it's diesel-powered, and the other is my workspace. Basically, there's just one door for each 😁


Electrical safety certification for equipment/wiring - already handled that one
· Gas line leak test (if needed) - don't use gas here
· Potable water safety cert - I use a private well, so what am I even supposed to do about that?
· Soundproofing certification – noise level testing for certain jobs – that'll have to wait, though I guess I'll need it for the room with the compressor.
· Ventilation efficiency cert - I'm just gonna have one single fan pulling air out...

Honestly, I can't find a single place that clearly lists everything required. Is this stuff kept secret or something?

It doesn't matter much for me. My setup is dead simple—just a 200 sq ft space with a single entrance/exit and a tiny restroom tucked in the corner. It's got walls and everything, but still... what a joke. If there's a fire or something, it's not like someone's going to accidentally bolt straight into the bathroom, right? But apparently, it's mandatory for everyone regardless of how small the space is. Please tell me if anyone's actually had a Fire Marshal show up and told them they didn't need it.

That's really the worst part about it. There isn't a single place where everything is clearly laid out. I only found out about some requirements through news reports about people getting fined for missing things—like, I don't know, a little sticker marking where the fire extinguisher goes... or stuff related to software licensing and whatnot...

Read around, ask around, make calls... but at the end of the day, you can often just negotiate with the inspector. They might come back in a few days after you've grabbed what you were missing, or you can just claim your receipt is sitting at the accountant's office...

I’m not sure which specific rule it is, but if you think about it—it just doesn't make sense to skip an evacuation plan; it should be flat-out illegal to even start building without one. By the time you actually sit down to study all the requirements, your tiny 200-square-foot studio would probably already be going up in flames. 🤣

Industrial power connection

for the accountant

Frank Chase6 said:I’m not sure which specific rule it is, but if you think about it—it just doesn't make sense to skip an evacuation plan; it should be flat-out illegal to even start building without one. By the time you actually sit down to study all the requirements, your tiny 200-square-foot studio would probably already be going up in flames. 🤣

Exactly! The first thing everyone asks is, "Wait, where am I on this map?" 🤦

Thomas Garcia63 said:Industrial power connection

for the accountant

Are you kidding me? What's the point? For me, electricity is just for turning on the lights and running my buffer.

Rachel Ortiz56 said:It doesn't matter much for me. My setup is dead simple—just a 200 sq ft space with a single entrance/exit and a tiny restroom tucked in the corner. It's got walls and everything, but still... what a joke. If there's a fire or something, it's not like someone's going to accidentally bolt straight into the bathroom, right? But apparently, it's mandatory for everyone regardless of how small the space is. Please tell me if anyone's actually had a Fire Marshal show up and told them they didn't need it.

That's really the worst part about it. There isn't a single place where everything is clearly laid out. I only found out about some requirements through news reports about people getting fined for missing things—like, I don't know, a little sticker marking where the fire extinguisher goes... or stuff related to software licensing and whatnot...

Read around, ask around, make calls... but at the end of the day, you can often just negotiate with the inspector. They might come back in a few days after you've grabbed what you were missing, or you can just claim your receipt is sitting at the accountant's office...

Hmm, yeah. And even if an inspector does show up, like you said—they might just come back later or run into issues. I've got some pretty nasty protection from the folks above me, and I try my best not to rely on it.😁

Does anyone know where I can check if I actually need to rezone my space for business use?

My accountant and lawyer both suggested today that it’s probably best to just hit up the local inspectors to see which regulations apply to my sandblasting work, just so I know exactly what I'm getting into from the jump.

Jessica Murphy61 said:Exactly! The first thing everyone asks is, "Wait, where am I on this map?" 🤦

Are you kidding me? What's the point? For me, electricity is just for turning on the lights and running my buffer.

Hmm, yeah. And even if an inspector does show up, like you said—they might just come back later or run into issues. I've got some pretty nasty protection from the folks above me, and I try my best not to rely on it.😁

It’s an electronics repair setup—just lights and a tiny soldering iron... but you still need a heavy-duty industrial outlet.
One of my employees runs a side hustle; he doesn't work from home, but goes to clients to fix whatever he can during his downtime. He actually had to install an industrial-grade circuit alongside his residential one.
Since it counts as a business space, you aren't allowed to just tap into the standard household outlets.

Jessica Murphy61 said:So, I’m looking at starting a small LLC—mostly sandblasting and some polishing stuff... skipping the lacquering for now because the equipment costs would totally blow my budget.

My goal is just to pull in maybe $300-$400 a month in profit, nothing crazy.

I've already got the gear, and I think I have a handle on the paperwork to get the business registered.

But I'm stuck on one thing—the workspace. How does anyone view a setup like this with basically zero technical requirements?

See, I’ve got this old workshop on my property—it's basically an oversized shed. It’s about 11x9 meters, with 13-foot ceilings hitting up to 20 feet at the peak. Huge space. Most of it is Zidati, with just a little bit of siding. It’s on the county tax maps, but I don't have the official Certificate of Occupancy or whatever you call it. The structure was built back in '59 along with the house, but the paperwork is a mess. We managed to sort out the papers for the main house, though.
Someone offered to help me fix it for $100 by drafting a project plan, plus maybe $83 some fees to get everything legalized. Apparently, they had all the records once, but they lost them 🤦

Anyway, let's just pretend that part is handled for now.

What's next? I could probably just draw up a tiny lease agreement between myself and my LLC so the business has an official address to use.

The real headache is the zoning and building codes—does the city or the SBA care about stuff like that? Especially for a niche business like mine. I can easily install ventilation (like a dust collection system) and add a bathroom if I really need to.

Thanks, guys!

Don't do it. If you can stay off the radar for as long as possible, you should.

It actually opened up about a week ago.

I don't know, I think I'll just head down to the local building inspector's office myself and have them tell me exactly what I need. Trying to hunt this stuff down online feels pretty unreliable, I guess.

I gotta say, I'm feeling pretty stressed out here. I honestly don't know if there’s even a specific office or agency I can just call up to get a straight answer on exactly what I need to have on hand for my business.

I'm not looking for people to just guess or give me their opinions—like, "oh, you probably need this" or "maybe that." I want official confirmation from someone who actually knows.

Jessica Murphy61 said:I gotta say, I'm feeling pretty stressed out here. I honestly don't know if there’s even a specific office or agency I can just call up to get a straight answer on exactly what I need to have on hand for my business.

I'm not looking for people to just guess or give me their opinions—like, "oh, you probably need this" or "maybe that." I want official confirmation from someone who actually knows.

Welcome to the grind of running a private business here in this failed state.🤣

😁

So get this, I called the county economic development office today—or whatever they call it—and I ended up talking to this super nice lady. I laid out my whole situation, and she actually went ahead and called a bunch of different places herself just to see if there were any specific rules for running a sand quarry.

She reached out to everyone from the state administration offices down to environmental inspectors and stuff.

And honestly? Turns out nobody has a clue what’s going on. 😁

I guess I'll just stick to the basics for now—you know, having the right certifications, an evacuation plan, fire extinguishers, all that. If an inspector shows up and finds something wrong, I'll just fix it then.

The only things I'm still stuck on are whether I actually need to file for a zoning change, and if I really need industrial-grade power just to run two 150W lamps.