Real licensing costs, before you commit.
State-level fees
Only a handful of states charge a general statewide license: Nevada $200/yr, Washington $90, Delaware ~$75, Alaska $50, Hawaii $20, Tennessee $15. Everywhere else the state layer is $0 — your city or county is the licensing authority. Reference table covers all 51.
County add-ons
Many counties layer their own business license fee. Cook County (Chicago area) charges separately. We map county-level adds.
City surcharges
Cities are the biggest cost driver. LA city license $481+. NYC has industry-specific add-ons. Smaller cities often free.
Industry-specific licenses
Beyond general license: contractor, food service, professional, alcohol, firearms: additional licenses per industry. Not included in the general license fee.
Annual renewal fees
Most licenses renew yearly. Renewal usually $50-$300+ depending on jurisdiction.
Use our lookup tool
Enter state + county + city + industry to get your full multi-level licensing cost. Bookmark for budgeting.
A clean handoff, in 4 steps.
Pick your state
State-level baseline license cost. Some states (CA, MT) have minimal state-level fees but heavy local fees.
Add county-level
Some counties pile on their own license. We track which counties charge what.
Add city-level
City is usually the biggest single line item. Major cities (LA, NYC, SF, Chicago) have substantial fees.
Add industry-specific
Special licenses for contracting, food, alcohol, professional services, etc.
One-time, or part of your BOS.
- 51-state cost table
- County + city add-ons
- Industry-specific guide
- Renewal schedule per state
- Export to CSV
- Multi-level filing
- Industry-specific licenses identified
- Renewal reminders
- Filed receipts to vault
- Pro subscription covers ongoing renewals
General business license cost, all 51 jurisdictions.
Only six states charge a general statewide business license. Everywhere else, licensing lives at the city and county level. Verified August 2026.
| STATE | GENERAL STATE LICENSE | LOCAL LAYER |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No general state license — county Business Privilege License required (typically $15–$50) | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Alaska | Yes — $50/year (Alaska Business License) | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Arizona | None statewide | City TPT licensing (Phoenix, Tucson) |
| Arkansas | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| California | None statewide | Most CA cities license every business; Los Angeles uses gross-receipts rates (commonly $100–$500+) |
| Colorado | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Connecticut | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Delaware | Yes — typically $75/year (varies $25–$300 by activity) | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| District of Columbia | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Florida | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Georgia | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Hawaii | Yes — GET license, $20 one-time | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Idaho | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Illinois | None statewide | Chicago Limited Business License ≈$250 per 2 years |
| Indiana | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Iowa | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Kansas | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Kentucky | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Louisiana | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Maine | No general state license — licensing handled by your town or city | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Maryland | No general state license — county licenses via Clerk of Court for many trades | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Massachusetts | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Michigan | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Minnesota | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Mississippi | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Missouri | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Montana | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Nebraska | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Nevada | Yes — $200/year ($500 for corporations) | City/county license on top (Las Vegas, Reno) |
| New Hampshire | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| New Jersey | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| New Mexico | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| New York | None statewide | NYC licenses by industry (DCA/DCWP) |
| North Carolina | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| North Dakota | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Ohio | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Oklahoma | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Oregon | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Pennsylvania | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Rhode Island | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| South Carolina | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| South Dakota | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Tennessee | Yes — $15 standard/minimal activity license (county-issued, state-mandated) | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Texas | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Utah | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Vermont | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Virginia | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Washington | Yes — $90 application (Business Licensing Service) | Many cities add endorsements via the state BLS portal |
| West Virginia | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Wisconsin | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
| Wyoming | None statewide | City/county licenses and local business taxes may apply |
“None statewide” means no general state business license — industry-specific permits (contractors, food service, professional, alcohol) and city or county licenses can still apply. Fees verified August 2026 against state licensing portals.
Common questions.
How much does a business license cost?
License costs vary widely by state, locality, license type, and industry, so there is no single figure, and a business may need several licenses each with its own fee. We flag which licenses your business and location require and route specifics to your situation so you understand the requirements without guesswork. See business licenses.
Why do license costs vary by state?
Because licensing is set at the state, county, and city levels, and each jurisdiction sets its own fees and requirements, the cost depends on where you operate and what you do, so the same business can pay different amounts in different places. We flag the requirements for your locations so you know what applies.
Does the type of license affect the cost?
Yes: a general business license, a professional or occupational license, an industry permit, and a sales tax permit each carry different requirements and fees, so cost depends on which licenses you actually need. We flag the specific licenses your business requires so you understand the full picture, not just one fee.
Do I pay for licenses once or repeatedly?
Many licenses renew periodically with recurring fees, so licensing is often an ongoing cost rather than one-time, and lapses can interrupt operations. We flag your renewal requirements and track them alongside your entity compliance so you plan for ongoing costs and avoid lapses.
Are state filing fees the same as license fees?
No: state entity filing fees keep your LLC or corporation registered, while license fees authorize specific business activities, so they are separate costs. We flag both so you understand the entity-level and license-level requirements and costs that apply to your business.
How do I find out what licenses I need and their cost?
It requires checking state, county, city, and industry requirements for your specific business and locations, which is easy to underestimate. We flag the licenses your business needs across every level so you have a complete picture rather than discovering a missing license later. See business licenses.
Can File.Business help me handle licensing?
Yes: we form the entity and flag the general, professional, industry, and local licenses your business and locations require, so you understand what you need and its requirements, and we track renewals so your licensing stays current. See business licenses.