Business License & Permit

source by: myownbusiness.org

Do I need any licenses?

The answer is most likely "yes". Without this, you may be conducting business illegally. Just about all businesses need a county or city license. There may be local, county, state, and or federal licensing requirements, depending on the type of business you select. The fees associated with getting a license are typically minimal, if any.

Local Licenses and Permits Local licenses and permits:
Your local licensing requirements and will vary. Some examples of these variations are the following:

• " You may need a zoning compliance permit before you can open for business. Make sure the space you own or lease is properly zoned for the specific type of business you select.
• You may need a special license if you’re conducting business out of your house, a beauty salon for example.
• Are you planning on remodeling your space? You may need to get a permit, so you will want to check the building codes first.

State licenses and permits:
There are certain businesses and professions that require a state license. State licenses are often required for the following occupations:

Your state may require you to have special licenses if you sell certain products such as firearms, gasoline, liquor, lottery tickets, etc. You can check with your local and state government to see if your business will require any special licenses. For listings of state Web sites see our "Useful Links" section below:

Federal Licenses and Permits:
For a very small number of businesses, federal licensing is a requirement. In businesses that are highly regulated by the government, federal licensing is typically required. Examples include

Where do I go to get a license?

The best place to start is your local city hall or courthouse. See the city clerk, who should be able to direct you. You can also phone the city or county clerk's office with questions, or look in your local phone book under municipal government offices. Try a search online for "Your city hall" on Google or Yahoo local searches to find the Web site for your local city hall

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