If you’re reading this then you’re either interested in starting your business, or you’ve started one already but found that you built yourself a job, not a business.

You might have read books and articles about genius entrepreneurs building multi-billion dollar businesses, going public with an IPO, and escaping off into the sunset. 

But that’s not you. 

Instead, you want to build a business so your wife can stop working.

Maybe you want a business that gives you time to spend with your kids.

Maybe you’re just tired of your day job and want to build something on the side that gives you more fulfillment.

You’re in luck. 

The books in this article will teach you to think like an MBA, even if you’ve never taken a business class in your life. You’ll learn how to start, market, and scale a business, even if you’re still working a day job. And most importantly, you’ll learn about different kinds of business that others have already built so you have a roadmap for your own journey.

Let’s get into it.

The Foundation of a Successful Small Business

1. The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank

This is the best step-by-step startup book you can read. The book organizes the beginning stages of building a business. It talks about knowing your values, being market-driven, focusing on customer development versus product development, and how to go mainstream by making products for early adopters first.

2. Great by Choice by Jim Collins

This book tackles the question of, “Are successful companies just lucky or are there replicable patterns they follow?” 

Centered around the tenets of discipline, calibrated creativity, and a healthy sense of paranoia, the book teaches you how to create a foundation for your business that will let it thrive amidst uncertain environments.

3. Good to Great by Jim Collins

If you’ve ever wondered what separates good companies from the ones that are truly great, then this book holds the answers. Concepts in the book, like the Hedgehog Concept and the Flywheel, show you the qualities and mindsets you need to cultivate in yourself and in your employees to build a company that lasts.

4. Purple Cow by Seth Godin

This book is about how you and your business can stand out… And how to handle the risk that comes with being different. You’ll learn about creating remarkable products and services, and identifying the first few customer-slash-evangelists who will excitedly tell the world about your business

How to Start a Successful Small Business

5. The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman

You should read this book if you think you need an MBA to build a successful business (spoiler alert: you don’t). You’ll learn to ask the hard questions that will help you make the right decisions so your business succeeds. You’ll build a framework for business decisions like getting outside funding, vision, marketing, negotiation, and collaboration.

6. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Coupled with The Personal MBA, this book is for anyone who is great at what they do and now wants to build a business around that expertise. You’ll learn about the nitty-gritty operations side of the business: how to plan for growth from day one, what to put in place so that you’re building a business and not a job for yourself, and how to (eventually) find and train people to run your business for you.

7. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

If you want to build a business and not another job for yourself, then you need to be intentional about this from the beginning. This book will teach you how to redefine why and how you work, help you eliminate as much busy-work from your plate as possible, and prepare yourself for entrepreneurship — even if you’re still at your day job.

8. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Building a successful business is simple but difficult. It’s not about how fast you grow. It’s not even just about how much revenue you make. Instead, it’s about finding a profitable business model that can stand the test of time. 

In this book, you’ll learn the right and wrong reasons to start a business. You’ll learn how to test to make sure your business idea is profitable before you release your product. And you’ll also learn how to bake marketing into your product so that it sells itself. 

9. Zero to One by Peter Thiel

The most difficult stage of building a business is taking it from 0 sales and customers to the first ones. That’s much harder than going from 1 to 2. In this book, you’ll learn why successful founders tend to be weird oddballs, the sequence you need to follow if you want mass-market success, and the 7 crucial questions you need to ask yourself before you start your business.

How to Find Your First Customers for Your Small Business

10. This Is Marketing by Seth Godin

This is the best high-level marketing book you can read. Good marketing is about painting a story about how your business can help your customer improve their life. And This is Marketing gives you a framework for the marketing strategies and tactics that you’ll learn in other books.

11. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

Stop trying to be better. Just try to be different.  This is the main premise of this book — and it’s the most important positioning concept you need to learn in a world of commodities and choice. The book teaches you to be different, to carve out category or niche (blue ocean) and to stop seeking out crowded markets (red oceans).

12. Tribes by Seth Godin

The health of your business is dependent on the audience or tribe you built around the change you’re trying to make. Tribes is a short book that goes into detail on how communities start and thrive, and how you can start, nurture, and build a tribe around your work.

13. Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon

If you subscribe to the “build it and they will come” model of marketing, then you’re in for a rude awakening. These days, your marketing needs to start as soon as (or even before) you build your product. This book shows you how you can start documenting the process of building your business… So that when you finally launch, you won’t launch to crickets; you’ll have people who are eager to buy.

14. Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares

If you want a systematic way to grow customer demand as early as possible, then you need to read this book. It runs you through the 20 possible channels you can take to find customers, and with ‘The Bullseye Method’, teaches you how to systematically test each one until you find the ones that give you the most bang for your buck.

How to Grow and Scale Your Small Business

15. Company of One by Paul Jarvis

This book is about perspective and priorities — how “successful” doesn’t have to mean big, and how ‘“staying small” might actually be a better definition of success for your business. You’ll learn to focus on the people who are working in the business (for a small business, that’s probably just you) and the two things you should emphasize to build a successful small business.

16. Small Giants by Bo Burlingham

This book is for business owners who want to keep control of their company. You’ll learn why staying private might be a good idea in this time of high growth, IPOs, and unicorns. You’ll also learn what it means to be community-focused as a company, both internally and externally, so that you grow without outside funding.

17. Work the System by Sam Carpenter

If you’re reading this, then it’s likely you struggle with perfectionism and control — two common traits that entrepreneurs share. More than just learning to build systems, this book will teach you how to let go of perfection and focus on controlling the parts of your business that you can change.

If you want to learn how to scale a business without making a job for yourself, then this book is for you. 

18. The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

As a business owner, you have to wear a lot of hats and that can get overwhelming. In this book, one of the history’s foremost thinkers on business and management helps you take your effectiveness and efficiency to the next level by asking, “Is this decision even worth making?” 

You’ll learn why and how to delegate based on strengths and not weaknesses, how to make decisions when you have to, and why holding longer decision-making meetings might actually save you more time down the road.

19. The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch

Whether it’s dealing with toxic customers, having too many business ideas, or just having too much on your plate, entrepreneurs are constantly stretched thin. The main premise of this book — that the largest share of your results is produced by just a small fraction of the work — helps you simplify your professional (and personal) life.

By focusing only on the 20% of products and customers that actually drive your business, you’ll spend more time on the most important tasks, instead of managing your time.

20. Startups Made Simple by Matt Knee

Drawing from his experience running an INC5000 company, Matt helps entrepreneurs start and run their businesses. In this book, he distills lessons from the best business thinkers and books (including ones from this list) and organizes it into a step-by-step system you can follow to start and grow your own business.

Next Steps

Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments!

You don’t need to be a United States citizen to sell on Amazon, but once you sell 50 or more items on the marketplace, you’ll need to have a proper tax id. However, if you’re selling through Amazon’s FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) program then you’ll need to form a company in the United States before you get started. If you plan on selling more than 40 items per month then this is the most cost-efficient way to sell on Amazon. 

Requirements to Sell on Amazon

The Amazon marketplace is one of the most visited sites online today and is the industry leader for e-commerce sales. To sell things on Amazon you’ll be required to set up an Amazon account, provide a product feed to Amazon, or use their FBA program and send your products to an Amazon warehouse. There are legal requirements if you’re going to sell as a merchant that you’ll also need to be made aware of.

Regardless of the type of account you want to open, a non-citizen of the United States will typically have very similar requirements to citizens or residents of the country in order to sell on Amazon. These requirements, listed below, include obtaining your FEIN (Federal Employer Identification number). 

You don’t have to be a corporation to get your FEIN number and sell as an individual seller but it can be cheaper to register as a merchant, where you will need a registered business. If you’re not a resident of the United States then you’ll need the following information in order to register an FBA account, regardless of whether you’re selling as an individual or a business: 

• Your Home or Business Address: A place where you can receive personal mail. 
• Email Address: An address Amazon can send important information about your account.
• Credit Card: An internationally chargeable credit card with a valid billing address. 
• Phone Number: This will be needed to verify your identification during registration.
• United States Tax ID: Either a social security number (for individual sellers only) or an FEIN number. 
• Bank Information: You’ll need a bank that can take an ACH (automated clearing house) payment from Amazon. 

Additionally, if there are states where you have a tax nexus then it’s required for you to include your state tax id in all of those states. If you’re not residing in the country then this will only apply to any business dealings you may have in specific states for the business that will be selling on Amazon. 

If you have all of these pieces of information then you’ll meet the minimum requirements to sell on Amazon. You can move forward with registering your account at Amazon’s Seller Central. During the process, you’ll need to choose to either sell as an individual or as a merchant. Let’s take a look at the comparison. 

Selling as an Individual vs Merchant

If you’re going to be selling on Amazon then you’ll need to make sure you’re maximizing the amount of money you can make. Choosing the type of account you want to have on Amazon is part of this process. You can sell as an Individual and Amazon will charge you $0.99 per item sold plus referral and closing fees. 

You still have to pay those fees with a merchant account but instead of nearly $1 per item sold you’ll just pay $39.99 per month, regardless of how much you sell. So if you’re selling more than 40 items per month then you’ll likely want a merchant account, which requires your FEIN to register. 

Another option is to use Amazon Vendor Central if you’d prefer to be a vendor to Amazon’s products and their listings on the marketplace. As a vendor, you sell to Amazon and not to consumers through Amazon. While Amazon does the heavy sales lifting for their vendors, you’ll lose all control of pricing and placement. 

Fulfillment by Amazon

Another decision you’ll have to make during the registration process is whether or not you’ll want to use Amazon’s FBA option. This might be more difficult for non-U.S. based individuals and businesses. Essentially the program allows you to store your products in one of Amazon’s facilities where they’ll take care of all the order fulfillment and shipping for you. Additionally, the program allows your items to be put on Amazon’s Prime shipping program, which is the most used shipping feature on the Amazon marketplace. 

This is recommended for most businesses that sell a lot because it lowers your business operations and increases the amount of opportunity to get sales. You won’t have to worry about customer service or returns but you’ll have to get all of your products to Amazon in order to take advantage of the program. There are no additional restrictions to the FBA program based on where your business is primarily located. 

Once you’ve made these decisions then you’ll be able to register, either as an individual or business. Now let’s go over the requirements of registering a business in the United States for non-citizens and residents. 

Registering as a Business in the United States

Regardless of where your business is located, we recommend registering your business as a legal U.S. entity before applying to be a seller on Amazon if you plan on selling more than a few items per month. It’s a smoother process and the tax benefits of being a business could be beneficial for you. Plus, not only will registering as a business protect your personal assets but it typically makes the entire setup easier if you’re going to use FBA, and it’s required if you’re going to sign up as a merchant or a vendor. 

Luckily, you can easily register a business entity through the help of a third party that will draft and file all of the legal paperwork for you. All you need to determine is what type of business you want to create, as we discuss below, and who your registered agent is going to be. 

Getting a Registered Agent

Part of registering your business means getting a registered agent within the state your business is created. Most states require you to have a registered agent, which is a person or entity that can receive official legal notices and correspondence from the government. This is especially helpful and needed if you’re not a citizen or if you don’t reside within the country. 

Businesses routinely offer registered agent services to help businesses that do not have a physical address, in the event there is a legal notification to the business. Not selecting a registered agent could cause your business to fall out of good standing with your state, resulting in the business entity potentially being disbanded. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling on Amazon as a Non-US Citizen

There are many questions that you may have in regards to registering your business or selling on Amazon as a non-resident of the United States. Below we’ve collected the most common questions and answered them to help you quickly find the answer you need. 

How do I Open My Amazon Seller Account? 

Go to sellercentral.amazon.com and click the “Register Now” button. On the next landing page you’ll click the “start selling” button, which will prompt you to login to your Amazon account. If you already have an Amazon account of any kind you can use this login to access the seller services. However, we recommend creating a separate account from any personal uses of Amazon. 

You’ll then be taken through the steps of providing the information we discussed above to register your seller account. Once you’re verified you can start creating product listings and selling to the masses. 

How do I Get a FEIN Number if I Don’t Register a Business?

You can obtain your FEIN number by filling out Form SS-4, as provided by the IRS. You don’t need to have any legal status in the country in order to get this number. Once you have the number you can sell products on Amazon as an individual instead of registering your business. If you’re registering a business, then you should wait to get your FEIN through that process. 

What Types of Businesses Can Non-US Citizens Register When Selling on Amazon?

Currently, if you’re not a citizen or a resident of the United States you can only create two types of legal business entities: an LLC (limited liability company) or a C-Corp (or corporation). You can also create an S-Corp if you’re a permanent resident of the country, even if you’re not a citizen. 

There are many factors you’ll want to take into account when choosing between an LLC and a C-Corp. To learn more, check out our article on choosing the right business entity. 

Do I need a Visa to Register a Business in the U.S.? 

No, you don’t need a visa to register a business, however, the registration process doesn’t give you a right to travel to the country. This is why many foreign business owners choose to apply for a visa when they register for their business. The E-2 Visa is a common one applied to by startup business owners registering in the country for the first time. 

Register Today

You can get started with registering a business today so that you can sell on Amazon under an official business. The process only takes three steps and MyCompanyWorks will do all of the legwork to get your business registered and obtain your FEIN. Select the company type and state that you want to register in and get your the process of creating a business entity started immediately!

If you want to set up a website for a small business but have no idea where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

Building a website without experience can seem daunting at first. Luckily, today there are many products that allow anyone to build a site from scratch, including those without any coding or design experience whatsoever.

A good website builder comes with easy, visual design and drag-and-drop elements. It’s simple and not clunkily loaded with tons of features you likely don’t need right now. It should nudge you along in the process, rather than leaving you to figure it out on your own.

Below we review the best web builders you can use to create your small business website today.

Wix

Pros: Wix is a visually appealing builder that’s great for beginners. Just drag and drop elements where you want them to create your website in no time. You can choose from 500+ templates, making it simple for those who don’t know how to design or code. All their templates are mobile-optimized as well.

Cons: As simple as Wix is to use, you’ll be limited in terms of function and customization. Once your website is live, you won’t be able to change the theme/template. So if you want to change it, you’ll have to take it offline. Storage space is also limited, with the highest plan giving you 50GB. Just be aware you won’t be able to be as flexible with the website as you want.

Pricing: Wix offers two types of plans: Website or Business & eCommerce. The cheapest plan is at $13/month with a free domain and 2GB bandwidth. All other plans come with unlimited bandwidth. There’s also an Enterprise plan that offers complete support including onboarding, maintenance, and security.

Best for: People who want a quick, easy and hassle-free setup with no intention to tweak a lot of elements.

Squarespace

Pros: Favored by artists, photographers, and others in the field of visual media, Squarespace is a stylish website builder with 100+ pre-made, mobile-ready templates that are some of the best-designed on the web. It’s an intuitive tool anyone can use to create a website in no time. Setting up a store is easy and all plans come with an SEO tool.

Cons: Although Squarespace’s templates definitely come with plenty of flair, if you don’t like their general aesthetic, there’s not much you’ll be able to do about it. The layouts also take a longer time to load than other services and aren’t good for scaling with more complex website features. As for their eCommerce feature, there are better, more affordable options like Shopify.

Pricing: Squarespace offers four tiers on its pricing plan, starting at $12 a month. If you’d like to use the eCommerce feature, you’ll need to have at least the Business plan for $18 a month.

Best for: Businesses that rely on visuals to draw clients and customers like photographers, artists, filmmakers, restaurateurs, designers, and smaller eCommerce operations.

Weebly

Pros: Recently purchased by eCommerce company Square, Weebly is another intuitive builder with drag-and-drop features. They have 40+ mobile-friendly templates to start with. Unlike Wix or Squarespace, it’s easier to scale with Weebly. It’s a more flexible builder that allows you to input code to make the changes you need.

Cons: While Weebly offers a visual builder, there’s still a limited structure, unlike Wix where you can really move around elements freely. If you have an international business, it’s important to consider that Weebly blocks traffic from countries like China and Russia by default.

Pricing: Weebly has a simple pricing plan divided into two groups: websites and online stores. The free plan will show the Weebly branding on the website. Removing it and connecting with a custom domain will cost $5 a month. The online store plan starts at $12 a month and includes the shopping cart and 3rd party payments.

Best for: Those who want an easy website builder with more flexibility to add and change code.

WordPress

Pros: WordPress is the most popular free web builders out there. It’s said to power one-third of all websites on the internet. Many businesses, particularly publishers with a large volume of content, use WordPress as their primary content management software (CMS). If SEO is a major factor for you, WordPress is probably the best option for you as you can install countless plug-ins to optimize your content for Google. In terms of flexibility and freedom, WordPress is the best as you can input any code or design you want.

Cons: The free plan is easy enough to use but quite limited for most businesses. Its website builder is nowhere near as intuitive or visually pleasing as some of the other options. Most templates will need to be purchased separately unless you have a premium plan.

Pricing: There are five different plans, ranging from free to eCommerce. The premium tiers start at $8 a month. Most businesses will need at least a premium plan to run a functional website.

Best for: Bloggers and publishers or other businesses centered around content marketing.

Shopify

Pros: Shopify is the best option for eCommerce businesses. It’s not just a website builder but a powerful eCommerce tool equipped with marketing and sales analytics features. It also allows you to sell across multiple channels like Amazon, eBay and Instagram. If you run an eCommerce business, it’s probably the easiest way to set up your entire operation in no time.

Cons: Though Shopify is great for eCommerce companies, as a website builder, it’s not the most flexible or easy to use. When you start, you can choose a theme for your storefront. But if you change your mind, it won’t be a one-click change as the remaining content won’t be reformatted automatically.

Pricing: Their pricing is straightforward, with only three tiers starting at $29 a month.

Best for: eCommerce businesses.

GoDaddy

Pros: Without question, GoDaddy’s primary service is domain registration and web hosting. But it also has a decent website builder which is great if you purchase your domain through the site and don’t want to bother looking for a separate website builder. Because the builder is attached to the domain service, you can simply choose a template and use your domain to go live today. They guide you through the setup in a very straightforward manner.

Cons: Somewhat predictably, their website builder is not the best on the web. While it’s simple, there aren’t too many options. It’s suitable for beginners in that it’s easy to use but if you’re a visual person who wants the freedom to drag-and-drop elements, this is not the right builder for you.

Pricing: There are four plans for GoDaddy’s website builder. They’re relatively cheap and all come with a one-month free trial.

Best for: People who’re already using or planning to use other GoDaddy services.

Below is an excerpt from our book Startups Made Simple: How to Start, Grow and Systemize Your Dream Business. Learn more about the book here. 

Superpower #4: Momentum

Hopefully you’re starting to see how critical energy is, and how you can use it to your advantage. Anyone who has watched a sports event where a team comes back from behind and then dominates knows exactly what I mean by momentum; you can feel it in the air. It’s one of the best sensations in business and life, and I highly recommend you use it to fuel your startup. Momentum supercharges energy. 

So, how do we build momentum? As you are probably starting to realize, all these superpowers work together in many ways. As we’ll see later, having a great Vision and learning to Execute will create momentum, which is infectious, your team will naturally be motivated by your momentum, just like the sports team example above.

The reason why I separated it out as a superpower is that I just want to make sure you recognize the power of momentum and use it to your advantage. You’ll feel it typically as a gut feeling and possibly a rush of energy that may last hours or weeks. Use it! Sometimes, I’ll only hit a good surge of momentum once a week or even once every few weeks, but one thing I never do is waste it. I know when I’m in the zone and use that momentum to get a massive amount of things done, push big projects forward, get things done around the house, or even knock off a bucket list item. (You can use momentum for fun!) 

One final tip I have concerning momentum is to try to preserve a little so you can reignite it the next day. I’m somewhat infamous to those who know me for being able to work 18 hours in a row on a project or idea. While that allowed me to get great things done when I was younger, there was always an inevitable crash afterward. The older, wiser me knows that I should cut out after the momentum begins to fall off a bit and simply reignite it the next day, letting my brain work on it and continue being excited while I sleep. 

Energy Best Practices

Having plenty of Energy is usually a matter of doing some very basic things but I realize a lot of this goes out the window while doing a startup. Here are some best practices:

• Good sleep. Prioritize sleep above all as your main source of energy and renewal. Sleep at least 7 hours (and more if necessary) and make sure you practice proper sleep hygiene (minimize blue light at night, cool room, no noises, etc.). There are many good sleep apps, trackers and even special beds and “light blockers” available to optimize sleep. 
• Clean diet. Most startups are run on a consistent supply of donuts, pizza and other junk and while this is fine occasionally, you’ll want to keep your diet as clean as possible to maintain an ideal weight and to provide plenty of energy. Consider intermittent fasting which is getting very popular among high-performing people as a source of energy and clarity.
• Exercise. We all know we should do it so make exercise a priority. Even jogging around the block or bodyweight exercises at the office are helpful and a big key is finding an exercise routine you like doing. Realize that exercising actually gives you more energy, improves sleep and optimizes mood. 
• Purge negative energy. Negative people, thoughts (negative self-talk) and media should be removed from your life as much as possible. You want to remove anything that drains your energy including abusing alcohol or drugs.
• Emotional self control. Work on becoming thick-skinned and “highly undisturbable”. I recommend a few books in the Chapter Resources. 
• Sunlight. More data is coming in every day about how important sunlight and your vitamin D levels are for overall health and energy. Get plenty of sunlight, have your vitamin D levels checked regularly and supplement or use a light therapy device to resolve any issues. 
• Supplement.  Get a regular panel of blood work for the various markers of health and supplement accordingly. Apparently, vitamin D, magnesium, iodine, omega-3 and other nutrients are at historically low levels across the western population and can usually be resolved with simple supplementation. I list some tests in the Chapter Resources. 
• Meditation or relaxation. As mentioned, a huge percentage of highly successful people have a regular meditation or relaxation routine. There are many books, apps and websites that make this ridiculously easy to learn and I list some in the Chapter Resources as well. 
• Sense of humor. As discussed, it’s all a game and you can’t take any of it with you. Maintain a sense of humor, even in the face of bad situations and you’ll tend to get through things just fine. Laughter is a powerful cure to many problems. 

This was an excerpt from our book Startups Made Simple: How to Start, Grow and Systemize Your Dream Business. Learn more about the book here or see our previous excerpts here. 

Obtaining a business license varies by state and in some areas it varies by city or county. In fact, even the types of business licenses that you’re required to get might vary based on your geographic location. The basic process of obtaining a license can be outlined in a simple three step process: research, submit your application with any required fees, and display your business license. 

Business licenses can cost between $10 and $500 or more, depending on the type of license you need and where your business is located. A simple business registration license is typically a way for states to know who is operating within the state while more serious licenses, like a liquor license, is a way for states to regulate potentially dangerous substances. 

Before you can apply for a business license in most states, you’ll need to legally register your business with the state. This means preparing and filing all of your LLC or corporation documents and making sure the state files the documents. MyCompanyWorks can complete this process for you in just three easy steps. Get started today by filling out a simple online form. 

Obtaining a Business License in 3 Steps

There isn’t a one size fits all process for obtaining a business license. The process will always depend on the type of license you’re applying for and where you live. However, we’ve outlined a basic process that can be followed to first understand what your requirements are and second to complete all needed application materials. For the purposes of this process we’re going to assume that you need a basic local business operations license. 

Step 1: Research Your State, County, & City Requirements

The first step in the process is to research whether you need a business license or not. Most businesses that need to obtain a business license will have physical locations within the city or county. Typically this is defined as an establishment that local citizens can walk into. Some home-based businesses are also typically required to obtain a license. The types of home-based businesses that generally need to get a license include: 

• In-home childcare or preschool
• Any business that has clients or customers physically coming to the home
• Any business that is required to obtain a license by a government entity based on the industry the business exists within

All business owners should consult with both the state government and the local government to determine all business license requirements. The last thing you want is to get your business shut down after you’ve opened your doors because of a failure to obtain the proper licenses. 

For a basic business license, most states will either set the rules or allow the local government to set them. In most situations you won’t have to pay fees and register with both legal entities just to open your doors. However, as more license needs occur you could be working with multiple layers of government or multiple agencies at the state government level. 

For example, a local bar may be required to obtain a normal business license from the city the bar is located in but will also be required to obtain a liquor license directly from the state. This is pretty standard and you should plan for anywhere between a few days and one month to obtain a business license, depending on the type of license you need. Some states may take even longer to process applications for potentially dangerous licenses, like a liquor license. 

Step 2: Complete Application Requirements & Submit All Fees

As soon as you know what the requirements are for your state you need to collect all required information and fill out all application forms. Keep in mind that if your business has multiple physical locations then you may end up having to complete the license paperwork once for each location, especially if they are in different cities or counties. 

Once you’ve completed the paperwork you should have a professional look it over to make sure you’ve done it correctly, or at least someone who can provide a second pair of eyes. If you’ve put the right signatures on the documents and have included all requirements then you should now submit the documentation with any required fees. 

Some states will require you to fill out the paperwork and bring it into a local office while others will let you mail in the paperwork or even fill out all of the documentation online. Regardless of the method each state allows you to submit the paperwork, you’ll likely get your license in the mail within a certain period of time. 

Step 3: Receive Your License & Display it in Your Business

Once the state or local government is satisfied with your paperwork they will process your application and deposit your fee money. The officials will then, finally, print your business license and send it to you. You need to read over any information that is given to you very carefully when you receive your license. 

Many states will require you to properly display your business license for all of your customers to see. There could be very specific rules with how or where you need to display the license. For example, you may have to display it within typical eye-level of your customers and within ten feet of the front door, or right behind your main check-out area. Regardless of the rules, it’s important that you follow them to the letter of the law or your license could quickly be revoked. 

Types of Business Licenses

While most businesses will need a general operating license, there are many different types of business licenses that you might need to successfully operate your endeavor. The types of different licenses you need will depend on what industry your business is in and on what you sell. The types of business licenses you might need include: 

• Local Operating License: This is the type of business license we discuss above, and the most common license businesses apply for.
  
• Building Permits: You may be required to get a permit, or license, for any remodeling work that might be needed within your business’s location.
  
• Zoning Permit: The local government will need to approve your use of the land you’re operating on for the specific type of business you’re operating. For example, if you’re in a retail zone and want to open a manufacturing operation then it may take some convincing of local politicians.
  
• Fire Department Permit: This permit is essentially passing a test by local officials that says your building is structurally sound and you’re given a maximum occupancy that is safe in the event of an emergency.
  
• Health License: These are typically needed by restaurants or food establishments.
  
• Sign Permits: You’ll likely need to get approval of the city for any exterior signs in terms of size and possibly color or other specific decor.
  
• License to Serve Alcohol: You’ll need a license to serve alcohol that will be consumed at your business and a separate license if you’re going to be selling alcohol that isn’t consumed there.
  
• Seller’s License: You may be required to get a specific license, depending on the types of goods that you’re selling to consumers.
  
• Occupational License: If you’re a business professional then you’ll be required to register as one and make sure you’re properly licensed before opening your doors.

In addition to all of the permits and licenses above, you may be required to apply for some business licenses that are regulated by the federal government. If you’re in certain industries then you should make sure there are no federal licenses that you must obtain. These industries include: 

• Aviation
• Mining or drilling
• Public transportation
• Logistics (including maritime)
• Agriculture
• Fish and wildlife
• Nuclear energy
• Broadcasting 
• Firearms or explosives

The key to covering your business properly is to make sure that you’ve exhausted the levels of government to make sure you’re obtaining all the licenses your business needs. You can either hire a professional attorney to help you through the process or you can reach out and communicate with your local government officials to get specific requirements. 

Get Started Today

Before you complete your business license research you should make sure your business paperwork has been completed with the state. This means starting your LLC and filing all appropriate documentation. MyCompanyWorks will complete all of your required documentation and submit it to the state where you business exists for you. You can get the process started today by filling out a quick online form. 

In addition, we offer a Business License Compliance Package that does all of the tedious research for you and gives you all the forms and instructions in one simple online dashboard to complete and submit to the proper authorities.