Think of it like this: a driver's license lets you drive a car. A business license lets you run a business in your city or state.
Your city (or county, or state) says: "Before you open for business here, you need our permission." That permission is your business license.
It's usually not expensive. It's usually not hard to get. You just have to know where to apply.
Read the full explanation →Pick what sounds most like you. We'll explain exactly what you need.
Do you need a license if you sell on these platforms? Short answer: probably yes. Here's why.
Food trucks need more permits than most businesses. We'll walk you through every single one.
Working from your house doesn't automatically mean you're license-free. Here's the deal.
Even if you just do gigs from your laptop, your city might still want you to register.
Service businesses like cleaning need a local license — and possibly insurance and a bond too.
Restaurants need more approvals than almost any other business. We list them all clearly.
Depending on your state and what you do, you might need a contractor license on top of a business license.
Most states have "cottage food" laws that let you sell homemade food with fewer requirements.
Answer 3 questions and find out exactly what you need.
It's usually simpler than you think. Here's what most people do:
A restaurant needs different licenses than a cleaning business. Your business type determines what you need.
Usually it's your city hall or county clerk's office. Some cities let you do it online. Some still want paper forms.
They'll ask for your business name, address, what you do, and sometimes your EIN (free from the IRS).
Usually $25–$100 for most basic businesses. Some cities charge based on how much money your business makes.
Most licenses come back in a few days. Set a reminder to renew — usually once a year or you'll get a fine.
Some states have a statewide business license. Some don't. Some states let you do everything online in 10 minutes. Others make you mail a form to three different offices.
Find your state below and we'll tell you exactly what's going on there — in plain English, obviously.
See all 20 state guides →Everything here is written like a smart friend explaining it — not a lawyer writing for other lawyers.
Every guide links to the actual government website so you can verify and apply directly — no middlemen.
We're an information site. We may link to services we think are helpful, and we'll tell you when we do. That's it.
Start with the question that brought you here. We'll walk you through it step by step.
⚠️ Heads up: This site explains how business licenses work — in plain English. We're not lawyers and this isn't legal advice. Rules change. Always check with your actual city or state office before doing anything official. We may earn from some links.