Do people that sell stuff on eBay need a business license, or tax id? No. Do they need permission from a landlord? No. You can run a business as a sole proprietor, as long as you report the income on your tax returns without the heavier business identity. That being said, God willing you'll be there some day, and should you want an employee, etc., you'll transition to a formal business entity. Can a landlord forbid you from running an on-line business? Really? That seems, forgive the term, Un-American. I understand the foot traffic and all, but UPS and FedEx come to my neighborhood all the time, so deliveries shouldn't be an issue. And I'm not worried about a delivery guy falling when delivering t-shirts to me any more than if he slipped delivering me a TV (actually, I'd probably be more concerned about the TV!) But maybe some states, cities or other municipalities have strange rules, so I'll give the standard, check with an attorney statement.