Careers Business Ownership Small Business Licenses and Permits State-by-State Small Business Registration Information Share PINTEREST Email Print marrio31 / Getty Images Business Ownership Becoming an Owner Small Business Online Business Home Business Entrepreneurship Operations & Success Industries By Alyssa Gregory Alyssa Gregory Alyssa Gregory is an entrepreneur, writer, and marketer with 20 years of experience in the business world. She is the founder of the Small Business Bonfire, a community for entrepreneurs, and has authored more than 2,500 articles for popular small business websites. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 06/25/19 The process of starting a small business involves a number of steps, one of which is registering your business and acquiring the necessary licenses and permits. Most small businesses in the U.S. must register in their local counties, then follow the licensing restrictions set by the state, depending on the type of business being registered. Each state has its own website that outlines the requirements for business registration and provides resources that will help business owners in each state. Licenses, Permits, and Regulations for Your Small Business The list below includes links to state pages on the Small Business Administration (SBA) website. The SBA has compiled state-by-state information on small business registration, license, and permit information. We have also included links (where available) to each state's small business division that provides the most accurate and up-to-date small business information for each state, including details on starting and growing a small business. A State-By-State Listing Alabama SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Alabama Secretary of State Business Services Alaska SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing Arizona SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of Arizona Department of Revenue Arkansas SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Arkansas Business California SBA - Business Licenses and Permits California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Colorado SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Colorado Business Express Connecticut SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Connecticut Licensing Info Center Delaware SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of Delaware's One Stop Business Registration and Licensing System District of Columbia SBA - Business Licenses and Permits The District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Florida SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Business Portal of the State of Florida Georgia SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Georgia Business, Labor and Employment Hawaii SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Idaho SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Business Resources for the State of Idaho Illinois SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of Illinois Business Indiana SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Iowa SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Iowa Secretary of State's Online Business Center Kansas SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Kansas Business Center Kentucky SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Kentucky Business Services Louisiana SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsLouisiana Secretary of State Commercial Division Maine SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Maryland SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Massachusetts SBA - Business Licenses and Permits The Official Website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Business Michigan SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsMichigan Business One Stop Minnesota SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Positively Minnesota - Department of Employment and Economic Development Mississippi SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsState of Mississippi - Secretary of State - Business Services Missouri SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Missouri Business Portal Montana SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Montana Business Services Nebraska SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Nebraska Department of Revenue Nevada SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Nevada Department of Business and Industry New Hampshire SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of New Hampshire - Business New Jersey SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of New Jersey Business Portal New Mexico SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsStarting a Business in New Mexico New York SBA - Business Licenses and Permits New York Department of State - Division of Corporations North Carolina SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Business Link North Carolina North Dakota SBA - Business Licenses and Permits North Dakota Secretary of State Business Services Ohio SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Ohio Secretary of State Business Services Oklahoma SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Oklahoma Department of Commerce Oregon SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Pennsylvania SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsPennsylvania Open for Business Rhode Island SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of Rhode Island - Secretary of State - Business Services South Carolina SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsSouth Carolina Business One Stop South Dakota SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsSouth Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development Tennessee SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Tennessee Government - Business Texas SBA - Business Licenses and Permits State of Texas - Business and Professional Services Utah SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Business in Utah Vermont SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Vermont Business Portal Virginia SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsVirginia Economic Development Partnership Washington SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Access Washington West Virginia SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Business in West Virginia Wisconsin SBA - Business Licenses and PermitsState of Wisconsin Business Services Wyoming SBA - Business Licenses and Permits Wyoming Business Council Featured Video