How to Get a Small Business License in North Carolina

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North Carolina doesn’t require you to have a general state business license for your LLC. However, you may need more specialized state licenses or permits if you engage in certain types of businesses. You may also need local licenses or permits for your LLC from your county, city, town, or village and, in some cases, federal licenses and permits as well.

First, you need to form your North Carolina LLC. You can do this in just a few steps:

Select a legal name for your business and an optional assumed business name. File a form called “Articles of Organization” with the state. Choose a registered agent, create an operating agreement, and apply for an EIN, if needed.

After your LLC is set up and your business is official, you can take the next step: Applying for all the required licenses and permits from state, local, and federal governments.

What Are Business Licenses and Permits?

Business licenses

A business license gives you the right to conduct business within a certain location. You may need one or more business licenses to operate your LLC in North Carolina.

However, in North Carolina, the state does not have a single business license that all businesses must obtain. Instead, whether you need a business license will depend on your location, occupation, and your business’s nature. Some North Carolina LLCs will need more than one business license, while others won’t need any.

If you engage in certain industries, for example, broadcasting, you may also need to get a license from the federal government.

Permits

In addition to licenses, you may also need permits to operate your business. In North Carolina, you may be required to get environmental permits for your LLC to show you are in compliance with local zoning regulations. Whether you need any permits and which you may need depends on your location and the type of business you are operating.

Certain types of businesses, for example, commercial fishing or running a restaurant that sells alcoholic drinks, will also need federal licenses in addition to any required by the state or your local government.

How to register for licenses/permits

North Carolina issues almost 950 types of business and occupational licenses and permits. Cities, counties, and towns also may require licenses and/or permits.

To find out what licenses and permits you need and how to register for them, you can:

What happens if I fail to obtain a license?

If you operate your business without getting the required licenses and permits, you may have to pay fines or fees. Your business could also be suspended or shut down. In some cases, you might be charged with a misdemeanor.

Local Business Licenses

Check with local clerks

Although North Carolina does not require you to get a state-issued general business license, you may have to get one from your city, town, or village. Check with your municipal clerk or your city’s website for more information on how to obtain a local general business license. You can also call an EDPNC small business advisor for help at (800) 228-8443.

Every county, city, town, or village has its own requirements for licenses and permits. For example, Greensboro, North Carolina, requires:

Check with the county you’re in

Your county’s clerk can help you find out what county licenses or permits you may need. You can find their contact information in the Directory of North Carolina County Clerks.

State Business Licenses

Seller’s permit

In North Carolina, the Seller’s permit is called the “Certificate of Registration.” You need to submit the Certificate of Registration to receive a Sales and Use Tax Number that you will use when you make tax payments to the state.

You must get a Certificate of Registration from the North Carolina Department of Revenue if your business does any of these:

How to obtain a seller’s permit

You can obtain a North Carolina Certificate of Registration online or by mail. When you apply for the certificate, you’ll need to include:

To register online, go to the North Carolina Department of Revenue’s registration page.

To register by mail:

After the Department of Revenue processes your application, it will assign you a Sales and Use Tax Number. You must use this number whenever you make your tax payments.

Fees & renewal

There is no fee to apply for the North Carolina Certificate of Registration, and it does not need to be renewed.

Other common state licenses

You should always check to see if your type of business needs a state license. Some businesses that require licenses may surprise you. For example, you’ll need to pay $300 for a North Carolina license if you run beach bingo games or $400 if you allow patrons to bring alcohol onto the premises of a community theater. More common state licenses include professional licenses, such as those for lawyers and healthcare providers.

Federal Business Licenses

Are there mandatory federal licenses?

Yes. The federal government regulates certain types of businesses. If you are engaged in a federally regulated business, you’ll probably have to get a federal license for your LLC.

Common federal business licenses

Agriculture, including transporting animals or plants over state lines
Alcoholic beverages, including manufacturing or selling
Aviation, including transporting and maintenance
Firearms, ammunition, and explosives, including manufacturing, dealing, or importing
Fish and wildlife, including importing or exporting wildlife and commercial fishing
Maritime transportation, including cargo shipments
Mining and drilling, including drilling for resources on federal lands
Nuclear energy, including production, distribution, and disposal
Radio and TV broadcasting, including wire, satellite, and cable
Transportation and logistics, including operating oversize vehicles

To obtain a federal license, apply to the relevant agency. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issues permits for agriculture-related business activities, and the Federal Aviation Administration handles licenses and certificates for pilots, aircraft, and airports.

What Do I Need to File for a License?

The requirements for applying for a license depend on the type of license you are seeking. Some licenses are free. Others may have an application fee and an annual renewal fee.

When you apply, you’ll have to provide information about your business, which may include:

The legal name of your LLC and its physical, mailing, and email addresses
Your LLC’s DBA name (assumed business name) if it has one
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security Number if you have a one-member LLC without employees
The names and contact information for the LLC’s members
Your North Carolina Secretary of State ID number
A description of the nature of your business
Details about the business, such as number of employees and amount of sales

Conclusion

It’s important that you apply for all the required federal, state, and local licenses and permits. There are a huge number of licenses and permits available, so figuring out which you need to get and what you have to do to apply may understandably feel overwhelming.

Luckily, North Carolina provides help for small business owners, including access to free small business advisors. You could also consult your own financial, legal, or business advisors or contact your County or Municipal Clerk. However you do it, you will be one big step closer to completing all the requirements needed to get your new business off to a great start.

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