 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Admissions
Campus Cruiser
Career Center
Catalogs & Schedules
Continuing Education
Current Students
Degree Programs
Directory
Distance Learning
Extension Offices
Faculty & Staff
Financial Aid
Future Students
Help Desk
Learning Resources Center
Small Business Center
Wellness Center
Home
 Welcome | Step One: Getting Started | Step Two: Operating a Business | Step Three: Business Plan |
Step Two: General RequirementsThis section covers four main areas of Small Business Requirements: Local Requirements
To find out if a business license is required in your locality and for information about licensing your business, please contact the tax office of your local city or town hall. Some cities require that you come in person to apply for a license and other areas may allow you to apply for your license on-line. For information on forming a corporation or limited liability company, refer to Different Types of Business Ownership. If you have additional questions about applying for a business license or registering a trade name, please contact Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center or the North Carolina Commerce Department's Business License Information Office. Local Taxes
For more information about tax requirements in your city or county, please contact Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center or your local tax office. North Carolina Requirements
The Secretary of State's office maintains registration forms on-line. To access them, visit the Department of the Secretary of State web site. At the bottom of the page, select the your type of business structure. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may obtain information about the required forms, by calling 1 (888) 246-7636. Other North Carolina requirements deal with issues related to taxes, employees and specific industry regulations, including health and safety issues. For information related to specific industry requirements, please consult the Business License Information Office. This site contains a guide to licenses and permits within North Carolina . If you do not have Internet access, you may contact the BLIO at (919) 715-2864, toll-free (in NC) at 1 (800) 228-8443, or fax them at (919) 715-2855. Federal RequirementsSimilar to many of the North Carolina requirements, many of the Federal requirements for small businesses relate to taxes and employment. Your business may be required to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This number identifies your business to the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. For more information on the EIN, click here. Other Federal requirements for businesses deal with environmental issues. For information on Federal environmental requirements, please consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Small Business Gateway. Or you may address your questions to the Small Business Ombudsman at 1 (800) 368-5888. As a small business owner, you should be aware that, depending on what type of business you own, you may have to abide by health and safety requirements. For federal requirements dealing with health and safety, review the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Health & Safety Administration's (OSHA) web site. In addition, federal law requires that certain specialized businesses obtain and maintain licenses. The following types of businesses require a federal license:
Information about federal permits may be found at: http://business-law.freeadvice.com/permits.htm. Laws change, so if you are in doubt as to whether a special federal license is required for your business, consult an expert. Please address any questions about requirements that you still may have to the North Carolina Business License Information Office. |
Starting a business is easier than you might think. In the case of a sole proprietorship or general partnership, often the only requirement is that you register your business and its trade name and you will be in business. Some counties do not even require a business license for many businesses. 
As your business grows, so will the requirements. As you make money, you pay taxes. In general, businesses are required to report tangible personal property used in the transaction of business and to pay taxes on this property to your county tax agency. 
If your business is a corporation, a limited liability company or a limited partnership, you must register it with the North Carolina Secretary of State's office. The type of registration form you use will depend on the type of business you are starting. 