Rely on CT Corporation to secure your small business license
CT Corporation's experts will personally assist with the research and filings necessary to secure business licenses for your small business. CT Corporation's extensive experience licensing businesses will preserve your valuable time and energy for other more important tasks.
Already established? We can verify and track your renewals so that you don’t have to worry about missing a deadline.
Related solutions
Business license research package
CT Corporation quickly and accurately assembles a business license package with all the licensing applications and instructions your business may need.
Business license managed services
CT Corporation manages the lifecycle of all your business licenses and provides ongoing support for your core business license program.
Client License Information Center (CLiC)
Quickly access your business license information via a secure, web-based platform.
Business License Solutions
Trust CT Corporation's extensive experience to help your business maintain compliance.
How CT Corporation supports your business
Unmatched expertise and scale with 50,000 licenses managed annually in 15,000 locations
10 average years of experience of our service team members
300+ license types across 110 industries and 8,300 jurisdictions
Business license resources
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ArticleComplianceJanuary 26, 2026
Be prepared: Business licensing due diligence for corporate and M&A transactions
Business licensing due diligence helps organizations navigate corporate changes or M&A by assessing license needs, identifying risks, and ensuring timely updates. A structured approach reduces fines, delays, and compliance issues. -
ArticleComplianceJanuary 14, 2026
Business license requirements: What you need to know
The experts at CT Corporation share business license requirements and obligations at the state, federal, and local levels. -
ArticleComplianceNovember 26, 2025
Durable medical equipment licensing requirements
If your business provides durable medical equipment or DME, learn more about the licensing requirements you may be subject to from CT Corporation. -
ArticleComplianceNovember 07, 2025
Virginia business license requirements
Virginia businesses must meet local, state, and industry-specific licensing requirements. Most need a BPOL license, tax IDs, and ongoing compliance to operate legally and avoid penalties.
Frequently asked questions about small business licenses
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What is a business license?A business license is an approval or permit issued by a government agency that authorizes a business to operate within a specific jurisdiction. This license is often an additional requirement beyond the registration of a business at the state level. Whether a business is required to have a specific license depends on such factors as the nature of the business, types of products sold, and location.
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How often do business licenses renew?Businesses are often reliant upon their own compliance tracking to stay on top of renewals. While the licensing jurisdiction may send a renewal notice, entities should not rely on this reminder method. CT Corporation has developed a Client License Information Center, CLiC, to help manage the renewal process and avoid delinquent charges and fines.
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How long are business licenses valid?The term of a license is entirely dependent on the type of license. Some licenses are good for the life of the business while others must be renewed annually or every two years. However, laws can change frequently so businesses must stay abreast of changes that affect the term of their license.
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What is a sales tax ID?Although Sales and Use Tax registrations would seem to be the most basic of business license filings, the requirements can vary from state to state, county to county and sometimes even by municipality. These applications can be confusing and time consuming. Contact CT Corporation for assistance.
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What is an EIN?An EIN is a unique nine digit number assigned by the IRS is used to identify business entities and is also known by other names such as 'Federal Tax Identification Number' and 'Tax Identification Number (TIN)'.
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