City, County & State Business License Requirements
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How to Get a Required Business License Through Your City, County or State Government Office.
One of the first things you need to do when starting a business is get a business license. Generally, you
obtain your business license through your city or county.
However, depending on where your business is located and what type of business that you plan to operate, you
may be required to get additional licenses and or permits from the state.
For instance, most states have a requirement that business obtain a special license to sell
firearms. The same applies when selling gasoline, tobacco or liquor. If you work in a
specific field, the state may require you to get a specialized license for that particular profession,
including real estate agents, appraisers and contractors.
Before applying for your business license, secure your business name by registering the name of your
business with the country clerk's office. Then apply for your license. Once you have your business license, you
can open a business bank account where you can write and receive checks under the company name.
More Small Business Licensing Resources:
- Get a Business License
Do your company need a license? How to apply, when to re-apply and how to save time and money in the
application process. Obtaining the Right Business
License | License Requirements
- State-by-State Business Resources
Looking for your city, county or state government office for additional licensing information? Use this web
page to locate your state, and click the link to get government office contact information for your
particular business location.
- Small Business Insurance
Do you need business insurance? As you may already know, anything can happen in business, and you don't
want to find yourself unprotected. Find out exactly what kind of benefits you can get with a free quote
before you make a decision, you may be surprised at the price!
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