Business licenses: How many do you need, and how do you get them?

You're about to do it. Start your own business. But you still have a few things to figure out: funding, the business structure, registering the company - and what about business licenses? How many do you need? Just one? Maybe two? Twenty?

Before you can legally operate your business, it's critical to secure all required licenses or risk potential penalties. Determining what you need, though, can take you through a perplexing labyrinth of rules, regulations, and interpretations dictated by local, county, state, and federal governments. More than 30,000 government entities in the U.S. have the authority to issue licenses, permits, and registrations that are requisite to run a business - no wonder companies often manage their business license portfolio with the help of a third party.

So how do you discover what business licenses you'll need? Let's see if we can help.

But first, let's get clear on terminology. Licensing authorities all have different requirements, and they also bear unique definitions for licenses, permits, and tax registrations, so check with your authorities for specifics. What one municipality may call a business license, another may call a permit, or even a registration.

No matter the nomenclature, be sure to obtain the authority to operate a business in your chosen locale.

How do I determine the licenses my business might need?

Almost every small business warrants at least one basic business license to operate legally in the U.S. - some businesses call for more. How do you know what your business needs?

4 major criteria influence business license requirements:

1. Location -state, county, city, and maybe even township
   
   
2. Industry - selling tropical fish has different regulations than frying fish for a dinner menu
   
   
3. Related activities - certain factors can dictate license needs, e.g., outdoor seating may call for a sidewalk café permit and selling food by weight may require a weights and measures license
   
   
4. Business details - how you register your business (LLC, corporation, etc.); whether you have employees (withholding tax); and type of facility (residential or commercial)

This is nowhere near an exhaustive list. Business licenses diverge greatly from state to state, county to county, city to city, and industry to industry. The particulars of your business will determine what further criteria come into play that necessitate additional licenses.

How do I get started?

• First, get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your business before you apply for licenses. To find out whether your business requires an EIN, you can look to the IRS guidelines or go directly to the EIN application.

• Then, conduct an online search for business licenses in your state. Most states have a dedicated website or page for business license registration and information. But every state is unique in where you go from there. Some states offer checklists or questionnaires that guide you along the journey. Because websites don't always provide the most current information, check in with local clerks to be sure - a sometimes unfavorable, but always necessary chore for comprehensive compliance.
  

• Next, check out your county and local government pages, though your state website may have a link to local license registrations.
  

• State and local licenses typically make up the bulk of issued licenses for small businesses. However, if the federal government regulates your business activities or goods, like alcohol, you'll need to investigate federal licenses. The U.S. Small Business Administration has a list of activities with links to corresponding agencies for more information and applications.

What will happen if I don't secure all the required licenses for my business?

After all the time, money, and sweat you've poured into opening your business, you probably don't want to risk its existence or your bank account on noncompliance. If you fail to acquire all the necessary business licenses, you could face a slew of penalties that may include:

• Costly fines and personal liens

• Insurance coverage lapses, cancellations, and increased liability exposure

• Revenue loss due to suspension or closure of location

• Inability to raise funds, sell shares, or pass due diligence

• Voided customer contracts

• Time lost due to repeat inspections

• Inability to open new locations or release new products

You got this

Opening your own business is a monumental - sometimes maddening - endeavor. But acquiring all the proper businesses licenses doesn't have to be part of the exasperating equation. Take it step by step, know there are resources available, and use them.

If you'd like to shortcut your research, investigate Avalara Business Licenses. We help businesses discover and comply with business license requirements nationwide.