Applying for a business license in raleigh nc

Starting a Business in NC. Starting your own business Starting a business involves planning, making key decisions and completing a series of legal steps.

Business Registration Choose a name, choose a business structure, register your business. For Employers Employee withholding, are they employees or contractors? Taxes Learn which taxes are required, register to pay taxes. Write a Business Plan Wondering if you have a viable idea for a business? Need to map out your strategy? Assistance for NC Businesses Business assistance is available from many sources. Talk to Us Our business resource specialists can get your business off to a good start.

To find out what is required, contact the town s that you plan to operate in to see what their licensing requirements are. If you plan to conduct business within the Raleigh City Limits, contact Revenue Services at for more information. Please be advised that effective July 1, , the City of Raleigh no longer requires a Business License to operate a business within the Raleigh City Limits.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill which eliminated the authority of municipalities to levy a business license tax. Depending on the nature of your new business, other local licenses and permits may be required. There are several types of tax numbers. Businesses having employees are required to obtain a Federal Employer Identification number along with a NC withholding tax number.

The type of business structure determines where a business name assumed name should be registered. A Certificate of Assumed Name for sole proprietorships and partnerships must be filed with the Register of Deeds in the county or counties in which businesses plan to operate.

You can incorporate your own business by filing a one-page form called the Articles of Incorporation with the Corporations Division in the Department of the Secretary of State. However, there are additional steps involved in completing the corporation, and the Business Corporations Guidelines booklet is available for assistance with paperwork. Anyone who is not an attorney cannot prepare the documentation for your new corporation.

There are a number of legal issues involved with establishing a new corporation and you may find the services of an attorney helpful. Name availability can be determined by contacting the North Carolina Secretary of State Corporations Division at The Division can be reached by fax at You can perform your own corporate name search by selecting the option from the web page.

A federal employer identification number can be applied for by filing an SS-4 form with the Internal Revenue Service. For more information regarding how to file by fax or phone, call BLNC offers one-on-one phone consultations to people interested in starting a business in North Carolina, including figuring out what licenses and permits they may need.

If you are starting a business that might require an occupational license, contact your occupational board. Click here for a directory of all occupational boards in North Carolina and their contact information. Request support or submit a suggestion, we will get back to you via email or phone.

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