Counties and municipalities often have their own unique requirements for legally establishing a business, and statewide registration rules might apply as well. Starting a new business can be complex enough without worrying that you’re missing any of these myriad rules.
You need a checklist of what’s required, and an understanding of when it’s required and why.
Commonly Required Local Business Licenses and Permits
Common requirements of local jurisdictions include:
Local business license or tax registration certificate Franchise license fee Filing a fictitious name statement Special use permits Health, safety, or other special certificates or permits
You must almost always pay at least a moderate fee to acquire these licenses, certificates, and permits.
Many local jurisdictions also place restrictions on the types of businesses you can operate from your home, and whether clients or customers can come to your residence. This isn’t permitted at all in some cases and in some localities.
Business-Specific Needs
Some permits and licenses will be specific to your type of business. You’ll find information from a certain department, such as:
Planning or Zoning Department: You might need special permission to open certain types of businesses in particular areas. Contact the zoning board if you’re planning to convert a residential property into a commercial enterprise. Building and Safety Department: You might need a special permit if you’re opening a business outside your home, or running one from home where customers or clients will be on your premises, such as a daycare facility. Construction, Remodeling or Renovation Permits: You’ll need building permits if you’re remodeling an existing storefront or office, or possibly even a space in your home to accommodate your business. This can usually be handled by your planning or zoning department, your building and safety department, or both. Health Department: All businesses that serve any type of food or beverage and any type of in-home care service or daycare center will require health inspections. Fitness centers fall into this category as well. The health department also usually tests water quality. Fire and Police Department: You might have to pass a fire or other safety inspection if you run a home-based business where you’ll have employees or clients in your home. Most in-home daycare centers require a fire, safety, and health inspection that must be renewed annually. Police and fire departments are typically the agencies that handle occupancy permits, as well as crowd control issues and other permits that affect how people enter and exit a building. CPR Certification: You might need to have CPR certification if you run any type of care-based in-home business. Most fire departments offer CPR training and certification. You can also call a local hospital to find out where you can take a CPR class.
Find Your State’s Business Start-Up Requirements
Start by contacting your city hall, or your city or county clerk. You might also try your county tax assessor or local treasurer. State-level websites will often provide you with county and municipal links and tips, as well as broader jurisdictional requirements.
Alabama: AtlasAlabama Alaska: Alaska Department of Commerce Arizona: Arizona Department of Revenue Arkansas: Arkansas.gov California: CalGold Colorado: MyBizColorado Connecticut: Business Startup Tool Delaware: OneStop District of Columbia: DC Business Center Florida: DBPR Online Services Georgia: Georgia.gov Business Licenses Hawaii: Hawaii Business Express Idaho: Online Services Illinois: Department of Commerce Step by Step Guide Indiana: Business Owner’s Guide Iowa: Iowa Business License Information Center Kansas: Kansas Business Center Kentucky: One Stop Business Portal Louisiana: GeauxBiz.com Maine: Local Government Portal Maryland: Maryland Business Express Massachusetts: Starting a New Business Michigan: State License Search Minnesota: Minnesota eLicensing Mississippi: MississippiBoss Business One Stop Shop Missouri: 24/7 Missouri Montana: Montana License Lookup Nebraska: Nebraska Licensing Division Nevada: SilverFlume Business Portal New Hampshire: NH Department of Revenue Administration New Jersey: State of New Jersey Business Portal New Mexico: New Mexico Economic Development New York: New York Business Express North Carolina: Start a Business North Dakota: North Dakota New Business Registration Ohio: Ohio Small Business Development Center Oklahoma: Business Licensing & Operating Requirements Oregon: Oregon Business Xpress Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation South Carolina: South Carolina Business One Stop South Dakota: Governor’s Office of Economic Development Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Revenue Texas: Texas Secretary of State Utah: Utah Department of Commerce Vermont: Vermont Secretary of State Virginia: Virginia Business 1neStop Washington: Washington State Department of Revenue West Virginia: One Stop Business Portal Wisconsin: Wisconsin.gov Wyoming: Wyoming Business Council
Counties and municipalities often have their own unique requirements for legally establishing a business, and statewide registration rules might apply as well. Starting a new business can be complex enough without worrying that you’re missing any of these myriad rules.
You need a checklist of what’s required, and an understanding of when it’s required and why.
Commonly Required Local Business Licenses and Permits
Common requirements of local jurisdictions include:
Local business license or tax registration certificate Franchise license fee Filing a fictitious name statement Special use permits Health, safety, or other special certificates or permits
You must almost always pay at least a moderate fee to acquire these licenses, certificates, and permits.
Many local jurisdictions also place restrictions on the types of businesses you can operate from your home, and whether clients or customers can come to your residence. This isn’t permitted at all in some cases and in some localities.
Business-Specific Needs
Some permits and licenses will be specific to your type of business. You’ll find information from a certain department, such as:
Planning or Zoning Department: You might need special permission to open certain types of businesses in particular areas. Contact the zoning board if you’re planning to convert a residential property into a commercial enterprise. Building and Safety Department: You might need a special permit if you’re opening a business outside your home, or running one from home where customers or clients will be on your premises, such as a daycare facility. Construction, Remodeling or Renovation Permits: You’ll need building permits if you’re remodeling an existing storefront or office, or possibly even a space in your home to accommodate your business. This can usually be handled by your planning or zoning department, your building and safety department, or both. Health Department: All businesses that serve any type of food or beverage and any type of in-home care service or daycare center will require health inspections. Fitness centers fall into this category as well. The health department also usually tests water quality. Fire and Police Department: You might have to pass a fire or other safety inspection if you run a home-based business where you’ll have employees or clients in your home. Most in-home daycare centers require a fire, safety, and health inspection that must be renewed annually. Police and fire departments are typically the agencies that handle occupancy permits, as well as crowd control issues and other permits that affect how people enter and exit a building. CPR Certification: You might need to have CPR certification if you run any type of care-based in-home business. Most fire departments offer CPR training and certification. You can also call a local hospital to find out where you can take a CPR class.
Find Your State’s Business Start-Up Requirements
Start by contacting your city hall, or your city or county clerk. You might also try your county tax assessor or local treasurer. State-level websites will often provide you with county and municipal links and tips, as well as broader jurisdictional requirements.
Alabama: AtlasAlabama Alaska: Alaska Department of Commerce Arizona: Arizona Department of Revenue Arkansas: Arkansas.gov California: CalGold Colorado: MyBizColorado Connecticut: Business Startup Tool Delaware: OneStop District of Columbia: DC Business Center Florida: DBPR Online Services Georgia: Georgia.gov Business Licenses Hawaii: Hawaii Business Express Idaho: Online Services Illinois: Department of Commerce Step by Step Guide Indiana: Business Owner’s Guide Iowa: Iowa Business License Information Center Kansas: Kansas Business Center Kentucky: One Stop Business Portal Louisiana: GeauxBiz.com Maine: Local Government Portal Maryland: Maryland Business Express Massachusetts: Starting a New Business Michigan: State License Search Minnesota: Minnesota eLicensing Mississippi: MississippiBoss Business One Stop Shop Missouri: 24/7 Missouri Montana: Montana License Lookup Nebraska: Nebraska Licensing Division Nevada: SilverFlume Business Portal New Hampshire: NH Department of Revenue Administration New Jersey: State of New Jersey Business Portal New Mexico: New Mexico Economic Development New York: New York Business Express North Carolina: Start a Business North Dakota: North Dakota New Business Registration Ohio: Ohio Small Business Development Center Oklahoma: Business Licensing & Operating Requirements Oregon: Oregon Business Xpress Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation South Carolina: South Carolina Business One Stop South Dakota: Governor’s Office of Economic Development Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Revenue Texas: Texas Secretary of State Utah: Utah Department of Commerce Vermont: Vermont Secretary of State Virginia: Virginia Business 1neStop Washington: Washington State Department of Revenue West Virginia: One Stop Business Portal Wisconsin: Wisconsin.gov Wyoming: Wyoming Business Council
Counties and municipalities often have their own unique requirements for legally establishing a business, and statewide registration rules might apply as well. Starting a new business can be complex enough without worrying that you’re missing any of these myriad rules.
You need a checklist of what’s required, and an understanding of when it’s required and why.
Commonly Required Local Business Licenses and Permits
Common requirements of local jurisdictions include:
Local business license or tax registration certificate Franchise license fee Filing a fictitious name statement Special use permits Health, safety, or other special certificates or permits
You must almost always pay at least a moderate fee to acquire these licenses, certificates, and permits.
Many local jurisdictions also place restrictions on the types of businesses you can operate from your home, and whether clients or customers can come to your residence. This isn’t permitted at all in some cases and in some localities.
Business-Specific Needs
Some permits and licenses will be specific to your type of business. You’ll find information from a certain department, such as:
Planning or Zoning Department: You might need special permission to open certain types of businesses in particular areas. Contact the zoning board if you’re planning to convert a residential property into a commercial enterprise. Building and Safety Department: You might need a special permit if you’re opening a business outside your home, or running one from home where customers or clients will be on your premises, such as a daycare facility. Construction, Remodeling or Renovation Permits: You’ll need building permits if you’re remodeling an existing storefront or office, or possibly even a space in your home to accommodate your business. This can usually be handled by your planning or zoning department, your building and safety department, or both. Health Department: All businesses that serve any type of food or beverage and any type of in-home care service or daycare center will require health inspections. Fitness centers fall into this category as well. The health department also usually tests water quality. Fire and Police Department: You might have to pass a fire or other safety inspection if you run a home-based business where you’ll have employees or clients in your home. Most in-home daycare centers require a fire, safety, and health inspection that must be renewed annually. Police and fire departments are typically the agencies that handle occupancy permits, as well as crowd control issues and other permits that affect how people enter and exit a building. CPR Certification: You might need to have CPR certification if you run any type of care-based in-home business. Most fire departments offer CPR training and certification. You can also call a local hospital to find out where you can take a CPR class.
Find Your State’s Business Start-Up Requirements
Start by contacting your city hall, or your city or county clerk. You might also try your county tax assessor or local treasurer. State-level websites will often provide you with county and municipal links and tips, as well as broader jurisdictional requirements.
Alabama: AtlasAlabama Alaska: Alaska Department of Commerce Arizona: Arizona Department of Revenue Arkansas: Arkansas.gov California: CalGold Colorado: MyBizColorado Connecticut: Business Startup Tool Delaware: OneStop District of Columbia: DC Business Center Florida: DBPR Online Services Georgia: Georgia.gov Business Licenses Hawaii: Hawaii Business Express Idaho: Online Services Illinois: Department of Commerce Step by Step Guide Indiana: Business Owner’s Guide Iowa: Iowa Business License Information Center Kansas: Kansas Business Center Kentucky: One Stop Business Portal Louisiana: GeauxBiz.com Maine: Local Government Portal Maryland: Maryland Business Express Massachusetts: Starting a New Business Michigan: State License Search Minnesota: Minnesota eLicensing Mississippi: MississippiBoss Business One Stop Shop Missouri: 24/7 Missouri Montana: Montana License Lookup Nebraska: Nebraska Licensing Division Nevada: SilverFlume Business Portal New Hampshire: NH Department of Revenue Administration New Jersey: State of New Jersey Business Portal New Mexico: New Mexico Economic Development New York: New York Business Express North Carolina: Start a Business North Dakota: North Dakota New Business Registration Ohio: Ohio Small Business Development Center Oklahoma: Business Licensing & Operating Requirements Oregon: Oregon Business Xpress Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation South Carolina: South Carolina Business One Stop South Dakota: Governor’s Office of Economic Development Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Revenue Texas: Texas Secretary of State Utah: Utah Department of Commerce Vermont: Vermont Secretary of State Virginia: Virginia Business 1neStop Washington: Washington State Department of Revenue West Virginia: One Stop Business Portal Wisconsin: Wisconsin.gov Wyoming: Wyoming Business Council
Counties and municipalities often have their own unique requirements for legally establishing a business, and statewide registration rules might apply as well. Starting a new business can be complex enough without worrying that you’re missing any of these myriad rules.
You need a checklist of what’s required, and an understanding of when it’s required and why.
Commonly Required Local Business Licenses and Permits
Common requirements of local jurisdictions include:
- Local business license or tax registration certificate
- Franchise license fee
- Filing a fictitious name statement
- Special use permits
- Health, safety, or other special certificates or permits
You must almost always pay at least a moderate fee to acquire these licenses, certificates, and permits.
Many local jurisdictions also place restrictions on the types of businesses you can operate from your home, and whether clients or customers can come to your residence. This isn’t permitted at all in some cases and in some localities.
You must almost always pay at least a moderate fee to acquire these licenses, certificates, and permits.
You must almost always pay at least a moderate fee to acquire these licenses, certificates, and permits.
Business-Specific Needs
Some permits and licenses will be specific to your type of business. You’ll find information from a certain department, such as:
- Planning or Zoning Department: You might need special permission to open certain types of businesses in particular areas. Contact the zoning board if you’re planning to convert a residential property into a commercial enterprise.
- Building and Safety Department: You might need a special permit if you’re opening a business outside your home, or running one from home where customers or clients will be on your premises, such as a daycare facility.
- Construction, Remodeling or Renovation Permits: You’ll need building permits if you’re remodeling an existing storefront or office, or possibly even a space in your home to accommodate your business. This can usually be handled by your planning or zoning department, your building and safety department, or both.
- Health Department: All businesses that serve any type of food or beverage and any type of in-home care service or daycare center will require health inspections. Fitness centers fall into this category as well. The health department also usually tests water quality.
- Fire and Police Department: You might have to pass a fire or other safety inspection if you run a home-based business where you’ll have employees or clients in your home. Most in-home daycare centers require a fire, safety, and health inspection that must be renewed annually. Police and fire departments are typically the agencies that handle occupancy permits, as well as crowd control issues and other permits that affect how people enter and exit a building.
- CPR Certification: You might need to have CPR certification if you run any type of care-based in-home business. Most fire departments offer CPR training and certification. You can also call a local hospital to find out where you can take a CPR class.
Find Your State’s Business Start-Up Requirements
Start by contacting your city hall, or your city or county clerk. You might also try your county tax assessor or local treasurer. State-level websites will often provide you with county and municipal links and tips, as well as broader jurisdictional requirements.
- Alabama: AtlasAlabama
- Alaska: Alaska Department of Commerce
- Arizona: Arizona Department of Revenue
- Arkansas: Arkansas.gov
- California: CalGold
- Colorado: MyBizColorado
- Connecticut: Business Startup Tool
- Delaware: OneStop
- District of Columbia: DC Business Center
- Florida: DBPR Online Services
- Georgia: Georgia.gov Business Licenses
- Hawaii: Hawaii Business Express
- Idaho: Online Services
- Illinois: Department of Commerce Step by Step Guide
- Indiana: Business Owner’s Guide
- Iowa: Iowa Business License Information Center
- Kansas: Kansas Business Center
- Kentucky: One Stop Business Portal
- Louisiana: GeauxBiz.com
- Maine: Local Government Portal
- Maryland: Maryland Business Express
- Massachusetts: Starting a New Business
- Michigan: State License Search
- Minnesota: Minnesota eLicensing
- Mississippi: MississippiBoss Business One Stop Shop
- Missouri: 24/7 Missouri
- Montana: Montana License Lookup
- Nebraska: Nebraska Licensing Division
- Nevada: SilverFlume Business Portal
- New Hampshire: NH Department of Revenue Administration
- New Jersey: State of New Jersey Business Portal
- New Mexico: New Mexico Economic Development
- New York: New York Business Express
- North Carolina: Start a Business
- North Dakota: North Dakota New Business Registration
- Ohio: Ohio Small Business Development Center
- Oklahoma: Business Licensing & Operating Requirements
- Oregon: Oregon Business Xpress
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS)
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
- South Carolina: South Carolina Business One Stop
- South Dakota: Governor’s Office of Economic Development
- Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Revenue
- Texas: Texas Secretary of State
- Utah: Utah Department of Commerce
- Vermont: Vermont Secretary of State
- Virginia: Virginia Business 1neStop
- Washington: Washington State Department of Revenue
- West Virginia: One Stop Business Portal
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin.gov
- Wyoming: Wyoming Business Council
