How to Get a Business License in Hagerstown, MD

There are several resources available to assist you in launching a business in Hagerstown, Maryland. When it comes to licensing, the clerk of the circuit court for Washington County is the office that can help, along with the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, and the Hagerstown Economic Development Commission.

Instructions

1. Contact the clerk's office. The Washington County Clerk of the Circuit Court serves Hagerstown and is in charge of local business licenses. The clerk's office does not provide specific license information online, stating, "Whether a business must obtain a license from the Clerk depends upon the nature of the business, and can sometimes be a quite complex question. If you are considering opening a business in Washington County, or have questions about the licensing requirements for your existing business, please contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 301-790-7991 to determine what, if any, license you need to obtain from us." You can also stop by the clerk's office at 24 Summit Ave. in Hagerstown.

2. Search BLIS. The Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development has a website dedicated to assisting businesses with licensing. Known as BLIS -- an acronym for Business License Information System -- you can enter business category types and keywords related to the nature of your business to learn about different requirements and resources. There are also links to each Maryland county with more information on local licensing.

3. Contact the Economic Development Commission. The Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland Economic Development Commission is dedicated to helping new and existing businesses. Check out this agency's website (hagerstownedc.org) and click on the "Local business resources" link, then go to the "Launching a business" section for details on licensing, as well as all areas of startup businesses in Hagerstown.

References

• Hagerstown, Washington County, MD Economic Development Commission: Local Business Resources - Licensing and Permitting
• Clerk's Office: Circuit Court for Washington County, MD: Business Licenses
• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development: BLIS: Maryland Business License Information System