"Telemarketer License" Do You Have One?

I dont have one currently, but I "do" leave the tags on my bed mattresses.

Screw that.

I have run rooms that make a thousand sales in a day, so I know the odds. I know what gets a slap on the wrist or a warning, and I know what will cost you a $20,000 lawsuit.

Try running a fundraising room with 60 people all doing 3 sales per hours and making hundreds of thousands of calls...you run into EVERYTHING.

Im not making a statement other than... If you see a cop, please tell him that I DO have tags on my bed mattress.

Everyone should get a license, and everyone should have a business license too, but half the people here dont... because their businesses arent established enough to Warrant incorporating...yet.

When you have grown your telemarketing operation beyond two telemarketers and you have enough substance to warrant "going into this business" with both feet. Yes. Get one.

I have had them at times, but dont currently have one for my state...and if someone asked me (an official) I would say "Im testing an idea right now, dont know if Im going to make it a fullftime sacaled out thing yet...".

If you dont have one, that doesnt make you "shady" only being "Shady" makes you shady.

Ps. Good topic P1, Im sure alot of people have this question and the right answer is to get a license, Im just giving the "reality" one.

If you can teach in this thread on the subject Im sure it will be valuable, whatever you learn.

In short, I dont think you will get in trouble for testing your business idea with no license. You pay taxes right?

You should be cool for awhile.

On another note; I dont know how other countries work, but this is generally how it works in the US.

Hope you can see beyond the tongue in cheek humor, and that this helps a little.

Well, being that DNC does not apply in B2B calling, I would guess that this doesn't apply really in B2B either, only if you're calling personal residences. But, what do I know... or, just listen to John if you're expanding out beyond yourself... he's da man.

According to the State of FL, it's mandatory. But as John said if you aren't ready to put two feet in knowing your operation will work, then there is no reason too get one. of course besides the state trying to suck you dry.

You got it right... another thing is that one or two people calling you in isnt going to budge anyone, they know there are whiners out there... Its just that if you do something so stupid that 1000 people call in on you in the same week and what you are doing is real shady...yeah you can get slapped.

I have only seen one lawsuit in probably a million phone dials or much more... and that was because a telemarketer TOTALLY misrepresented and pretended to be a cop...and the lady recorded him. He misrepresented to the extreme, and our owner had to pay a fine.

If you are keeping it real you should be fine. Get a license for good measure if you feel better about it though. It may even increase your confidence, and help you make more sales and you can add into your pitch how ultra legally compliant you are. Make it a USP in your pitch, and tell people its one of the benefits of doing biz with you...that you are totally accountable to uphold certain standards given your legal status.... Sell it! Sell every positive you have..

I have one. Did not start with one, but several years ago, they started doing phone room sweeps on a regular basis.A lot of people i knew wound up arrested and getting 2- 5 years probation. So basicly i got scared into getting one, and keeping it active.

Now with that said, i don't think i really need one any more for what i do.
But i figure its a tool in the toolbox, and one never knows.

Never heard of this before, but this page explains who needs what.

Listen to Ken guys... Generally you would have to REALLY be doing something crazy to get in trouble or seriously misrepresenting... But its better to cross your t's and dot your i's.

These articles/items clearly refer to residents and consumer goods or services.
Nowhere do I see that they talk in the context of b2b. Why get us excited about something that does not apply to us?...unless some of you are trying to sell websites, etc to residents and consumers. If so, you better re-evaluate where your potential clientwill come from.

Residential calling is where 90% of the probs come from. Most business people arent too offended by you doing business, and as mentioned, do not even require a DNC list..

One thing to note:

In FL anyway, if your convicted of anything, you cant get one.

and if your making calls in a way that you need one, and you get busted, well then
you will never be able to get one....

just something to be aware of.

Ken, I also live in FL. Do you remember how much it cost?

Thanks man, may actually get it in a few months, just in case.