96: Maria Bagley, Concord City Council Candidate

So for me, when I started the business, I think the actual shock that people have with going through permitting and trying to figure out how to legitimize, you know, starting a business, that entrepreneurial, we need to do better.

We need to, I know we have what we would call now like partnerships to help people, but we need to get that out more, right? Because that's a lot of people that I've still talked to don't know about it, right? So we're not doing, I would say, good marketing on that.

So I think that was a huge thing for me is learning how to be a business owner versus working for a business because there's a lot that goes into that.

And the flip for me was I was the sole income provider for my household.

My husband, because we had four children, My husband stayed at home and he provided for them.

And so one of the things that I was watching is how the kids grew up out of their clothing so fast and just a lot of the stuff that you know, I was looking at like was worn once or twice and there needs to be a reusable market.

And there wasn't a lot of consignment stores.

There really isn't if you look at that.

And I was trying to make that work.

So the intent for me was to give back to the community, help families.

But at the same time, it was a very, I would say, eye-opening moment to learn how permitting and how to get everything, you know, started.

What were some of the early lessons?

Where to go? One of the first things, and it's actually, I said it on the form too, so we had a candidate form from the Concord Chamber of Commerce, but when I walked into the city of Concord to pull that permit, they were very, very nice to me, as I'm sure they are with all people that walk in there, but she looked at me and she goes, what's your gross receipts? And I said, what? She's like, what's your sales? And I said...

I don't know.

I haven't sold anything.

And I said, first day lady.

Yeah.

I was like, I barely have the least, you know, the least wanted to see the business license.

Right.

I said, so, um, I don't know.

And I said, how am I doing that? She's like, well, we need a number here.

right? So I think if a new person, my thought process is if somebody is brand new, yes, we do want to, we, Concord has the business license structure to tax on gross receipts, right? But I think maybe for the first year or two, right, with a brand new business, why don't we just charge a flat rate, right? Just outright because me filling out a paperwork on something I have no clue about and you're asking me to project, right? I just, I felt like a deer in the headlights and I did have to put If

you over project and you pay more, you should get the money back.

Right.

You know, the whole insurance, if nothing happens, you should get it back.