How to Secure a Business License
A business license is like a driver's license in many ways. Both licenses are issued by your state and give you the privilege to perform some type of activity. In the case of a business license, you're permitted to conduct a specific business activity in the state, such as selling real estate or food. Contact your state licensing board for specific details on how to get the license you need because exact requirements vary.
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Instructions
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Register your business with your state. In most cases, your company must have registration paperwork and a filed DBA -- doing business as -- name to apply for an official license. Apply for a business tax ID number -- or employer identification number -- as well.
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Carefully examine the requirements for the business license you need. Business.gov allows you to check a listing of common licenses and the requirements in various states and local areas. Or visit your local library to look up requirements. In some cases, you may need to get more than one license for your business. For instance, if you want to open a restaurant, you may need to apply for both a food permit and a liquor license.
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Take any required courses needed to certify you for the business license. For instance, before you get a license to sell real estate in your area, you usually have to take real estate courses and get certified.
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Secure business insurance for your company. One common requirement for a business license is that you have proper insurance and bonding for the commercial activities you want to pursue.
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Prepare to pay a fee to get your business license. Fill out the required paperwork to finalize the application and wait to receive your license in the mail. The state or local authority contacts you if you've missed any steps and requests additional information if needed.
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Renew your business license as required --- usually each year or every other year. You may have to pay an additional fee upon renewal.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're confused about any detail of the business license application process, speak to someone at your state or town licensing department for information before submitting your application.
