< All Topics

Main
Business Development
Licensing
Business License Basics (Local/County/State)

Business License Basics (Local/County/State)

PostedSeptember 3, 2025

UpdatedSeptember 3, 2025

Bynous-buildons

Business License Basics (Local / County / State)

A practical, blameless checklist for getting legally live. Start with the **jurisdiction picker**, then complete each tier. Export when done. (We’ll refine as we learn.)

Sections

Setup & Scope City / Local County State & Federal Docs & Links Export

Start Here

Jurisdiction & Entity

Operating city County State Entity type Home-based? Employees (12 mo) NAICS / primary activity

Rule of thumb (GA): inside city limits → city license; **unincorporated** area → county license. County still handles **DBA/trade name** filings.

Guardrails

What this does / doesn’t cover

Covers baseline city/county business license & state tax/registrations.
Doesn’t replace local law—verify fees, forms, and renewal dates on official sites.
We treat unknowns as to-dos (best practice first; adjust when confirmed).

Heads-up (USA 2024+): most companies must file **BOI** (Beneficial Ownership) with FinCEN after formation; add to State & Federal list.

Tier 1

City / Local License

Confirm we are **inside city limits** (or mark “unincorporated”). Use city boundary map or utility bill

Apply for **Business Tax Certificate / Business License**. City hall or online portal

Complete **zoning / use review**. Home Occupation Permit if home-based

Obtain **Certificate of Occupancy / Fire inspection** (if office/retail).

**Sign permit** (if exterior signage) & **alarm permit** (if applicable).

Set **renewal reminder**. Annually; fees often based on gross receipts or headcount

License account/number Renewal month Estimated fee ($)

Tier 2

County Requirements

If **unincorporated**, apply for **County business license**. Otherwise, usually N/A

File **Trade Name / DBA** with the **County Superior Court** (if using a name different from legal entity).

**Zoning clearance** (county) if outside city limits.

**Occupational tax** setup (if county assesses).

Keep **recorded DBA receipt** in compliance folder.

DBA / trade name DBA filing date County license number (if any)

Tier 3

State & Federal

**Entity registration** active with State (LLC/Corp filing).

**EIN** from IRS secured.

State **Sales & Use Tax** registration (if selling taxable goods/services).

State **Withholding** account (if hiring).

State **Unemployment** account (labor dept).

**E-Verify / SAVE affidavits** per state/local requirement (employer thresholds).

**Professional/industry license** (if regulated; e.g., contractors, health).

**BOI report** to FinCEN (most entities formed 2024+; deadlines vary).

**Registered Agent** on file & current.

State entity / control # Sales tax account # Withholding / UI # BOI filed?

Checklist

Documents You’ll Likely Need

Government ID for owners (secure & verifiable).
Formation docs (Articles/Certificate), Operating Agreement/Bylaws.
EIN letter (IRS CP 575).
Lease or landlord letter (or Home Occupation affidavit).
NAICS code; headcount; estimated gross receipts.
For DBA: trade name application & publication proof (if county requires publication).

Links

Official Links (paste as we confirm)

City portal URL County licensing/DBA URL State corp registry State tax (sales/withholding) Labor / unemployment BOI (FinCEN)

As soon as we verify an official page, paste it here (keeps future filings fast).

Notes

Georgia / Atlanta Quick Notes

Inside **City of Atlanta**: apply for a City business license (aka Business Tax Certificate). Fees often use gross receipts bands + per-employee components.
**DBA / Trade name** is filed with your county (e.g., **Fulton** or **DeKalb**) Clerk of Superior Court.
Employers typically complete **E-Verify** affidavit at license or renewal; thresholds can differ—keep employer count current.

We’ll replace these with exact links/process once confirmed for your address.

Status

Progress Overview

Local

County

State & Fed

Green light to operate when all three tiers are ≥ 90%.

Pull

Export

Includes jurisdiction, numbers, links, and open tasks.

Reminder

Renewal & Compliance Tips

Set two reminders: **60 days** before renewal and **14 days** before.
If headcount or revenue band changes, **update** the city/county—fees can adjust.
Keep a single **Compliance Folder** in Drive: licenses, tax IDs, affidavits, DBA, COI, inspections.

Previous Compliance – State Packs

Next Retail License Guide