Start a Business

You are about to join the DC business community. All DC businesses must be properly licensed. The majority of businesses are licensed through DCRA, while a few others are licensed by other DC agencies. The wizard tool will help narrow down your business' licensing requirements.

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Use our wizards to receive a personalized checklist of what is needed to get your business started in DC.

A wizard may take up to 15 minutes to complete. Once you begin, you can leave and restart later.

HOW TO USE THIS WIZARD

Things you may need to start a business in DC

There are four items all business owners in DC may need to be eligible for a Basic Business License:

  • Get a Certificate of Registration/Trade Name See Guide
  • Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) See Guide
  • Get a Certificate of Occupancy/Home Occupation Permit See Guide
  • Get a Basic Business License(s) See Guide