County health

Is Your Data Secure? Actually Your Risk Is Greater Internally, Than Outside

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:25:14 +0000

A lot of effort and expense in Internet security is directed towards ‘keeping the bad guys out’. This is half the solution. What is overlooked, and equally critical, is how to keep the important data within. Internet content security is about keeping the ‘bad stuff’ on the outside of your network. Data leakage is concerned with keeping the ‘good stuff’ on the inside. Who are the primary culprits on data leakage – your own staff. Read on to see how leaks can occur and what measures you need to be taking to manage your environment.

What is Data Leakage?

There are two primary data leakage elements to be concerned with:

What data you should protect and What constitutes a leak?

Data that is sensitive, or the ‘good stuff’, covers a range of corporate assets such as:

Intellectual Property (IP) – company secrets, product designs, mathematical formulas, research papers, source code, patents, schematics, recipes, proposals, reports, etc. Commercial Information – financial reports, employee payroll, contracts, business plans, acquisition targets, product and marketing launch plans, budgets, customer databases etc. Confidential Information – patient health records, customer financial information, legal contracts, employee resumes and agreements, reprimands, pre-release reports, etc.

How Does Leakage Occur

Emailing data to the wrong recipient or attaching the wrong file to an email. Deliberately emailing information to competitors by an employee. Disclosure of confidential information. Emailing confidential information in an un-encrypted format. Internal staff using webmail or email that is not screened to discuss confidential subjects with external parties.

Data Leakage Is More Common Than You Expect

The issue with data leakage is not how common it is, but its severity, the nature of the data and how it has been leaked. With the span of data and the conduits for ‘leakage’, almost every company can attest to an incident of an internal security breach – willful or accidental. These breaches include loss of information and Intellectual Property theft. Interestingly, the majority of incidents came from inside their organizations.

One IDC study from late 2007 shows that 84% of all data leakage incidents can be attributed to employees. And the methods for stealing data increase – Blackberries, USB key drives, torrent uploads, and instant message file transfers. Companies should be more prepared than ever to monitor and control these activities.

What does Data Leakage look like when it is discovered? Here are some recent media stories. Imagine putting your company name in place of the one listed. For example,

Apple suffered significant embarrassment after two employees revealed secret new product information on their personal blog sites. A statistician employed by the Palm Beach County, Fla., health department inadvertently emailed his colleagues the names of 6,600 locals known to be infected with HIV and AIDS. This was a serious breach of the Federal laws on handling patient information and ensuring patient privacy. Honeywell International Inc. says a former employee has disclosed sensitive information relating to 19,000 of the company’s U.S. employees.

What are the Costs of Data Leakage?

The costs can span many areas. These can be anything from public embarrassment to financial loss, reduced stock equity, loss of competitive advantage or even criminal investigation and prosecution. In the case of Apple, where their employees revealed product information before it was released, the company’s share price plummeted after the leak was revealed. The company was forced to fire the employees involved, resulting in embarrassment, lost productivity and legal costs.

In the incident with the Palm Beach health department, the apparent violation of the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) could result in prosecution, not to mention the loss of patient confidence in the department’s ability to protect their information. When the action damages an image or reputation, the financial costs of data leakage are very hard to quantify.

In more tangible matters, like IP loss, a damage assessment can probably be compiled. Consider a hypothetical scenario, where a company’s new MP3 player designs and specifications are leaked to a competitor before it is launched. This breach could undermine the company’s entire business and lose millions of dollars in revenue. Imagine if the Ipod design was leaked – what would this mean to Apple in lost opportunity. The damage can be embarrassment, loss of professional reputation and possibly boost in the competitor’s market advantage.

Conclusion

Data Leakage is real and it starts on the inside. We often spend so much time building a wall around our enclaves that we do not consider risk internally. Unfortunately, real incidents are telling us we should look inward first and then outward. How secure do you feel about your data leakage prevention efforts?

We work with companies to assure their data and messaging is in compliance and secure. Our solutions are state of the art, quick to implement, cost effective and provide the comfort to know your data is secure. A phone discussion with our staff is a great way to assess your environment and what would be the best action plan. Visit our website Enclave Data to learn more.

You have the responsibility to maintain your company’s digital environment. With the right tools, you can now also have the control to assure compliance and protect your company’s assets.

Leakage involves distribution methods where data could be released – accidentally or stolen.

By: Dan Schutte

Top 10 Ways For Women to Maintain Sexual Health

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:27:24 +0000

Magazines and books abound that tell you how to take care of your health with diet and exercise. There are diets for almost every medical problem, too. But how often do you see anything on how to maintain your sexual health? Rarely. From a leading sex therapist, here are 10 ways to stay sexy and keep sexually active.

1. Use fantasy to keep your sexual interest alive. Even if you don’t have a partner, indulge in fantasy. It seems that women who stop thinking about sex can have a very difficult time restarting. Keep your sexual desire alive through fantasy.

2. Self-pleasure is an excellent way to stay in sexual shape. Many women would overcome inhibitions and learn how to have orgasm more easily with a partner if they would self-pleasure regularly. There are many books and sexual aids to help have better and easier orgasm.

3. Be sure your birth control method fits your lifestyle. If you have sex frequently, using a condom is probably not the right choice for you, because it has a failure rate of ____. Talk to your physician about the options available to you.

4. Do your Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises strengthen pelvic floor muscles, which helps the overall health of the bladder, uterus and vagina. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can help a woman achieve stronger orgasm.

5. Use lubricant that is glycerin-free. Glycerin is an artificial chemical that is very much like sugar in its structure. Sugar is an ideal environment for yeast to grow; in women, if there is too much yeast an infection can be the result. You can find glycerin-free lubricants online and even in your friendly neighborhood drugstore; you just have to check the label.

6. Watch the hormones. Many women overdo or under use hormones for good sexual health. The current guidelines state that women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause should use the smallest amount of hormone replacement possible for the briefest amount of time. Using hormones in this way may have certain cognitive benefits, too. But using hormones in large quantity beyond the recommended time can end up causing more harm than good.

7. Stay healthy. Many chronic illnesses have sexual side effects. Women with diabetes, for example, may experience vaginal dryness and difficulty achieving orgasm due to neuropathy, or nerve damage to the genitals. Besides, staying at a trim weight, exercising, and eating properly can all help you stay sexy longer.

8. Experiment. Try a new sensation, like using an ice cube on your lover, or letting your lover drink wine from your lips. Use a blindfold. Tie your lover up with crepe paper for fun. Buy a costume (summer is a good time to find them on sale on the Internet) and wear it for fun.

9. Practice safe sex. There’s nothing like a genital herpes outbreak to put a damper on your passionate weekend plans. And some STDs are believed to cause cancer or permanent damage to the reproductive system. Be sure to know your partner, limit your partners, and use condoms, every time.

10. Take care with your genitals. Beware of anything that could cause them harm, like the so-called G-spot shots that doctors promise will increase sexual satisfaction. This procedure is untested and unnecessary. If you really want to stimulate your G-spot, read about it in a book and try it manually, and / or buy a toy designed for this purpose.

Maintaining sexual health is important if you want to have an active sex life now and for as long as you wish. Sex is a wonderful gift that can bring you pleasure for years, if you know how to take care of yourself.

By: Stephanie Buehler, Psy.D.

Assisted Living – How Do I Choose a Facility?

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:06:31 +0000

Making the decision to move to or place one or both of your parent’s in an assisted living or elder care center is very difficult. It’s an emotional time when the senior needs someone full or part time to meet their basic daily needs and it’s time to move out of their home. What can make the decision even more difficult is that there are thousands of assisted living options to choose from and at a time when you most want to make the right decision, it can be difficult to know what that is. Here are some tips on choosing the right option for you and your family.

You won’t be able to get a conclusive feeling about any assisted living center without visiting in person. Make sure to visit a few times, during different times of the day and week, and make some observations. Do the attendants seem busy and rushed? Are the residents active? Are people friendly? Is the center clean and attractive? Nobody is going to know what living in the center is like better than those that have already made the place their home! During your visit, make sure that you speak to some of the residents and find out how they enjoy living there. Also speak to the staff and get a feel for if they like working there. Not only will unhappy staff indicate that the company may be neglectful but also that they may not enjoy working with seniors and so, not provide proper elder care.

Next go online and find out if there have been any reports filed against the company. You can do this by visiting the Better Business Bureau website and the county court records or state health department reports. The Better Business Bureau will list complaints and issues that people have had with the center in the past and the county court records will tell you if there have been any lawsuits against the center or the staff that has worked there. This will provide you with information that you would not be able to determine by visiting the center.

Lastly, make sure you like the place or that the elder in need of care likes the place. If they don’t, stop your search immediately and try to find another that they will enjoy more. There are many different options and so there’s a perfect fit somewhere, it may just take a little patience to find it!

By: Sharon Elrod

Why Our Food is Dangerous to Our Health

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:18:14 +0000

The National Marine Fisheries Service lists China as supplying 70 percent of America’s tilapia. China and Thailand are the largest suppliers of imported shrimp. After traveling over two thousand miles throughout Mainland China and spending five days on the Yangtze River, I have become alarmed at the condition of our imported seafood from Asia.

The waterways of China and Hong Kong are so polluted with industrial chemicals, farm effluents, and human waste that seafood exporters must rely on antibiotic treatment just to keep the fish alive. I witnessed several bloated and decaying bodies, both human and animal, floating down the Yangtze. The Yangtze River empties into the waterways from which much of the exported seafood is fished. Seafood from Asian Fish Farms is no healthier than seafood caught in the wild. Thai and Chinese fishponds are notoriously filthy and pumped full of antibiotics. The FDA discovered the presence of the powerful antibiotic, chloramphenicol, in the imported Asian shrimp. Studies link the antibiotic chloramphenicol, a carcinogen, to anemia and leukemia, especially in children. In a recently published article, CBS News Correspondent Wyatt Andrews quotes food safety expert Caroline Smith DeWaal, “Chloramphenciol is a serious problem in the human food supply,” she said. “It’s like taking a drug that’s not prescribed.”

Catfish imports from China are another serious concern for the presence of antibiotics. Flouoroquinolone antibiotics, which the FDA has banned for use in food, are showing up in tests conducted on catfish imported from China. “Aside from the threats to health, the imports have also been a threat to the economy of the Mississippi Delta, which provides more than three-fourths of the catfish eaten in the United States,” emphasized a report aired on National Public Radio. An influx of cheap imports from Asia is putting the American catfish farmers out of business.

Since only about one percent of our imported seafood is monitored by the FDA, most of the contaminated seafood ends up on our dinner tables.

Our imported fruits and vegetables are not fairing any better. According to an Associated Press analysis of FDA records, border inspectors consistently reject Mexican peppers and chilies. Ten percent of the rejected peppers and chilies were infected with salmonella. Since the FDA inspects less than one percent of all foreign food entering the country, ten percent of one percent is alarming. Mexican imports are disturbing sources of concern, not only from salmonella and E. coli, but also from the heavy pesticides the Mexican Agricultural Industry use in growing produce. It is referred to as “the circle of poison.” Chemical companies sell Mexican Agrifarms pesticides that are banned in this county. There are no regulations in the United States for the exportation of banned or unregistered pesticides. Little, if any, oversight exists for the use of these pesticides on the fruits and vegetables grown by the Mexican agricultural farms. With fifty percent of the imported fruits and vegetables in the United States coming from Mexico, we have an intolerable problem of polluted food.

Because the FDA is underfunded and undermanned, it rests on the consumer to force change.

First, don’t buy any fresh or frozen seafood from Asia. Support your local fisheries and fishermen. Fish farms in the United States typically use clean water, no antibiotics and no chemicals. If your local grocery store only carries Asian imports, request fish and seafood from the United States, or safer imports from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for example. World trade is not going away. Just make sure you buy the safer imports.

Second, limit any fruits and vegetables from Mexico to reduce pesticide ingestion. Buy locally, if possible. Shop your local farmers and farm markets. Buy organic fruits and vegetables. Plant your own garden.

You are the author of your own health. Protect your well being with wholesome safe foods. Don’t permit the source of a food to become a danger to your health.

Sandy Powers
http://www.organicforhealthsite.com

By: Sandy Powers

Serious Remarks About Anal Itching

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:20:13 +0000

If you suffer from anal itching, don’t be embarrassed. Surprisingly, you’ll discover that you are not the only one. Anal itching, medically called ‘pruritus ani,’ is a common ailment many people suffer from. It affects hundreds of thousands of people across the United States.

The main symptom is the irritation of the skin. This problem is most severe around the of the rectum, or anus. This irritation causes a serve desire to scratch. It is important to note that the problem is mostly related to increases from pressure, moisture and rubbing caused by clothing and sitting. At worst, anal itching causes major discomfort that often is accompanied by burning and soreness. The you scratch, the worse it gets. This problem can lead to more serious problems. Anal itching can be caused by many things. The website, WebMD, says, “The problem can be caused by: irritating chemicals in the foods we eat, such as spices, hot sauces, and peppers. Other problems that cause anal itching include pinworms, hemorrhoids and tears of the anal skin (known as fissures).”

Anal itching affects people of all ages. Regardless of your body type, age or health. This problem is occurs equally in men and women.

Home treatment for rectal itching depends on the cause of the itching. But because anal itching can be caused by so many things, it could be a long process to determine the source. My absolute best advise is to go see a medical professional. But if you are like 44 million other Americans, by not having paid healthcare., you may not have the funds. If you live in the Washington, DC area and you don’t have paid health insurance, go to Unity Health Care. They will work with you if you have no money or have a small income. Their services are set on a sliding scale.

If you don’t trust doctors and are interested in some home remedies, give this a try.

Poor hygiene is a considered a cause for anal itching. Try cleaning the area gently with water-moistened cotton balls, a warm washcloth, or premoistened towelettes, such as Tucks or “baby wipes.” A mild ointment, such as A+D Ointment or Desitin, can be applied lightly to help soothe the skin and protect it against further irritation.

Try staying away from scented or colored toilet paper or scented soaps. Remember to buy white, unscented toilet paper. Don’t use scented soaps, which can irritate your skin. Apply an ointment that contains 1% hydrocortisone. Do not use other steroid creams on this sensitive area of your body; skin damage can occur. Hydrocortisone cream should not be used for longer than 7 to 10 days without talking with your doctor. Note: Do not use the cream on children younger than age 2 unless your doctor tells you to. Do not use in the rectal or vaginal area in children younger than age 12 unless your doctor tells you to.

Try not to use other steroid creams on this sensitive area . You can thin out your skin and cause breakage. Then you have an entirely new set of problems. Always follow the directions on the hydrocortisone cream’s box. It’s advised to not use Benadryl cream, which contain antihistamines. Yet, you can take Benadryl allergy oral tablets. Many people have noted great success with the product. And remember taking Benadryl allergy can make you drowsy.

Another issue is sweating. With anal itching caused by excessive sweating, avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear and wear cotton, rather than synthetic, undergarments. Cotton is a natural fiber and is breathable. Talcum powder tis also another option. Please do not use cornstarch. There have been cases of a skin infection. Some medical professionals and websites ask you to dry your rectal area with a hair dryer set on the low setting before applying talcum powder. Whatever you do, do not rub the irritated area. If you don’t have any of these things, take unsented paper towels or toliet paper and place it your crack, just in front of your anus. This will allow circulation between your butt cheeks and help the area dry.

To control itching To control itching, try the following:

Break the itch-scratch cycle. The more you scratch, the longer the problem will be around. The problem can be worse at night, take an oral antihistamine before bedtime. Give taking a warm sitz bath a try. Do this three times a day, after a each bowel movement, or as needed. Avoid caffines, sodas, beer, liquior, excessive amounts of vitamin C, spicy foods for at least 2 weeks. If you reintroduce these items into your diet one at a time, you can see what causes the proble – if its food or beverage related.
Get your stress under control.

By: Reginald D Johnson

Child Support Law

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:06:04 +0000

Child support laws have a number of orders and rights for the parent in order to have legal obligation, so that they can have support for their children. The obligation for any child under support act continues from minor to the age of 18-19. All the liabilities and responsibilities of child as well as his/her requirements like food, education, shelter, clothes etc are usually divided between both the parents by the court under these laws. Thus, in case of family division either by divorce or separation, the child who is innocent and dependent on the parents due to his/her mental and physical disability or under growth have full support of the county law and order. Among various programs that are running all over the world, the Oakland county child support law is one.

This law is mainly prescribed by the Supreme Court of the county. So, the amount of obligation for child support can be determined through available guidelines as per the government and Supreme Court statements. These guidelines are provided only after recognizing the duty of the parents equally so that the appropriate and perfect judgment can be made as per the proportion of respective income of each parent. However, order by the court may have varied amount from prescribed guidelines. This type of change would only be possible if court finds necessity of such adjustment, so that justice can be made in support of child as well as the parents.

The Oakland county child support law also has order for the medical support of child. If the parents have any health insurance or benefit plan for health then it would be considered as reasonable for the child medical support and health.

Under this law, the payments can be sent to the court office or to the human services department collection center by the parents. So, the direct payment to other custodial parent is prohibited in order to avoid any confusion. So, the parents can see the right location for sending their child support payment in their child support orders. Parents can clear their doubts from the clerk of court office.

Child support is flexible and can have modification in its child support orders in future. If any substantial changes of circumstances of either parent occur then court may modify its order subsequently. The changes like: any change in earning capacity, change in employment, change in resource and income of non-custodial parent. In addition, changes can also be made if child has any new educational requirement or there is any change in his/her habits and health. Court also take action against any disobeying of the court orders and consider it as contempt of court by the responsible party.

Oakland county child support law also has lots of the measures to enforce the compliance with child support orders, including garnishment, withholding, contempt of the court and liens.

By: Katie Appleby

Biryanis and Wraps at Health – Focused 6 Pack

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:06:07 +0000

What you see -You can spot this Hyderabad restaurant only if you are really looking for it. Otherwise you are likely to miss the one in the Film Nagar area at least. But if you are planning to go there, here’s our landmark. It is right opposite Café Coffee Day.

This restaurant in Hyderabad is not really for fine dining. It is more for takeaways. So don’t expect great interiors. Just expect the basics that include a food counter, a billing machine and a seating area for 26 people. There are message boards with various announcements about the food and new offers along the walls. Make sure you read those so that you know your dos and don’ts here. These include self-service, no smoking and no outside food. The restaurant connects to a Fresh @ supermarket, well, which otherwise has no connection to the restaurant (meaning both are not from the same company).

What you get -The restaurant claims to serve only health cuisine and has different menus for each day of the week. There’s a centralized kitchen from where the food is cooked and sent out to all the eight branches of 6 Pack Cuisine spread across Hyderabad. The food is cooked using standard oil and dalda is not used in any of the dishes.

For vegetarians, every day there are two different dishes in a combo meal, which is either with rice or in a wrap. These include Rajma Masala, Ground Soya, Chole Masala, Schezwan Tofu etc. Besides this, the vegetarian Biryani, which comes with a bowl of vegetarian gravy, is on the menu everyday. For all the non-vegetarians there is the same meal combo, with dishes like Chicken Tikka and Chicken Keema.

The food is served in disposable plastic bowls, with forks and spoons. If you opt for the rice version instead of the wrap, you will get boiled vegetables at the bottom, then the rice of your choice (Brown rice, Palak rice or Vegetable Pulao) and finally on the top is a layer of either the chicken or the vegetarian dish.

To drink there is a choice between Diet Pepsi and canned juices. Water is not served and must be bought. They provide free delivery within a maximum radius of three kilometers.

Our verdict – This Hyderabad restaurant is more suited as a takeaway place than a restaurant. You could even opt for delivery. As far as food is concerned, we would have liked more variety. It would also help if the people behind the counters can evangelize on the health tag that the food carries. Otherwise it is difficult to figure out why a Biryani here is healthier than the one available elsewhere. Portions are large and pricing is reasonable. There is limited parking space.

By: Pranay Rupani

Going Grey the Sexy Way for Baby Boomer Women

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:39:18 +0000

I’m often asked by clients if they should go grey or not. The question comes down to you. If you are willing to invest the time and money in keeping your hair colored and cut regularly to cover the grey, then go for it. However, if you know you are the type of person who cannot be bothered seeing your colorist for two hours every 5 weeks, then you should think about going grey. If you’ve decided you are ready to embrace your grey like Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, or Judi Dench, then follow these tips to make sure you stay chic with your new do.

Keep your hair healthy

When hair is grey it has a tendency to look dry and brittle. Keep it silky and sultry with regular deep conditioning. When hair is healthy it keeps its shape, looks better longer, and keeps you feeling beautiful throughout the day. Silver is sexy, so make sure your hair makes people want to touch it because it is so healthy.

Get an interesting cut

Grey hair tends to make you invisible if you have a boring cut. With a great cut you demand attention. Try an asymmetric cut or a blunt bob to stop people dead in their tracks. A great way to see what styles look best on you is to visit a wig store. Once there, you can let your imagination run wild with any style you like. I also suggest taking photos of yourself in wigs that you like in order to show your hairdresser and help in the transformation process.

Up your make up

Grey lightens your natural coloring, so it is important to up your make up once you have gone grey. Foundation is key, as are eyes that pop and a little more blush. If you are not used to wearing much make up, this may feel like too much, but you will see that once you start creating more drama with your make up you will increase your presence and perception to others.

By following these quick tips, grey hair can be sexy. They key is not to let everything else go along with your hair color. Grey hair still requires maintenance, a good cut, and more make up to pull off successfully. Don’t be afraid to grey. The sooner you embrace it, the quicker you will be able to channel your inner Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep and be that sexy, silver, starlet.

By: Erin Stafford

Holistic Therapy Business Licenses Requirements In Washington

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:57:21 +0000

A fast paced world and tension in personal life, work etc. has caused people to face so much stress that they seek alternative methods to stay fit both mentally and physically. Holistic therapy is one of such remedy. It includes treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, reiki, cupping, yoga, massage therapy, color therapy, hypnotherapy etc. it is widely gaining popularity as it works towards improving overall health and prevent diseases. Holistic therapy operates on the basis that the mind has control over bodily actions and vice- versa. It will indeed be a profitable business if you operate a holistic therapy business in Washington.

Business Licenses Requirements for a Holistic Therapy Business:

The business licenses required would depend on the type of holistic therapy you choose to practice. If you are a holistic massage therapist, it will be essential for you to have proper training from a reputed holistic massage therapy institute. A licensed therapist can charge money to perform holistic massage therapy within a given county or within particular city limits. To become a registered holistic massage therapist, you have to pass specific government board examinations, which consist of a written and practical portion. In order to obtain a license a holistic massage therapist has to have a certain minimum of hours of training at an accredited school or training center. The minimum hours of training varies from 100 to 1000 hours.

Holistic therapy massage practitioners usually are licensed as health care providers in Washington. In order to get a license, applicants must complete a State approved massage licensing program of at least 500 hours and pass the Washington State Massage Exam or the National Certification Exam. The state Department of Health Board of Massage therapy can be contacted for further details.

Person appearing for such training will have to satisfy certain criteria such as:

• Have good moral character.

• Certificate of having completed training at an accredited institution.

• Proof that the required hours of supervised fieldwork were completed and the standards maintained to complete the course by the accredited institution were met satisfactorily by the candidate.

• The therapist will have to pay a licensing fee and will have to regularly renew the licenses. It will be better if you give a legal structure to your business and select an appropriate name for your business that is not a copy of any other registered business and make sure you hire the services of an attorney to register your business. Make sure you have a physical address of your business before applying for a license and that you submit details such as the names, phone number and addresses of the owners and submit proof of id such as a passport or drivers license etc. Make sure your business is not violating any zoning restrictions.

For information regarding licenses and permits, you can contact:

Washington State Department of Health

Health Professions Quality Assurance

P.O. Box 47865

Olympia, WA. 98504-7865

Washington State Department of Health

Health Professions Quality Assuranc

310 Israel Rd.

Tumwater, WA. 98501

By: Alexander Gordon

Business License Requirements For In Home Based Businesses In Oregon

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:42:59 +0000

Salem is the capital and Portland is the largest city of Oregon. It is a good location to start any business especially home based businesses. More people have begun in home based businesses as it offers them several advantages such as reduced operating costs, saving time and money spent on traveling to the work place, getting quality time with family etc. However, it is necessary to do some research to find out if there are any licensing requirements for operating a business from home.

Business License Requirements:

It is recommended to give your business a legal structure, which can be done with the help of an experienced attorney who will also guide you regarding the type of entity that best suits your business. This can be also done by calling the Oregon Corporation Division at (503) 986-2200 or visiting their website http://www.filinginoregon.com

It will be necessary to choose a business name that has been formed in compliance with applicable State laws and ensuring that it is not a replica of any registered business.

It will be necessary to find out about the various licenses that are required for your kind of business and to check if it is permitted to operate as an in house based business. In order to get a license, all businesses have to get approval from the Planning, Building, Environmental Health and Facilities Departments of the County. In home based businesses must comply with all restrictions, regulations and zoning ordinances required by the Tax Collector, Planning Department as well as being reviewed by the Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department if the nature of your business requires it.

There are several factors to be considered, such as:

• Rule that permits only the resident of the home and one employee to work in the house etc.

• Certain commercial businesses have certain restrictions such as complying with zoning laws and regulations that may limit the size of their signboards, restricts the outdoor storage, parking space, or requires other special permits etc.

It will be advisable to contact the local courthouse to garner details about the exact licenses and permits that pertain to your chosen area of business.

Some kinds of businesses do not need licenses where as others require special business licenses and other need a general business license. Some businesses that are in home based require licenses in the State level too such as the food service industry or if you are a professional such as a lawyer, doctor etc. Businesses that offer investment advice or that sells firearms need federal business licenses.

For more information, contact Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at (800) 452-4011; OSHA at (503) 378-3272, or (800) 922-2689 inside Oregon; or the State Fire Marshall at (503) 373-1540.

For information on Oregon taxes, contact the Oregon Department of Revenue, (503) 378-4988 or visit http://www.irs.gov.

By: Alexander Gordon