The licenses you need to start up

Ask FSB

Get small-business intelligence from the experts. Here's a chance for YOU to ask your pressing small-business questions, and FSB editors will help you get answers from the appropriate experts.

Your name:

* Your e-mail address:

* Your city:

* Your state:
Select Outside U.S. Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist. of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

* Your daytime phone #:

* Your questions:

More from FSB

Help wanted for HR firm A CEO and rodeo queen King of the mountain bike

Current Issue

(FORTUNE Small Business) -- Dear FSB: Can I apply for a business license online? Is there a place to find out if a business license is required for a particular state and business? How soon after publishing a DBA does one need to get a business license/sales permit?

- Anonymous, West Hollywood, Calif.

Dear Anonymous: The Internet has made 21st century life infinitely more convenient - what can't you buy online? - but some things still require a little legwork. Unless you're willing to pay.

In West Hollywood, most businesses only need to get a tax certificate and not a specific license (exceptions include restaurants, health clubs and massage therapists), said Angel Chiriboga, accountant coordinator at the City of West Hollywood's department of finance.

Registering with the tax authorities will require a trip to the local licensing office, or at least the mailbox. Forms can be downloaded online at weho.org. The application process takes 10 minutes at the teller window, but one to two weeks by mail, Chiriboga said.

For a fee, however, services likebusinesslicences.com allow users to download and file applications without leaving their home.

You can find out exactly what licenses and permits your new venture needs at business.usa.gov. The website has links to over 9,000 state, territory, county, government websites with information on starting and managing a business, according to Nancy Sternberg, business gateway program manager at the Small Business Administration.

The site's 'Permit Me' feature on the home page offers a shortcut to see requirements for general licensing and 10 popular business types in any location. The 'state and local' tab leads to state-specific small business guides. Or you could go to California's own site.

For information about what to do after publishing a DBA, which stands for "doing business as" and is also called a Fictitious Business Name, check out the ASK FSB on getting your business license in LA.

If Internet resources can't answer all your questions, consult the local office of SCORE, a nonprofit association that supports small businesses. Or, you can go down to the local licensing office, where staff can help you.