If you’ve recently started your own business, or are taking steps to become a small business owner, there may be certain things you haven’t yet considered. For example, if the nature of your company requires any special permits to get off the ground, you may have some questions about how to go about obtaining them. Fortunately, we’re here with the answers you need to help launch your business with all the appropriate permits in place.
Do I Need a Permit?
Researching whether you need a permit (or permits) for your new business is the first step you need to take. After all, if you don’t know which permit you need, or even whether your business requires a special permit at all, you aren’t going to be able to know what to do next. Some common permits required for businesses include:
DBA (Doing Business As) Permit- Business names can get pretty creative; the odds are good that your business is going to have a name that is not your own. Even if your name appears in the title of the company (for example, your name is Bea and your business is Bea’s Beauty Salon), it is still considered a DBA, and requires a permit. You will need to obtain the DBA permit in order to have your business legally recognized.
Zoning/Land Use Permits- Let’s say you plan on operating your business from your home- this may require a land use permit to allow you to conduct business operations in a residential area. Similarly, a zoning or land use permit will likely be required if the business you’re starting has anything to do with manufacturing, as certain neighborhoods may restrict that type of activity.
Special Product Permits- Undoubtedly you have heard of liquor licenses, which permit bars and restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages, but there are other special products whose sales require permits as well. For example, if you are opening a convenience store and will be selling cigarettes or other tobacco products there, you may need a tobacco sales permit. If that same convenience store also sells lottery tickets and gasoline, you’re going to need permits for them too. If you want to own a sports equipment store and plan to sell guns for hunting and target shooting, you will need a firearm permit to be able to sell them. If you aren’t sure whether any of the products you plan to sell may require a permit, check with your county and state to find out. Permit laws can vary by jurisdiction, so it’s best to find out your state’s specific permit laws.
Still have questions about obtaining permits for your new business? We’ve got answers! Permit Place can provide you with the permit help you need with our permit expediting services. We can assist you with finding out which permits you need to open your business, and swiftly get the ball rolling on the process so you can open your business as quickly as possible. Let Permit Place do all the heavy lifting with our permit expediting services, so you can get back to doing what you do best- owning your own business!