LLC business license requirements vary according to the industry and location of the business. The services and products a business sells may affect the number and type of business licenses required. Depending on where the company is located, the local and state government may have permits and licenses the business has to obtain in order to operate.

What Is a Business License?

For many governments across the local, state, and county level, it is necessary to have certain licenses or permits before you begin business. Filing jurisdictions all over the country — which total more than 150,000 — all have their own individual requirements. There are a wide number of permits and licenses that could apply to your business contingent on where the business operates. 

The following are some of the most common permits and licenses that may be required of your corporation:

  • Tax registration
  • Liquor license
  • Health permit
  • Occupational license issued by the state
  • Lottery license
  • Land use and zoning permit
  • Health department permit
  • Reseller's license
  • General business license

Governments on the local, county, and state level all require a business license; this is a registration or permit necessary to conduct business. It is best for business owners to research all possible requirements when it comes to licensing and take their industry and location into consideration. Businesses that operate without the required permits and licenses could find themselves faced with notices, penalties, or even measures that prevent the business from operating any further. 

Corporations should comply with the requirements the government has put in place in order to run their business properly and legally. Regarding licensing, it may be requested for a business to register with the state, county, and city in order to meet requirements.

What Type of Licenses Would I Need for a Retail Business?

You're required to pay local and state sales tax if you sell any services or goods. Nearly all states require you to have a license of some kind — specifically a sales tax permit, among other permits. In Broward County Florida, you will need a Florida business license. In the event that you have a company that buys cars and transports them, it's likely you'll also need the following:

  • Application for a License as a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Recreational Dealer
  • Tax Application for the Certificate of Use
  • Application to Collect And/Or Report Tax
  • Local Business and Tax Registration
  • Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond Form

In a number of states, it is required for sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, and LLCs that sell taxable services and goods to have a seller's permit. The name of the permit may vary. Companies that sell taxable goods must have a sales tax license to sell those goods.

What Type of License or Permit Would I Need for My Home-Based Business?

Usually, a business will need a local permit as opposed to a license granted by the state or federal government. The location of a small business largely determines the rules it will be governed by. In some areas, installing a sign on the outside of your home is subject to local regulations on signage. A home occupation permit may be required in some areas in order to operate a home-based business, per local zoning laws.

If you have an internet product business located in El Dorado County, California, you'll need to acquire the following:

  • Business License Application
  • Business License Fee Document
  • Home Occupation Application
  • California Seller's Permit Application

However, it's important to know that not all businesses based at home will need a license. Your eBay retail arbitration business is not going to need a business license, nor is a business based entirely on the web going to need a license for the business. If you have a daycare center for children in your home, you will need a business license in addition to other government-issued licenses. The regulations of HOA bylaws would affect a home-based business in areas where there is a homeowner's association.

What Types of Licenses or Permits Would I Need as an Employer?

It may be required of employers to withhold tax by submitting Income Tax Withholding registration forms. The permits and licenses that you may need will differ based on your area and the type of business you operate. A food vendor with a stand in Orange County, California, will need the following permits according to the requirements of California businesses:

  • Health Permit
  • Registration Income Tax Withholding Application
  • California Seller's Permit Application
  • Business License Application

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