I'm in California. Do I need a business license to work as an independent contractor for a host travel agency?

I'm in California. Do I need a business license to work as an independent contractor for a host travel agency? Or other licensures?

I never receive any money in my name. My clients are charged by the travel providers. For example, I sell a Carnival Cruise, the commission is lets say 1000.00. Carnival pays my host agency, not me, the 1000.00 dollars, my host agency gives me 80% of the 1000.00, thus sending me a check for 800.00 at a designated time of the month.


Interesting, essentially I am a IC within a company. The host agency has all the business licenses etc and I consider myself and market myself as an Independent Agent Of ______. Not by a fictitious name.

Your service is a business. As long as you are not an employee, it becomes a business and you need a business license.

If you are doing the work out of your home, you are required to get a business license from the city hall in which you live. If you are doing the work at the host agency, you don't need one.