- 1). Figure out whether your business location will meet zoning, sign and building codes. The businesses physical location and structure must comply with county statutes according to the type of business you will be operating. Contact your city or county officials to determine the correct type of zoning in your area.
- 2). Check with your city clerk to determine the city's regulations on small business licensing because some cities in the state do not require or issue licenses. Apply for a business license only in the city in which you are going to be physically operating your business.
- 3). Apply for the correct form of licensing necessary for your business. You can do this by determining the legal form of your business (e.g., Will you be incorporating, act as a sole proprietorship, LLC or other form of business?). Costs for legalizing your business range from $100 to $1,000, depending upon the form you have chosen for your particular business. This is done through contacting the Secretary of State's office at:
Secretary of State's Office
Business/Commercial Services Division
1401 W Capitol Ave, Suite 250
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-682-3409 - 4). Register an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the federal government. Do this after you have registered the business on both a city and state level. Your EIN must be registered for tax purposes and this is particularly important if you will have employees, incorporating or operating a partnership, filing income tax or opening a company business account. Contact the Internal Revenue Service for more information on registering your EIN:
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Tax Payer Education
Federal Building, 1st Floor
700 West Capitol
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-324-5111 OR
Business Specialty Tax Line: 800-829-4933 - 5). Check to ensure that your business doesn't need a specialty license to be considered fully operable. There are a variety of professions that require additional licensing, including establishments that serve food and alcohol, sell cigarettes, beauty establishments or medical services. Contact the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services at:
Arkansas Department of Workforce Services
#2 Capitol Mall
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: 501-682-3118
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