Why Every New Tinter Should Get a Business License

If you are tinting on the side or thinking about turning tinting into your first real business, getting your business license is one of the smartest moves you can make. A lot of people think it is complicated or expensive, but the truth is that it is simple, fast, and loaded with benefits that can change the path of your career.

I talk to a lot of new installers who say they want to take tint seriously but feel stuck because they are still working out of their garage, cash only, under the radar. Getting your business license is the step that moves you from hustling to building something real.

Getting a License Is Easy and Affordable

One of the biggest myths is that starting a business is a long, expensive process. It is not. Most states let you apply online and complete the entire process in less than 15 minutes. In many places it costs under $100. Some are even cheaper.

You will usually go through one of these sites depending on your state:

• Your state Secretary of State website
• Your local parish or county business office
• https://www.sba.gov
• https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed
• Your city or county occupational license portal

These sites walk you through everything. Most of the time you are just filling out basic information about yourself and your business name.

There is also a mindset shift that happens when you get licensed. You stop thinking of tint as a side hustle and start thinking of it as a real opportunity. That alone changes how you show up and how you treat your work.

The License Opens Doors You Cannot Access Without It

If you want to grow in this industry, a business license is the key that unlocks the good stuff. Here are some of the biggest advantages.

1. Access to Professional Pricing

Manufacturers rarely give wholesale pricing to unlicensed installers. Without a license, you stay stuck paying retail or close to it. Once you have a license, you can access:

• Dealer pricing
• Better film options
• More predictable supply
• Support from brands that care about dealer relationships

This alone can dramatically change your margins.

2. Ability to Open Business Accounts

A business license allows you to open accounts for:

• Wholesale tint tools and supplies
• Cleaning chemicals and shop products
• PPF and related services
• Business insurance
• Business banking
• Payment processors like Stripe, Square, and PayPal for business
• Google My Business and other local listings

3. Legal Advertising and Visibility

If you want to grow beyond your immediate circle, you need to be visible. That means a Google listing, a Facebook business page, and other platforms where customers look for services. Many cities and platforms expect you to be licensed if you are advertising a service based business.

4. Financial Protection and Tax Benefits

Once you start earning money from tinting, the IRS sees it as a business whether you are licensed or not. Getting your business license helps you:

• Track income and expenses properly
• Deduct tools, film, supplies, and equipment
• Separate personal income from business income
• Avoid tax issues later

You also gain access to business write offs that can save you money at tax time. This is a big part of building a real, sustainable business.

5. Ability to Rent Commercial Space

Most commercial landlords will not rent to you unless you have a business license and liability insurance. If you ever want your own bay, your own shop, or your own storefront, that license is one of the first things they will ask for.

A Business License Builds Trust

Customers want to feel confident about who is working on their vehicle or their home. A business license sends a clear message that you are serious, stable, and accountable.

With a license you can:

• Issue proper invoices and receipts
• Build a recognizable business name
• Charge appropriately for your work
• Separate yourself from backyard tinters competing only on price

You are not just the person who knows how to tint. You are the owner of a real business. That matters to customers more than you might think.

Your First Step Into Real Entrepreneurship

A lot of installers start tinting as a side gig to earn extra income. What many people discover is that tinting is an amazing first step into entrepreneurship. The work is hands on, the demand is strong, and the margins are solid.

Getting your business license is the moment where you decide to take it seriously. It signals to yourself that you are building something real. It opens up better materials, better customers, better pricing, and better opportunities.

You Can Do This Today

If you are tinting without a license right now, make this your next move. It is simple, affordable, and it pays for itself quickly.

Good places to start:

• Your state Secretary of State website
• Your county or parish business portal
• https://www.sba.gov
• https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed

Take fifteen minutes, fill out the form, make it official. This is your first real step from side hustle to business. Your future self is going to be glad you did it.