Lesson 10 of 15
Business licences and permits
Registering the company and being allowed to operate are two different things.
The four layers
- Federal: only for regulated activities such as alcohol, firearms, aviation, broadcasting and transport
- State: professional and occupational licences, sales tax permits, contractor registrations
- County: health permits, zoning approvals, some general business licences
- City: general business licence, signage, home occupation permits
Sales tax registration
If you sell taxable goods or certain services, you typically register with the state revenue department for a sales tax permit before making sales. Online sellers may also have obligations in states where sales exceed that state's economic nexus threshold.
How to check
Work through your state's business licensing portal, then your county and city sites, using your industry classification. Keep renewal dates in the same calendar as your state reports.
Frequently asked questions
Does a home business need a permit?
Many cities require a home occupation permit, and some residential zoning rules limit customer visits, signage or stock storage.
Prefer to have someone handle the filing?
You can file directly with the state using the steps above. If you would rather have Gullia Filing prepare and file your formation documents, run the name check and act as your registered agent, we handle the process end to end.