Community Business Partnership – Registering Your Business

All businesses are required to be registered and licensed at the federal, state and local levels.
The links below will assist the business owner with determining the legal entity appropriate for their business;
obtaining a Federal Employer ID Number (FEIN); and registering, licensing and paying taxes in the state and locale in which they conduct business.
Community Business Partnership also offers a monthly class to assist small business owners with Registering Your Business.
REGISTER HERE!
Choosing a Business Entity
- http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/chooseastructure/START_BASIC_STRUCTURE.html
- http://www.bizfilings.com/
Federal Links
- Learn about Employer ID Numbers (EIN) /Tax ID Number (TIN)
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html
- Employer ID Numbers (EIN) /Tax ID Number (TIN) Online Application
https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp
- Independent Contractor or Employee?
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99921,00.html
Virginia Links
Registration
- VA Business Licenses Directory
http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Virginia-Business-Licenses.htm
- Virginia One Stop
https://apps.cao.virginia.gov/IDC/index.html
- State Corporation Commission Office of the Clerk (general info)
http://www.scc.virginia.gov/division/clk/diracc.htm
- Clerk’s Information System (CIS) to check for business name availability
http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/index.aspx
To check the availability of a name before submitting a document to the Clerk’s Office, contact the Clerk’s Office (804) 371-9733 toll-free in Virginia at 1-866-722-2551, or click the link on the Virginia SCC icon, then click on the Name Distinguishability in the box on the far left.
- State Corporation Commission forms and fees
http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/formfee.aspx
- Clerk of Court – File copy of fictitious name certificate if you are an LLC, Limited Partnership, or Corporation
http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/index.aspx
Virginia Taxes
- Unemployment Tax Form – Virginia Employment Commission
http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/employer/vecaccount.cfm
- Virginia Employer’s Handbook
http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/employer/pdf/emphandbook.pdf
- VA Department of Taxation Registration
http://www.tax.virginia.gov
- VA tax facts (Sales and Use, Employer Withholding, Corporate Income, Litter, Consumer Use, and Tire):
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=TaxFacts
Northern Virginia Links
- Fictitious Name / Trade Name Registration
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/trade_name_info.htm
- BPOL Fairfax County
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/business_bpol.htm
- BPOL Prince William County
http://www.co.prince-william.va.us/default.aspx?topic=020011001140000632
- Home Occupation Permit Fairfax County
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoning/homeoccupation/homeoccupationapp.pdf
- Home Occupation Permit Arlington Co
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/cphd/planning/zoning/cphdplanningzoninghome.aspx
- City of Alexandria Business Licenses
http://alexandriava.gov/finance/info/default.aspx?id=1838
District of Columbia Links
- Business Resource Center
http://brc.dc.gov/
- Corporate Registration
http://dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/For+Business/Corporate+Registration
- Business License
http://dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/For+Business/Apply+for+a+Business+License
- Trade Name Registration
http://dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/For+Business/Corporate+Registration
(note: LLCs and Corporations may not need to register a Trade Name in DC)
- Tax Registration
http://brc.dc.gov/planning/requirements/combinedreg.asp
Maryland Registration
- How to Start a Business in Maryland
http://choosemaryland.org/Pages/default.aspx
- Dept. of Taxation New Business guidelines
http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/charter.html
- Maryland Combined Registration Form
https://interactive.marylandtaxes.com/webapps/comptrollercra/entrance.asp
- Trade Name registration
http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/checklist.html#trade
Maryland Taxes
- Workers Compensation Insurance
http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/workerscomp.aspx
- State Tax Registration
http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/statetaxregistration.aspx
- Personal Property Tax Registration
http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/personalpropertytaxes.aspx
- Workers’ Compensation
http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/workerscomp.aspx
Maryland Links
- Local County Business License Resources
http://choosemaryland.org/blis/Pages/Default.aspx
- Montgomery County Business License
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cibtmpl.asp?url=/Content/CircuitCourt/Court/LicenseDepartment/Business_License.asp
- Montgomery County Permits and Licenses
http://choosemaryland.org/blis/Pages/CountyLicense.aspx?CountyID=17
- Prince George’s County Permits and Licenses
http://choosemaryland.org/blis/Pages/CountyLicense.aspx?CountyID=18