If you’re a small business owner in Connecticut, then you’re not alone. Over 97% of Connecticut small businesses employ 500 or fewer people.
Everyone is doing their best to make a living doing what they love. One step moving you toward that success is getting a Connecticut business license. But it’s not so simple — we know, because we’ve done the research for you.
Rather than going ‘round and ‘round in circles online, you can read our guide below to learn if you need a business license, a step-by-step guide for how to get your business license, and how it could also potentially benefit you to have business insurance.
Ready to learn what it takes? Let’s go!
Do I Need a Connecticut Business License?
When it comes to the state, you may not need a Connecticut business license. What typically matters is how your local municipalities choose to enforce their business license requirements.
Whether or not you’ll need a license will depend on:
- What county or city your business is located in
- What your trade/profession is
You also may choose to look first into the local requirements in your city. For example, Hartford and New Haven have different sets of requirements for applying for a license.
Regardless of what it will take to get your business license, you’ll likely have to walk through a series of steps to become official. We’ll go over those in the next section, so that you’re prepared for the process.
How to Get a Business License in CT
Before we dive in, keep in mind that the state of Connecticut can make getting a business license a bit tricky at times, so at some point, you may need to give them a call to confirm requirements.
1. Have your paperwork ready!
If you end up needing a Connecticut business license, you’ll typically need to reference specific information throughout the process. To help speed things along, we suggest having the following available:
- Your business name
- Your business address and phone number
- Your Social Security number
- Your Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- A Certificate of Insurance (COI)
- A current business plan
- Any expected upcoming expenses or notations on cash flow
2. Register at CT.gov
To apply, you can go to CT.gov to create an account. You’ll use your account to register your business and walk through the steps to get the required licenses and permits.
Be sure to note your account username and password so you may easily access it in the future.
3. Walk through your personalized checklist.
Creating an account at CT.gov creates a checklist personalized for your small business. What a cool tool! With so many steps involved in the process, having a checklist allows you to keep your focus on one step at a time.
The checklist will walk you through steps such as registering your small business and registering with the Department of Revenue Services.
4. Get to your specific state department.
Toward the bottom of your checklist, you’ll be directed to the specific state department that will issue your license or certification. For example, if you teach while doing your job, you’ll likely need to head to the Department of Education.
Keep in mind that you may be directed to multiple state departments to apply for Connecticut business licenses in different specialties.
These licenses, such as for real estate agents or arborists, may require exams and have different renewal dates (annually vs. biannually), so make sure to note those details here.
If you still have questions, you can reach out to the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Applying for a CT Business License?
You may need to show proof of business insurance to get your license.
That’s where we come in. Compare insurance quotes today.
Connecticut Business License + Insurance Requirements
If you went through CT.gov’s new business checklist personalized to you, you may notice that the state suggests you look into insurance for your business.
Some common types of insurance that could benefit your business are general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and workers compensation insurance.
Investing in business insurance coverage is a smart investment in your business because it protects you in the event of accidents, third-party property damage, personal injury, and more. And similar to having your business license, having business insurance is a great indicator to potential customers and likely anyone else you work with, like a vendor or landlord, for example, that you take your business and its protection seriously.
Regardless of whether your specific profession is required to carry business insurance with your business license, we still suggest looking into what coverage may be best for you. If anything untoward should happen, you don’t want your business’s — and even your personal finances — to be on the line. You can use our free quote comparison tool to get an idea of what your business insurance coverage options could look like.
WHAT CITIES AND REGIONS ARE SEEING THE BIGGEST BOOM IN NEW BUSINESS APPLICATIONS?
How Much Does a Connecticut Business License Cost?
Since Connecticut business licenses are specific to your business’s location and what it is you specifically do, prices will vary.
Each profession’s business license will have a different fee, depending on which state department issues it.
The department you’ll need to apply with will be noted in your New Business Checklist, then you may get in touch with the pertinent department to inquire about fees. This is one of those times where you may have to pick up the phone to call the relevant state department.
Getting everything together to form a strong foundation for your business is a lot of work, and getting your Connecticut business license is no exception. But in the end, investing in a license that will protect you as you do the work you love is a smart choice, and you should be proud of being a proactive business owner!