How to Get a Business License in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, only limited liability companies and corporations are required to obtain business licenses. Sole proprietorships and partnerships can legally operate by filing a registration form for doing business under a fictitious name if they are using a name other than their own. If they are using their own names, no registration is necessary. Limited liability companies will need to file the form titled "Certificate of Organization," and corporations will need to file the form titled "Articles of Incorporation" with the state of Pennsylvania.
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Instructions
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Choose a name for your business and check to see if it's available. You can check to see if a name is already being used by going to the Pennsylvania Department of State website and using its "Search for a Business Entity" search engine.
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Go to the Pennsylvania Department of State page titled "Filing Guidelines." On the bottom of that page, you will find links to the filing and registration forms. Choose the form required for your business by clicking on it. Your choices include Fictitious Names, Pennsylvania Business Corporation, Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation, Foreign Business Corporation, Pennsylvania Limited Partnership, Foreign Limited Partnership, Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company, Foreign Limited Liability Company, Pennsylvania Limited Liability Partnership, Foreign Limited Liability Partnership, Registration of a Trademark and Decennial Filings.
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Fill out the form by typing your information into the highlighted blue fields. When finished, print the form and then sign and date it.
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Mail the completed form along with the required filing fee to the Pennsylvania Department of State Corporation Bureau. The address is listed on the top of the last page. As of November 2010, the filing fee for both corporations and limited liability companies is $125.00.
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