[GrandpaD]

Since the State regulations are approved, there certainly has been conflicting and/or confusing emails and texts from Uber & Lyft.

1. Uber just sent me an email informing me that "partners" must obtain a State Business license.
2. Lyft sent me an email Friday afternoon telling me I'm approved and to start driving. An hour or so later another email my background check was almost completed and stand by. Then, today, a "congratulations on passing your mentor drive" (never happened) and "you're approved and start driving" email.

I'm not going to complain about requiring a business license. I see nothing in the approved regulations mandating it. And Lyft has said nothing about it. I find it strange Uber sends it out, but Lyft didn't. To obtain a State business license, new drivers will be subject to a $200 fee and be required to file online quarterly income statements. According to the statutes, a minimum $1000 fine can be assessed if you're caught not having one. I do see one "loophole" that might apply to part-time drivers, but I'll reserve judgment on that until next week.

I like the Lyft concept but I'm not 100% confident in their efforts so far. Their vehicle inspection was a joke...a manager checking if your car lights worked. A look on their website and Las Vegas is not mentioned in local businesses wanting to do marketing partnerships. And, of course, the mixed and confusing messages to "start driving" when we know their application isn't approved yet.

I'll wait until Tuesday to see if the fog clears. But right now I feel sorry for new drivers that aren't as well informed as those that frequent these forums.

 

[tonyjzrose]

Did it not read that Uber needs to apply for a business license?

 

[GrandpaD]

Did it not read that Uber needs to apply for a business license?

That's what the head of the Clark County Business License Bureau was quoted as saying. But that might be in regards to the County regulations being discussed. I don't think she'd have authority over a State law interpretation.

 

[tonyjzrose]

I am self employed and I don't need a state license. They will lose a lot of driver if that's true.

 

[CDuber]

Do you know what type of license we'd need to obtain? Sole proprietor or partnership? and any other details?

 

[GrandpaD]

Do you know what type of license we'd need to obtain? Sole proprietor or partnership? and any other details?

I would wait until Tuesday or Wednesday and see what pans out or call the number in the Uber email Monday. I'm no legal expert by any means. If you truly have to get a license most would be sole proprietor as you're in business for yourself.

Edit - Throughout the country many states and cities do require Uber drivers to have business licenses, Some more strict than others. So it's not unusual. However it's just confusing at this point.

 

[UberBlueDunk]

Not much you can do at this point since the NV Secretary of State website (Silverflume) is down....coincidence it crashed shortly after Uber sent the e-mail to all potential drivers telling them they need a business license???

My opinion: If you have assets a LLC might help protect them if you're taken to court...

 

[GrandpaD]

Lol, imagine the phone calls on Monday.

Yes, an LLC might make sense. However, the license fee will scare off quite a few so I doubt they'll want to pay the fees, etc. to become an LLC. Potential drivers really need to bone up on taxes, etc.

 

[UberBlueDunk]

Haha, maybe that is exactly what Uber wanted....Headlines on Monday: "Thousands of potential Uber drivers crash Secretary of State website".....applying for business licenses they may not even need

 

[UberBlueDunk]

Okay I may be correct on who crashed the site....I'd bet on 'temporary overloading' vs 'maintenance'

10.5.4 503 Service Unavailable

The server is currently unable to handle the request due to a temporary overloading or maintenance of the server. The implication is that this is a temporary condition which will be alleviated after some delay. If known, the length of the delay may be indicated in a Retry-After header. If no Retry-After is given, the client SHOULD handle the response as it would for a 500 response.

 

[GrandpaD]

And everyone who had connected were screaming "200 mf-ing dollars! Uber should pay!"

 

[Larry Berry]

Since the State regulations are approved, there certainly has been conflicting and/or confusing emails and texts from Uber & Lyft.

1. Uber just sent me an email informing me that "partners" must obtain a State Business license.
2. Lyft sent me an email Friday afternoon telling me I'm approved and to start driving. An hour or so later another email my background check was almost completed and stand by. Then, today, a "congratulations on passing your mentor drive" (never happened) and "you're approved and start driving" email.

I'm not going to complain about requiring a business license. I see nothing in the approved regulations mandating it. And Lyft has said nothing about it. I find it strange Uber sends it out, but Lyft didn't. To obtain a State business license, new drivers will be subject to a $200 fee and be required to file online quarterly income statements. According to the statutes, a minimum $1000 fine can be assessed if you're caught not having one. I do see one "loophole" that might apply to part-time drivers, but I'll reserve judgment on that until next week.

I like the Lyft concept but I'm not 100% confident in their efforts so far. Their vehicle inspection was a joke...a manager checking if your car lights worked. A look on their website and Las Vegas is not mentioned in local businesses wanting to do marketing partnerships. And, of course, the mixed and confusing messages to "start driving" when we know their application isn't approved yet.

I'll wait until Tuesday to see if the fog clears. But right now I feel sorry for new drivers that aren't as well informed as those that frequent these forums.

If you read the Nevada legislation that passed, AB 175 Section 44, Part 3 , the Assembly bill clearly states "3. The provisions of this chapter do not exempt any person from the requirement to obtain a state business license issued pursuant to chapter 76 of NRS. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/.../78t.../Bills/AB/AB175_R2.pdf

 

[Michael-MS]

But what line in Chapter 76 states that a driver for Uber is a business though?

I can't link to it but NRS-076.html describes businesses. It makes no reference to whether a driver for Uber is a business. Which is the question!

 

[GrandpaD]

Michael, first off, wait until this week...I'm almost positive the State will clarify it.

But, it's pretty clear -
"NRS 76.020  “Business” defined.

1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, “business” means:

(a) Any person, except a natural person, that performs a service or engages in a trade for profit;

(b) Any natural person who performs a service or engages in a trade for profit if the person is required to file with the Internal Revenue Service a Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business Form, or its equivalent or successor form, a Schedule E (Form 1040), Supplemental Income and Loss Form, or its equivalent or successor form, or a Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming Form, or its equivalent or successor form, for that activity;"

If you're an independent contractor, you'll be (or should be) filing taxes taking mileage deductions, etc. Uber will be sending you a1099 at years end so you have to declare the income. There's a whole section on these forums regarding that. That's the "Schedule C" they're mentioning.

So, let's wait together until later this week and see what the State decides.

 

[Michael-MS]

Thanks, that makes sense. They will either add Uber driver as an exemption (like landlords with less than 4 properties) or license will be required.

I found a nice exemption if you already have a small business and plan to Uber on the side. "A natural person is not required to obtain more than one state business license for any combination of activities conducted by that person which are reported to the Internal Revenue Service... "