| State | Requirements | Related Information Online |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Every type of business requires a business privilege license. Businesses involving motor fuels, severance of natural resources, environmental waste and tobacco require special licensing and taxes. | https://www.atlasalabama.gov/info/licenses-taxes/ |
| Alaska | All businesses require a business license, which you can get through the Alaska Department of Commerce. | https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/BusinessLicensing/ObtainBusinessLicenseNumber.aspx |
| Arizona | Arizona doesn’t issue or require a general business operating license. Contact your local city or town office to determine which local permits you need. | https://www.azdor.gov/Business/LicensingGuide.aspx |
| Arkansas | Arkansas doesn’t issue a statewide business operating license. But you may be required to get a local business license through your city or county clerk’s office. | https://portal.arkansas.gov/pages/owning-a-business/ |
| California | California doesn’t issue a statewide business operating license. It requires a local business license, which you can get through your city clerk’s office. | http://www.calgold.ca.gov/ |
| Colorado | Colorado doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses and permits, which you can get through the city or county clerk’s office. | https://mybiz.colorado.gov/intro |
| Connecticut | Connecticut doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses and permits. | https://www.concord-sots.ct.gov/CONCORD/NewBusinessFormation/BusinessRegistrationTool.jsp?pInquiry=false |
| Delaware | All businesses require a business license, which you can get through the Delaware Division of Revenue. | https://onestop.delaware.gov/Operate_Register |
| https://business.dc.gov/quick/9750 | ||
| Georgia | Georgia doesn’t issue a statewide business operating license. Most cities and counties require a local business license. | https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing |
| Hawaii | Some businesses require permits from Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture or Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. The state’s Business Action Center lists resources and requirements. | https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/BizEx/home.eb |
| Idaho | Idaho’s State & Federal Resources for Business offers a business wizard to help you determine which licenses and permits your business needs. | https://www.idaho.gov/services/ |
| Illinois | Illinois doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Some cities or counties in the state require a local license. | https://www2.illinois.gov/business/registration-licenses-permits |
| Indiana | Indiana doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses and permits. | http://www.in.gov/core/business_guide.html |
| Iowa | Iowa doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses, which you can get through the city or county clerk’s office. | https://www.iasourcelink.com/resources/business-license-home |
| Kansas | Kansas doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses, which you can get through the city or county clerk’s office. | https://ksbiz.kansas.gov/plan/research-licenses-permits/ |
| Kentucky | Kentucky doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Contact the local government in the place your business is based and any cities or counties where you plan to do business to determine if any city or county licenses are required for your business. | https://onestop.ky.gov/start/Pages/occupational.aspx |
| Maine | Maine doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Some local governments in Maine require a local business license. | http://www.maine.gov/local/ |
| Maryland | Maryland doesn’t require a business operating license at the state level. It offers a business licensing portal to determine whether you need other statewide licenses or permits. Some localities also require business licenses. Contact your local clerk of court to learn about requirements in your area. | http://commerce.maryland.gov/start/the-process/statewide-licenses |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Individual localities may require a business license. | https://www.mass.gov/topics/business-licenses-permits |
| Michigan | Michigan doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. It requires a statewide license for these business activities. | http://www.michigan.gov/statelicensesearch |
| Minnesota | Minnesota doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. It requires a statewide license for these business activities. | http://mn.gov/elicense/ |
| Mississippi | Mississippi doesn’t operate a central licensing agency for the state. Contact your city or county License Division to find out which local licenses and permits you need. | https://corp.sos.ms.gov/corp/portal/c/page/login/portal.aspx |
| Missouri | Missouri doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses. | https://www.mo.gov/government/city-county-government/counties/ |
| Montana | Montana doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses. | https://mtrevenue.gov/licenses/ |
| Nebraska | Nebraska doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Most cities require local licenses, which you can get through the local city Business License office. | http://www.sos.ne.gov/dyindex.html#boxingName |
| Nevada | All businesses are required to have a Nevada business license, which are processed online through SilverFlume, Nevada’s business portal. | https://www.nvsilverflume.gov/home |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire doesn’t issue or require a business operating license but requires a statewide license for specific industries. | https://www.revenue.nh.gov/faq/new-business-tax.htm |
| New Jersey | New Jersey doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. It requires a statewide license for these business activities. Most NJ counties and some cities also require you to register your business with the clerk’s office. | http://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/licenses/ |
| New Mexico | New Mexico doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. You can apply for licenses for specific industries or business activities through the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Many cities and counties require local business licenses. | http://www.rld.state.nm.us/Apply_for_a_License_or_Permit.aspx |
| New York | New York doesn’t issue or require a general business operating license. Use its Business Wizard to figure out any other licenses and permits you need. Contact your city and county to find out if you need a local business license. In NY City, you can create a customized list of licensing requirements online. | https://www.businessexpress.ny.gov/app/bw/startnewbusiness |
| North Carolina | North Carolina doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Many cities require a local business license. | https://edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/start-a-business/ |
| North Dakota | North Dakota doesn’t issue or require a business operating license but requires a statewide license for specific industries. | http://www.nd.gov/businessreg/license/index.html |
| Ohio | Ohio doesn’t issue or require a business operating license but requires a statewide license for certain industries. | https://clients.ohiosbdc.ohio.gov/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=2462 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma doesn’t issue or require a business operating license but requires a statewide license for specific industries. You may also be subject to town, county or city licensing requirements. | |
| Oregon | Oregon doesn’t issue or require a statewide business operating license. Determine which trade licenses and local business licenses you need through the Oregon Business Xpress website. | https://apps.oregon.gov/sos/licensedirectory |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses, which you can get through the city or county clerk’s office. | https://www.pals.pa.gov/#/page/default |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city or county may require local licenses. | https://dbr.ri.gov/z http://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/Business-Portal/Start-Or-Qualify-A-Business |
| South Carolina | Most cities in South Carolina require a local business license. To figure out what you need, visit South Carolina’s Business One Stop. | https://sc.gov/business/licenses-permits-and-registration |
| Tennessee | Any business with more than $3,000 in revenue requires a business license, which you can get through the local municipal or county clerk’s office. | https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/business-tax/registration-and-licensing.html |
| Texas | Texas doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city may require local licenses, which you can get through the Business License office at City Hall. | https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/apply-licenses-and-permits |
| Utah | Utah businesses must obtain licenses from the counties or cities where they operate. Check with the Utah Department of Commerce’s Business Licensing and Registration Guide for a list of local business licensing offices. | |
| Vermont | Vermont doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city may require local licenses, which you can get through your city clerk’s office. | https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/registration/ |
| Virginia | Virginia doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Most businesses are required to have a local business license in their city or county. | https://business4.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx |
| Washington | Many businesses are required to have a Washington business license. You can apply online through the Washington Department of Revenue business license application. | https://secure.dor.wa.gov/gteunauth/_/ |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. Your city may require local licenses, which you can get through your city clerk’s office. | http://www.wisconsin.gov/Pages/business.aspx https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Licenses_Permits/AToZLicenseList.aspx |
| Wyoming | Wyoming doesn’t issue or require a business operating license. | https://www.wyomingbusiness.org/Uploads/DocumentLibrary/WBC/business_permit_booklet_F_062520.pdf http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/content/licensing-and-permitting |
Business License By State
