As more and more people are starting home-based businesses, cities and states are becoming more strict about business licensing requirements.

Understanding Business Licenses

In general, a business license is a permit issued by local, state or federal government that allows a company or individual to run their business in the jurisdiction of the license-granting authority. License requirements can vary greatly among states and municipalities. Certain professions require specialized professional licenses, such as a law, medical, accounting, etc. practice. The more specialized licenses can be quite expensive.

There are a number of factors that influence what type and how many business licenses you may need. Location, number of employees and legal structure may dictate whether you business needs a license, and what kind is necessary.

How To Find Out What Permits I Need

To determine whether your small business needs a business license, contact your local municipal government and your local Chamber of Commerce. The municipal government can help you quickly determine whether your business is large enough to need a license, and help you resolve whether your small business location is compliant with local zoning laws. Your local Chamber of Commerce can help you determine if any other professional licenses are necessary.

The Small Business Administration has a helpful tool on its website that can help you determine what type of business license you may need. The following links can also help residents of all 50 states determine what type and how many licenses they may need:

Alabama – http://www.ador.state.al.us/licenses/index.html

Alaska – http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/buslic.htm

Arizona – http://www.azdor.gov/Business/LicensingGuide.aspx

Arkansas – http://portal.arkansas.gov/Pages/default.aspx

California – http://www.calgold.ca.gov/

Colorado – http://www.colorado.gov/

Connecticut – http://www.ct-clic.com/.

Delaware – https://onestop.delaware.gov/osbrlpublic/Home.jsp

Florida – http://www.myflorida.com/taxonomy/business/business%20licenses,%20permits%20and%20regulation/.

Georgia – http://www.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,4802_5039,00.html

Hawaii – http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/business/start_grow/Document.2005-10-13.4537

Idaho – http://www.state.id.us/business/licensing.html.

Illinois – http://www2.illinois.gov/business/Pages/default.aspx

Indiana – http://www.state.in.us/ai/licensing/.

Iowa – http://www.iowalifechanging.com/business/blic.aspx.

Kansas – http://www.kansas.gov/services/

Kentucky – http://sos.ky.gov/business/onestop.htm

Louisiana – http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/98/Default.aspx

Maine – http://www.maine.gov/portal/business/licensing.html

Maryland – http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/tralicen.html.

Massachusetts – http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=dorterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Businesses&L2=Help+%26+Resources&sid=Ador&b=terminalcontent&f=dor_business_licpermit&csid=Ador

Michigan –  http://ref.michigan.org/medc/services/license/index/index.asp?chr=A&index=y.

Minnesota – http://www.license.mn.gov/

Mississippi – http://www.mississippi.gov/ms_sub_sub_template.jsp?Category_ID=20

Missouri – http://www.business.mo.gov/register.asp

Montana – http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/index.asp

Nebraska – http://www.nebraska.gov/html_error/down-message.html

Nevada – http://tax.state.nv.us/documents/TPI%2001.03%20NV%20Business%20License.pdf.

New Hampshire – http://www.nh.gov/business/doingbusiness.html

New Jersey – http://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/licenses/

New Mexico – http://www.rld.state.nm.us/index.html.

New York – http://www.nys-permits.org/.

North Carolina – http://www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/StartYourBusiness.

North Dakota – http://www.nd.gov/businessreg/license/index.html

Ohio – http://business.ohio.gov/licensing/

Oklahoma – http://www.okonestop.com/.

Oregon – http://licenseinfo.oregon.gov/

Pennsylvania – http://www.newpa.com/build-your-business/start/expert-assistance/center-for-entrepreneurial-assistance/index.aspx.

Rhode Island – http://www.ri.gov/business/index.php?subcategory=17&linkgroup=75

South Carolina – http://sc.gov/business/Pages/LICENSESANDPERMITSBUSINESS.aspx

South Dakota – http://www.sdreadytowork.com/dbisd/startup/step8.asp.

Tennessee – http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/business/professional.html.

Texas – http://www.texasonline.com/portal/tol/en/bus/2/1.

Utah – http://www.dopl.utah.gov/renewal.html

Vermont – http://www.vermont.gov/portal/business/

Virginia – https://apps.cao.virginia.gov/IDC/index.html

Washington – http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/

West Virginia – http://www.business4wv.com/b4wvpublic/default.aspx?pagename=applyforlicense#resultsBookmark.

Wisconsin – http://ww2.wisconsin.gov/state/license/app?COMMAND=gov.wi.state.cpp.license.command.LoadLicenseHome

Wyoming – http://plboards.state.wy.us/.

Other Points To Consider

Once you get your business license, be sure to keep copies of it in a safe place. Also, be aware of any expiration date on the license and be sure to renew it in time so you can avoid paying fines or penalties.

Another thing small business owners should be cognizant of are requirements about the posting and display of business licenses. Some businesses are required by municipal, state and federal law to post their license or licenses in a prominent spot in their business. Be sure to comply with this rule if it applies to your company.

If you decide to expand or relocate your business, be sure to check regulations to see if you need new or additional business licenses.