Business licenses and permits in the US
Find the licenses your business needs, state by state
Official fees, links and steps for all 50 states and Washington, DC. Every fee is checked on an official .gov page and dated.
Reviewed and checked Nov 7, 2026.
Do you need a business license in the US?
Short answer
No single license covers the whole country, and most states do not have one general business license either. You register your business with the state, get a free EIN from the IRS, register for sales tax if you sell taxable goods, then add any state license for your type of business and a local business license from your city or county.
- State guides5150 states and Washington, DC
- Facts checked on official pages512Each one linked to its .gov source
- LLC filing fees$35 to $500Across the states we verified
Pick your state
No state matches. Check the spelling.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Washington, DC
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How starting a business works in the US
Register your business
Sole owners can often start under their own name. An LLC or corporation is formed with the state, usually the Secretary of State.
Get a free EIN
From the IRS, if you will hire or form an LLC with partners. Banks usually ask for one.
Register for sales tax
With the state tax agency, if you sell taxable goods or services.
Get a state license for your type of business
Salons, child care, alcohol, contractors and home food sellers often need a state license.
Check local permits
Your city or county may need a business license, zoning approval, or health and building permits.
Register as an employer
Open a state unemployment insurance tax account when you hire your first employee.
Questions
Do I need a business license in the US?
No single license covers the whole country, and most states do not have one general business license either. You register your business with the state, get a free EIN from the IRS, register for sales tax if you sell taxable goods, then add any state license for your type of business and a local business license from your city or county.
Which states have a general state business license?
In our verified data: Alaska, Delaware, Washington, DC, Hawaii, Nevada and West Virginia. Everywhere else, businesses register with the state and get licenses for their type of business and location.
Which states have no sales tax?
In our verified data: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Some local governments in these states can still charge their own taxes.
How much does it cost to form an LLC?
It depends on the state. Each state page shows the official filing fee, with a link to the page we checked it on and the date.
Is an EIN free?
You need an EIN if you have employees or pay certain federal taxes, and banks often ask for one. Apply online with the IRS and you get the number in minutes. It is free: never pay a website for an EIN.
Is GovtLicense a government website?
No. GovtLicense is an independent guide. We link to the official government pages and never charge for government services.