Apply for Your Business License

You are ready to apply for your business license.

Most businesses located within Chesterfield County are subject to the Chesterfield County business license tax. This is a tax on the privilege of engaging in a licensable business activity within the County, and it is calculated upon gross receipts (or gross purchases in the case of wholesale merchants).

New businesses must obtain all required licenses prior to beginning business in the County, and a late payment penalty of up to 10% of the tax due will be imposed along with interest if the licenses are not obtained within 30 days of the date the business opened. For existing businesses, renewal applications and appropriate tax payments must be filed in the Commissioner’s Office or postmarked on or before March 1 each year to avoid the late payment penalty and interest.

Manufacturing firms are not required to obtain a business license but must file an annual tax return on all machinery and tools, unlicensed motor vehicles, and delivery equipment used in manufacturing, mining, water well drilling, processing or reprocessing, radio or television broadcasting, dairy, dry cleaning or laundry businesses.

You must have your organization papers from the State Corporation Commission and your Certificate of an Assumed or Fictitious Trade Name before you can apply for your business license.

Business License Applications and Machinery and Tools Tax Returns are filed with the Chesterfield County Commissioner of the Revenue.