Over the past couple of decades, technological advances have afforded entrepreneurs unprecedented opportunities to start businesses from their homes, allowing them to save money, maintain a flexible schedule, and realize their dreams of self-employment. But as Americans grapple with the coronavirus crisis, the ability to earn a living from home has taken on a new significance.
Unfortunately, scores of outmoded zoning, licensing, and permitting requirements are impeding people’s ability to work from home. Some cities even make operating a home-based business a crime—punishable by stiff financial penalties and even jail time—simply because the business is run from a home instead of an office. With many businesses shuttering indefinitely as the country battles COVID-19, it’s unthinkable that governments would stand in the way of people finding innovative ways to earn a living and serve their community’s needs.
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