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

1. http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/chooseastructure/START_BASIC_STRUCTURE.html
2. http://www.bizfilings.com/

 Federal Links

1. Learn about Employer ID Numbers (EIN) /Tax ID Number (TIN)
   http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html
2. Employer ID Numbers (EIN) /Tax ID Number (TIN) Online Application
   https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp
3. Independent Contractor or Employee?
   http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99921,00.html

Virginia Links
Registration

1. VA Business Licenses Directory
   http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Virginia-Business-Licenses.htm
2. Virginia One Stop
   https://apps.cao.virginia.gov/IDC/index.html
3. State Corporation Commission Office of the Clerk (general info)
   http://www.scc.virginia.gov/division/clk/diracc.htm
4. 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.
5. State Corporation Commission forms and fees
   http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/formfee.aspx
6. 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

1. Unemployment Tax Form – Virginia Employment Commission
   http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/employer/vecaccount.cfm
2. Virginia Employer’s Handbook
   http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/employer/pdf/emphandbook.pdf
3. VA Department of Taxation  Registration
   http://www.tax.virginia.gov
4. 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

1. Fictitious Name / Trade Name Registration
   http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/trade_name_info.htm
2. BPOL  Fairfax County
   http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/business_bpol.htm
3. BPOL  Prince William County
   http://www.co.prince-william.va.us/default.aspx?topic=020011001140000632
4. Home Occupation Permit  Fairfax County
   http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoning/homeoccupation/homeoccupationapp.pdf
5. Home Occupation Permit  Arlington Co
   http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/cphd/planning/zoning/cphdplanningzoninghome.aspx
6. City of Alexandria Business Licenses
   http://alexandriava.gov/finance/info/default.aspx?id=1838

District of Columbia Links

1. Business Resource Center
   http://brc.dc.gov/
2. Corporate Registration
   http://dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/For+Business/Corporate+Registration
3. Business License
   http://dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/For+Business/Apply+for+a+Business+License
4. 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)
5. Tax Registration
   http://brc.dc.gov/planning/requirements/combinedreg.asp

Maryland Registration

1. How to Start a Business in Maryland
   http://choosemaryland.org/Pages/default.aspx
2. Dept. of Taxation  New Business guidelines
   http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/charter.html
3. Maryland Combined Registration Form
   https://interactive.marylandtaxes.com/webapps/comptrollercra/entrance.asp
4. Trade Name registration
   http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/checklist.html#trade

Maryland Taxes

1. Workers Compensation Insurance
   http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/workerscomp.aspx
2. State Tax Registration
   http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/statetaxregistration.aspx
3. Personal Property Tax Registration
   http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/personalpropertytaxes.aspx
4. Workers’ Compensation
   http://choosemaryland.org/startbusiness/Pages/workerscomp.aspx

Maryland Links

1. Local County Business License Resources
   http://choosemaryland.org/blis/Pages/Default.aspx
2. Montgomery County Business License
   http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cibtmpl.asp?url=/Content/CircuitCourt/Court/LicenseDepartment/Business_License.asp
3. Montgomery County Permits and Licenses
   http://choosemaryland.org/blis/Pages/CountyLicense.aspx?CountyID=17
4. Prince George’s County Permits and Licenses
   http://choosemaryland.org/blis/Pages/CountyLicense.aspx?CountyID=18