Horry County Business License Guide

Look at the easternmost point of South Carolina and you’ll find Horry County. Look at Horry County and you’ll find a destination haven for retirees, vacationers, and people who own second homes.

Personally, I love this area. I’ve gone on a few golf trips to Myrtle Beach. The courses are incredible. The foodie spots plentiful. And the mild winters (for the most part) are a huge bonus.

Another bonus? Horry County is not just a great place to visit and live. According to the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation (MBREDC), it’s also a great place to do business.

Some of the reasons include:

• Business-friendly tax structure
• Utility rates 25% below the national average
• Business incentive programs
• Workforce development programs
• And more

If you like the way this sounds and are thinking about starting a business of your own in Horry County, that’s exciting. But first things first. You’ll need a business license. How to get one and what you need to do so often depends on what kind of business you own and where it’s located within the county.

It may sound complicated, but that’s why we wrote this guide.

Let’s start!

Do I Need a Business License in Horry County?

Yes. Although South Carolina doesn’t require statewide business licenses, each city and nine counties (Horry is one of them) require that you have a business license.

Where you go within that county to get your license depends on where you specifically plan to locate your business.

Each municipality (city or town) administers its own business licenses and has its own processes in place for getting them. So let’s look at that next.

How Do I Get a Horry County Business License?

Different cities in Horry County may have different rules, regulations, and systems for obtaining a business license. Fear not. We’ve done the research to point you in the right direction.

To learn more about how to get your business license in Horry County, click one of the locations below in which you plan to conduct your business:

Within the city limits of Myrtle Beach

Within the city limits of North Myrtle Beach

Within the city limits of Conway

Within the city limits of Surfside Beach

Within the city limits of Loris

In Horry County but not in any other municipality

In addition, you may need other special licenses, depending on the type of business you run and industry you’re in, whether it’s personal services, food services, construction, or something else.

Horry County Business License Application

There are a few ways you can find the application needed for a business license in Horry County:

1. Go to your local government’s website, do a search for “business licenses,” and look for a link that takes you to the form; or
2. Call your Town Office and ask them to send you one; or
3. Keep reading.

Since the purpose of this article is to make the process as easy as possible for you, let’s focus on the third option. Here are some helpful links that will either take you straight to the online application — or give you the address where you can pick one up.

1. Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach Business License Application.

2. North Myrtle Beach. You may request a North Myrtle Beach business license application by mail or pick one up in the Business License Office located at:

1018 2nd Avenue S

North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

3. Conway. Conway Business License Application. You also may request an application by mail, phone (843-488-7631), or in person at the Business License Office located at:

1000 2nd Avenue in the City Hall Annex

4. Surfside Beach. Surfside Business License Application. Important information about the business license application also can be found here. Return your application in person or by mail to the Business License Department:

210 U.S. Hwy. 17 S., Surfside Beach, SC 29575

843-913-6342

5. Loris. You can get an application by calling the Business License Clerk at:

3909 Walnut Street

843-756-4004

6. Horry County (not in any other municipality). Horry County Business License Application. Return the completed application to the Business License Department at: P.O. Box 1275, Conway, SC 29528.

You also can contact them with questions at 843-915-5620.

Other Important Considerations? Permits and Insurance.

When submitting a Horry County business license application, it’s a good idea to know which permits and accompanying documents you might need to submit along with it.

Here are a couple of additional resources that may help you understand exactly what you need:

• Resource: Surfiside Beach FAQs about business licenses
• About licenses, permits, and registration
• Licensing, permitting, and zoning laws and regulations in Horry County

In addition, it’s also a good idea to understand a bit about insurance. No matter what kind of business you run, accidents can happen. And lawsuits can follow. We’ve put together a page covering the basics of South Carolina Business Insurance.

We’ve also put together a list of insurance policies you should consider.

Types of business insurance to consider.

The type of business insurance you might need depends on the type of business you own. Let’s look at some of those now.

General liability insurance - Provides coverage against costs associated with third-party accidents, property damage, and bodily injury.

Professional liability insurance - Provides coverage if a customer sues your business for mistakes related to your services.

Workers' compensation insurance - Protects you and your business if your employees get hurt, injured, or sick while working on the job. In South Carolina, if you employ four or more workers full- or part-time, you are required to have this type of insurance.

Cyber liability insurance - Protects your business from the costs of claims involving stolen customer data, cyberattacks, breaches, and fraud.

Inland marine insurance - Provides coverage for damaged, stolen, or lost tools and equipment.

Business personal property insurance - Typically covers the equipment, furniture, fixtures, and inventory that you own, use, or rent inside your workspace. If you use a laptop or mobile phone to run your business — or have an inventory of materials and supplies needed to run it — this type of insurance can be vital to support it.

We know, it’s a lot to think about, especially when you’re looking into licenses and permits in Horry county and getting your business started. But it’s best to have a plan and know what it will cost you. Which is why we made that part easy, too.

Spend a few minutes with our handy quote tool, and we’ll get to work looking for quotes from respected insurers. Then all you have to do is choose the one that’s best for you.

Or if you want to talk to a helpful human (one of our licensed insurance agents), you can give us a call at 844-654-7272. We’re here Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET). We’ll answer all your questions and help you get what you need for your business.

Horry County Here You Come!

A growing population. Nice weather. Lots of outdoor activities. Horry County is gaining traction as not just a great place to visit but a great place to live and do business.

However, diving in as a business owner first means diving in as a researcher and figuring out what you need to get started. A business license is one thing you definitely need.

Hopefully, this article streamlines the Horry county business license process for you. Because the sooner you get your business license application in and fulfill your local requirements, the sooner you can get going.

If you’re ready to go, Horry County is ready for you. Good luck!