What licenses do I need after forming my LLC?

Forming an LLC creates your legal business entity, but it usually does not give you permission to operate every kind of business in every location. Licenses and permits depend on what you sell, where you work, where customers visit you, and whether your industry is regulated. You may need nothing beyond tax registration, or you may need city, county, state, zoning, health, professional, contractor, or home occupation approvals. The right answer is local and specific, so the safest path is to check by activity and location, not by LLC status alone.

Steps

1. Start with what you actually do.
   Write one plain sentence: “I sell ___ to ___ from/at ___.” A home bakery, online store, mobile detailer, consultant, contractor, and market vendor can all have different rules.

2. Check your city first if you operate locally.
   Cities often handle business licenses, home occupation permits, zoning approvals, signs, short-term rentals, food service, and local sales activity.

3. Check your county next.
   Counties may handle health permits, fictitious business names, contractor rules, property-based permits, or licenses for businesses outside city limits.

4. Check your state for regulated work.
   State agencies often oversee professional licenses, sales tax permits, employer accounts, contractor boards, childcare, alcohol, cannabis, financial services, and other regulated categories.

5. Look at where the work happens.
   Selling online from home, serving clients in their homes, renting a booth, working at markets, or opening a storefront can trigger different permits.

6. Do not assume a platform covers everything.
   Marketplaces, delivery apps, and payment platforms may handle some tasks, but they usually do not replace your local license or zoning obligations.

7. Save proof and renewal dates.
   Keep copies of approvals, account numbers, login details, and renewal reminders in one place before you start operating.

If you are still stuck

Use your Stratify roadmap to narrow the license search by state, city, business activity, and operating location. If a government page is unclear, paste the wording into the AI coach and ask what likely applies, what can wait, and what needs confirmation before you launch.__