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Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on September 28, 2023
Updated on April 10, 2024
If you’re starting a business, you may need various licenses and permits depending on your industry and location. Finding out exactly what licenses you need can be time consuming, so many entrepreneurs turn to companies that offer business licensing assistance.
We compared the best business license services and ranked them based on cost, features, customer service, and customer reviews. Read on to find the best solution for your business.
Best for Startups and New Business Owners
Best Client Satisfaction Rate
Best Turnaround Time
Best for Business Owners with Small Budget
Best Comprehensive Services
Best for Future Renewals
For $99, ZenBusiness will generate a custom license and permit report based on your industry and location. The report, generated by partner company Avalara, will include local, state, and federal licenses and permits that you need, as well as instructions on how to obtain them.
Using the service will ensure that your business is in compliance at all levels from day one.
ZenBusiness boasts a stellar reputation, offering cost-effective, comprehensive license services with exceptional customer support and quick turnaround. We highly recommend them for new entrepreneurs.
For $149 plus state fees, My Corporation will provide a custom report of all the business licenses and permits that your business needs at the local, state, and federal levels. They will also provide you with the application forms for each license and permit and a list of all the associated fees.
MyCorporation will save you hours of research time at a competitive price.
MyCorporation offers superior, reasonably priced license services despite occasional upselling. Given their top-notch reputation, we endorse them for your business needs.
For $99, Swyft Filings will not only provide a local, state, and federal business license and permit report, they will also provide you with the applications and assist you in filling them out.
This service will ensure that your applications are filled out correctly, so that you can get your licenses and permits quickly.
Swyft Filings provides thorough license services with unbeatable pricing, including application assistance. Despite the upselling, they remain a top choice for business license needs.
For $99, Bizee provides a report of federal, state, and local license and permit requirements. They also provide the applications and a list of fees.
You can also use Bizee’s free tool to research business license requirements based on your industry and state.
Bizee offers valuable services with included applications and positive customer feedback. Despite slower turnaround times, their free tool makes them a recommended choice for new entrepreneurs.
For $99, LegalZoom will provide a report of your local, state, and federal license and permit requirements, as well as all the application forms.
LegalZoom provides detailed personalized license and permit lists and direct links to applications. Their well-priced report generation makes them a recommended option for new entrepreneurs.
For $500 annually plus state fees, Harbor Compliance will help you to obtain general business licenses in your state by filing your applications. They will also track and manage your annual license renewals.
Harbor Compliance offers a pricier licensing service that includes application filing. Their standout feature is annual license management, ensuring ongoing compliance. For those valuing convenience, they come highly recommended.
Of course, you’ll want to get the most for your money, so you should choose a service that meets all your needs at a competitive price. Most of the services are fairly inexpensive when you consider the time that the service will save you. You’ll also get peace of mind knowing that your business is in compliance.
Your experience dealing with the service should be a positive one, so it’s a good idea to test the company’s customer support by calling them or emailing them with questions. Watch out for the companies that direct you to their sales department rather than answering your question. That’s a common upselling tactic of some business licensing services.
Check out customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot. Look for any negative reviews that discuss errors or surprise fees. You want to make sure that the service you choose is reliable and that their pricing is transparent.
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