Over 57% of our city's whopping $700 annual Mercantile License fee goes to "tourism development". How much of that money is actually spent on advertising to vacationers vs. dinners or other perks for Tourism Board members? Businesses are also required to carry at least a half-million in liability insurance costing $1,000/year or so. So no matter how small, they're already in the hole for about $1,700 before rent or mortgage, taxes, payroll, utilities, advertising, maintenance and purchases.