How to get a business license.
There is no single "business license" in the US. Most businesses need a combination of state, county, and city permits, plus industry-specific licenses (sales tax permit, professional license, health permit, signage permit, occupancy permit). This guide walks through how to find every requirement for your location and industry, common pitfalls, and our flat-fee filing service.
Step by step.
Industry, entity type, primary location, additional locations. License requirements vary dramatically by both industry and city.
Most businesses do not need federal licenses. Federal licenses apply to: alcohol (TTB), broadcasting (FCC), aviation (FAA), transportation (FMCSA), agriculture (USDA), commercial fisheries (NOAA). File.Business does not service firearms (ATF FFL) per AUP.
State Department of Revenue: sales tax permit (if you sell goods or taxable services). State Department of Health: food service, childcare, healthcare. State professional licensing boards: licensed professions (law, medicine, accounting, engineering, real estate). State Department of Labor: contractor licenses.
Many counties require a general business license. Often $25-$200 per year. Health permits, environmental permits if applicable.
Most cities require business licenses, sometimes called "tax certificates" or "business tax certificates." Zoning permits if operating from a non-home location. Signage permits.
Federal: usually online via the relevant agency. State: usually online via state portal. County: online, by mail, or in person. City: typically in-person or online.
Federal: typically $0-$500 depending on type. State sales tax permit: usually free. State professional: $50-$500. County general business: $25-$300. City: $50-$500.
Most licenses renew annually. Some every 2-5 years. Missing renewal can mean fines or business operations suspended.
What to avoid.
State licenses do not cover county or city requirements. Each layer must be filed separately.
Selling taxable goods without a state sales tax permit creates personal liability for the collected (or uncollected) tax.
Operating a business at an address not zoned for that business type triggers fines and forced relocation. Home-based businesses must comply with home occupation rules.
Operating as a licensed professional (lawyer, doctor, CPA, etc.) without the state license is a criminal offense in most states.
Annual renewals are easy to miss. We track renewals as part of our service.
Common questions.
Do all businesses need a business license?
How do I find every license I need?
What is a sales tax permit?
What about a DBA?
What if I operate in multiple cities?
What about home-based businesses?
What licenses do online-only businesses need?
How long do licenses take?
What about restricted industries?
Recommended add-ons
Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.
Registered Agent
Most orderedRequired for every registered business entity in every state.
Compliance Monitoring
Best valueTrack every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline.
Annual Report Filing
RecommendedAuto-file your state annual report. Never miss a deadline.
Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.
Trust you can verify
SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.
A compliance partner, not a transaction
Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.
Premium experience competitors cannot match
Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.