People of Travance,
I am writing this missive to express my frustration that comes from my doing business in Travance. Primarily, my frustration at the paperwork and bureaucracy that comes from attempting to open an establishment in Travance.
Numerous times during this past moon I was asked to see my business license, or face being shut down at the Lucky Bastard Casino. I cannot express how frustrating it was to be asked this numerous times, yet the Chancellor of Trade was not present for two straight feasts for me to settle up with him and to acquire the necessary paperwork. Thankfully, I was able to pay the Baron and acquire the paperwork from him.
I cannot believe that the people in charge of Travance would be so willing to shut down an establishment just because of lack of documentation. It seems unnecessary to do so. Are all establishments charged thus? If I traveled to the local bakery (which I am sure employs many people) and asked to see his business license, would he have it? 8 gold pieces is a huge amount to ask of a business. Would the local baker even be literate to understand the license he was purchasing?
My last issue is with how a business is taxed. There seems to be no chart on how my establishment is taxed. I was asked by the Exchequer if I had paid my taxes for my business. My only question is, what taxes? I will happily pay the taxes that are for an individual, but when my establishment is being taxed on an imaginary scale, it feels like outright extortion.
The Baron taxed me on the land my building sat on. That is well and good, but the amount of coin I was taxed seemed enormous for how small my establishment was. Is there some kind of scale in which I am supposed to pay? May I look at this chart? I would be far happier with being taxed if I knew HOW I was being taxed. I understand the "Why" aspect, but I have no idea if the number of coin I paid was made up, or otherwise.
In closing, the main reason I am so concerned with how I am being taxed is because I am a fledgling establishment. I run a Casino, I do not charge people for goods or services. I match my hard earned coin against other people in games of chance. There is no assurance my establishment will earn me money. If I am being unjustly taxed, the margin of my profit dwindles to the point where it will be not worth the time and effort to run the Casino.
I truly do not want that, I enjoy running this establishment. The process of owning an establishment is a two way road between the people in charge of Travance and the people who own establishments. I can only go so far down that road before someone needs to meet me half way and assist me in understand why I am being so heavily taxed.
With respect,
Lathien
Angus Grumblegut
