Business licenses made easy
Consult with a dedicated law firm about the licenses and permits your business needs without the huge legal bill.
Common types of business licenses and permits
Over 627,000 new businesses are formed in the U.S. each year according to estimates from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and many of them need to secure licenses and permits. The exact licenses and permits required for your business depends upon its location and the industry in which it operates. Below is a list of common business licenses and permits.
- Reseller’s Permit
- Liquor License
- Sales Tax License
- Professional Licenses
- Event Permit
- Building and Zoning Permits
- Broker’s License
- Importing License
- Health Permit
- Firearms License
You can conduct hours of research on government websites and still be unsure of exactly what licenses or permits you need. Alternatively, you can join LegalShield and a small business lawyer will help you submit all required applications. Working with a lawyer makes the process much less stressful and you’ll know it’s been done correctly.
License and permit requirements
When running a small business, you’re likely to need various types of licenses and permits based on your location. It’s vital for both your bottom line and the future success of your business to stay on top of these legal requirements. Licenses or permits may be required because of laws, regulations or rules authorized by three levels of government: Federal, State, and Local. LegalShield can make determining what licenses or permits you need easy, giving you confidence your business will be in compliance in your particular location. Select a topic to learn more:
Federal
If the activities in which your business engages are regulated by a federal agency, you likely need federal licenses or permits. At the very least, you almost certainly need a Federal Employment Identification Number (FEIN) to identify your organization for tax purposes. Below is a list of some of the most common industries and activities regulated by the Federal Government.
- Agriculture and Farming
- Manufacture of Alcoholic Beverages
- Firearms and Ammunition
- Mining and Drilling
- Radio and TV Broadcasting
- Commercial Fisheries
- Transportation and Logistics
- Aviation
A Small Business Plan from LegalShield gives you access to unlimited consultation with a small business lawyer who can guide you through the federal licensing and permitting process. Also, you can submit any documents or applications (up to 50 pages depending on plan) for review and feedback at no additional cost.
State
State licenses and permits fall into two main categories. The first category includes general business licenses and permits while the second category includes professional licenses and permits specific to an individual, such as a lawyer being licensed to practice law or a barber being licensed to cut hair.
- What state licensing laws apply to my line of work or that of my business as a whole?
- I moved, does my license from another state satisfy the requirements in my new state?
- Are there any state licenses or permits for which my employees need to apply?
- What are the fees associated with each permit?
- Can I apply online? Where do I locate the applications?
From doctors to restaurants to accounting practices, chances are good that the state in which you operate requires you to secure one or more licenses and permits to operate legally. If you’d like to do your own research, start by browsing the government website for the state(s) in which your business will conduct business. Look for the business license section.
Local
While a good bit of business licensing and permitting falls under federal or state law, many cities and towns have local ordinances and regulations that require you to secure additional permits and licenses. Here are a few examples of local requirements.
- One time permits for special events
- Sales tax license
- General business permit
- Health permit for restaurants
- Building and zoning permits
- Tobacco, lottery or alcohol licenses for retail stores
The list above is a tiny sample. There are over 150,000 filing jurisdictions across the United States. If you own a business, chances are very good you need one or more local licenses or permits.
Get a Small Business Plan from LegalShield and knock licenses and permits off your task list so you can get on with growing your company.
How a lawyer can help you
At some point, any business owner is likely to have license and permit legal questions. If you join LegalShield, you’ll be able to consult with a lawyer for an unlimited amount of minutes on an unlimited number of business legal matters, particularly around licenses and permits. Don’t stress about license and permit issues—call your provider lawyer.
Identify the licenses and permits your business needs
On top of the Federal Government and the 50 states, there are over 150,000 local jurisdictions, such as cities, townships, municipalities and other types of local government. Just trying to figure out which licenses and permits your business needs can feel like a full-time job.
If you want to tackle the task on your own, research your industry on Federal Government websites, the license and permit page of your state government website and any local government websites for the places in which your business operates. Online businesses that ship products to other states may require licenses in jurisdictions across the country.
Resolve issues with rejected applications or expired licenses
If you have applied for a license/permit and your application was rejected, having a lawyer review your application and the reasons for rejection is a good first step to remedy the situation.
If your business has been hit with fines or is having other issues related to an expired license/permit, you definitely want to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and determine the best next action to take.
When you have a small business plan from LegalShield, not only do you get unlimited consultation with an experienced lawyer, they can review any documents you submit (number varies based on plan) and even make phone calls or write letters on your behalf to resolve license or permit issues.
How it works
Use the app or your computer to fill out a short form and tell us what kind of help you need.
Speak with an experienced lawyer who knows your state laws, usually within a business day.
Get trusted legal advice, resolve your issue, and move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip the hourly legal bills. Starting at $59/month, get access to an experienced provider law firm who can handle a wide range of legal needs—without the stress of unpredictable costs. From consultations and document checks to drafting debt collection letters and trial defense hours for defending your business in the event of a covered lawsuit or IRS audit, the LegalShield Small Business Plans have services available. Even using it once can save you thousands.
Getting help is easy. Sign up, and our team will connect you with a vetted law firm that can help with small business issues. Plus, our simple app puts your legal benefits and MEMEBERPerks right at your fingertips—anytime, anywhere.
LegalShield small business plans cover many day-to-day legal needs that small businesses encounter, including consultations, document reviews, and collection letters—at no extra cost.
Certain matters, such as issues outside your business state, are included only on specific plan tiers. If your situation isn’t fully covered—whether it’s out-of-state support or a specialized legal matter—your provider law firm can still help through our Member Discount, giving you savings off their standard hourly rates.
Members receive access to experienced lawyers from a provider law firm in their state. LegalShield connects members with these firms, but all the legal advice is provided directly by a licensed lawyer.
Prevention First
- Lawyers can help check contracts, research legal questions, and flag issues before they become expensive problems.
Professional Legal Assistance
- Lawyers can send letters, make calls, and represent the business in certain situations.
Yes, we have vetted licensed law firms available in every state.
Small businesses across a wide range of industries can benefit from our services. This includes consultants, contractors, retailers, service providers, startups, freelancers, and growing companies. Running a small business means making legal decisions all the time — contracts, compliance, customer issues, and more. LegalShield Small Business plans give businesses of all kinds affordable access to experienced lawyers who can answer questions, review documents, and step in when needed, so you don't have to handle legal issues alone or worry about unpredictable hourly legal fees.
Business owners can get help with a wide range of legal topics, including contract questions, business formation, compliance requirements, vendor and customer disputes, and employee-related issues.
The lawyers can review a wide variety of business documents, including vendor agreements, client contracts, leases, service agreements, NDAs, and partnership agreements. They’ll examine the document before you sign and help identify potential risks, unclear terms, and important legal considerations.
Employees can communicate with the lawyer only if they are listed as designated spokespersons on the account.
If you need legal support beyond what’s included in your plan, you can continue working with your provider law firm at a discounted rate. Members receive the following discounts on additional services:
- Small Business Basic Plan: 15%
- Small Business Preferred Plan: 20%
- Small Business Premium Plan: 25%
All LegalShield Small Business plans include legal advice and consultation for landlords. If your rental property is located in a different state, you’ll need a Small Business Preferred Plan or Small Business Premium Plan to receive services beyond consultation.
A provider lawyer can also:
- Conduct legal research
- Send letters or make phone calls on your behalf of your business
- Review property-related documents
This ensures you have the legal support you need to manage your rental business with confidence.
All LegalShield Small Business plans include advice and consultation on partnerships.
A provider lawyer can also:
- Conduct legal research
- Review partnership-related agreements
Business owners can unlock extra benefits if they:
- Have both a LegalShield personal legalplan and a LegalShield Small Business plan
- Activate Business Owner coverage in their account
Once activated, the Business Owner can receive phone consultations, document reviews, IRS audit support, and trial defense hours for personal legal matters related to their business—things that are normally excluded. These services still follow the limits of the personal plan, but the usual business exclusion is waived.
Yes. After signing up, you’ll need to activate the business owner benefit in your account.