Small Business Licenses and Permits in Wisconsin

If you’re planning on starting a new business in the Badger State, there are a few important things you’ll need to do. Along with registering your business with the state, one step that often gets overlooked is obtaining the necessary business licenses and permits. But which ones does a Wisconsin business need, and how do you get them?

It turns out that the answer can depend on several different factors. To help you figure out the licensing requirements for your new business, this article will cover everything you need to know about how to get small business licenses and permits in Wisconsin.

The purpose of business licenses and permits

Many business owners sometimes wonder what the point of business licenses and permits is. While they may seem like unnecessary red tape, there is one primary reason why the government requires businesses to have them. Business licenses and permits allow government agencies to regulate the businesses in their jurisdiction and ensure that they are compliant with all laws and regulations. When you apply for or renew a business license or permit, you are usually required to provide a lot of information about your business, and this information is used to ensure ongoing compliance.

Business licenses vs. permits

Business licenses and business permits may serve the same general purpose, but they tend to have their own specific applications. Business licenses usually provide businesses authorization to operate in a specific area, while business permits are used to regulate specific business activities.

Here’s a little more info on the differences between them:

• Business licenses: These typically authorize a company to operate within a specific city, county, or state.
• Permits: These are typically used to regulate specific business activities and ensure compliance with safety, health, or environmental standards.

In many cases, businesses in Wisconsin will need a combination of business licenses and permits, and these can come from agencies at all levels of government. For example, a brewery that brews and sells its own beer might need a general business license from the county where it’s located, a health permit from the state, and a federal permit from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Types of business licenses and permits you might need for your Wisconsin business

Like we just mentioned, there are a lot of different business licenses and permits that a Wisconsin business might need depending on where it is located and the industry that it operates in. This can sometimes make figuring out which licenses and permits your business needs a little challenging.

While the vast majority of Wisconsin businesses will only need one or two licenses and permits (and some, depending on where they are located, might not need any at all), here are all the types of business licenses and permits your business could potentially need:

• State-level licenses: The state of Wisconsin does not require a general business license. However, some Wisconsin businesses still require state-level licenses and permits.
• Local-level licenses: While Wisconsin doesn’t require a general business license, many cities and counties in the state do. To see what local licenses are required in your area, you can contact your city or county office.

Along with general business licenses, there are also numerous types of business permits that are issued at both the state and local levels in Wisconsin. These include permits such as:

• Zoning permits: Ensure your business location aligns with local zoning regulations.
• Health permits: Necessary for businesses operating in food service or healthcare industries.
• Environmental permits: Required for businesses impacting air, water, or land and are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
• Building permits: Needed for construction or renovation projects.

Federal permits may also be required if your business engages in any federally regulated activities such as:

• Alcoholic beverages: Businesses that produce or import alcohol must obtain a license from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
• Agriculture: Selling or importing agricultural products requires a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• Aviation: Businesses involved in air transportation or aircraft operations need a permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• Broadcasting: Companies broadcasting via airwaves, such as radio or television, require a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
• Fishing and wildlife: Businesses working with wildlife or fisheries may need permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

You can check out the Small Business Administration (SBA) federal licenses and permits page to learn more about federal licensing requirements.

How to obtain business licenses and permits in Wisconsin

With so many different licenses and permits that a Wisconsin business might need (and different agencies issuing them), the exact process for obtaining business licenses and permits in Wisconsin varies from one business to another. Generally speaking, however, here are the steps that you will need to follow:

Step 1: Determine which permits and licenses your business needs

Figuring out exactly which licenses and permits you need will guide the rest of the process. Keep in mind that there are two main factors that determine a business’s licensing requirements: where it is located and the activities that it engages in.

That said, here’s how to figure out which licenses and permits your business needs from different levels of government:

• Local licenses: Many cities and counties in Wisconsin have their own licensing requirements for businesses. This can include general business licenses and permits like zoning or building permits. To learn more, you can contact your city or county clerk’s office.
• State licenses: Wisconsin does not issue a state business license, but certain specialized permits are issued by state agencies. Contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) or the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to determine if your business requires any state-issued permits.
• Federal licenses: If your business operates in a federally regulated industry, you may need specialized permits from the federal agency in charge of regulating that industry. Visit the relevant agency’s website to learn more.

Step 2: Submit all required documents and application fees

Once you’ve figured out which licenses and permits your business is required to have, you can begin the application process by following these steps:

• Obtain the application form either by visiting the office of the issuing agency or by accessing it through their website.
• Complete the form by providing required business details and gathering any necessary supporting documents.
• Submit your application along with any required documents and fees.

Step 3: Track your application status and await approval

After submitting your application, you can monitor its progress by contacting the issuing agency. Many state and federal agencies offer online portals where you can check the status of your business license application. If that isn’t an option, you can contact the agency directly to check the status of your application.

The processing time for business licenses and permits can vary. Generally, state and local licenses are processed within 10-15 business days, while federal licenses may take longer.

Step 4: Renew licenses and permits if needed

Most business licenses and permits in Wisconsin will need to be renewed periodically. Annual renewal is a common requirement, however, different licenses and permits will have their own renewal deadlines. Be sure to carefully keep up with these deadlines for all of your licenses and permits to avoid the potential fees that can come from not renewing on time.

Conclusion

There are a lot of different things that new business owners must do to set their businesses up for success, but obtaining all necessary licenses and permits is an important part of the process. While how to obtain small business licenses and permits in Wisconsin ultimately depends on which ones you need, we hope that you’ve found this guide helpful and are ready to get your new business up and running! If you’re just beginning the process, learning how to get an LLC in Wisconsin is often the first step before applying for licenses and permits.

Apply for any small business licenses and permits your business needs, and do so before you’re actually operating. Leave enough time for these to be approved. That way, you’ll be able to legally operate without potential licensing issues starting on day one.

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