Licensing my business

Payment for renewals are accepted from A. Issuance of the Business Tax Certificate acknowledges payment of business taxes. Before you launch your new business, you'll need to apply for a business license with your city or county. The process of starting a business is often complicated, so the Georgia Secretary of State recommends that you consult an attorney or accountant as you create your business plan.

You must file an Annual Registration each year. It depends. If your business structure will be one of the following, you must file with the Washington Secretary of State before filing the Business License Application:.

Complete the Business Licensing Wizard to receive a list of agencies to contact, additional endorsements and helpful tips about your business license.

After your application is approved, you will receive information from some or all of the following agencies:. You should also see if there are any other state or local agencies you need to contact.

The Business Licensing Wizard gives you some of this information, but here are some additional resources:. Home Open a business Get started Apply for a license Plan for taxes. Run Grow Close. Forms by name Forms by subject Publications by name Publications by subject. Registration requirements Register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions: Your business requires city and state endorsements.

You are doing business using a name other than your full name legal name. You plan to hire employees within the next 90 days. You sell a product or provide a service that requires the collection of sales tax. Your business is required to pay taxes or fees to the Department of Revenue. You are a buyer or processor of specialty wood products. On the other side of the coin, you could be the one with the interest in licensing the high-recognition brand name of another company.

To many, it might seem like the key to a gold mine: Putting a Notre Dame logo, a Lion King character or a Star Wars graphic on your product means guaranteed success, right?

For a sure thing, prepare for a frustrating search. But if you're willing to put some time and effort into making your product work, buying the licensing rights to a well-known product or name can substantially increase your chances for success. Licensing is a billion-dollar retail market worldwide. But a license isn't a prescription for instant success. It gives you the borrowed interest of a name that is either unique or has some consumer acceptance, but it still takes good selling and marketing to succeed.

A license is, in essence, a tool, and when used well, it's an extremely cost-effective marketing tool. Licensing offers three major advantages. First, it may mean you have something unique your competitors don't.

Second, it may mean getting a little better margin because it's unique. And third, it may mean that 10 percent of the retailers you call on that you've never been able to sell to will finally take a look because you have something different.

And when that happens, you can sell the rest of your line. Who can obtain a licensing agreement? The list runs the gamut from a multinational conglomerate to a one-person operation.