Starting a Business in Baltimore: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Baltimore: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Baltimore, MD
- County trader's license — Baltimore, Baltimore City County, Maryland · Clerk of the Circuit Court: Baltimore / Baltimore City County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Baltimore · Baltimore (Baltimore City County) building department (city)
- Form the business: Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
- Register for state taxes: Comptroller of Maryland
- Register as an employer: Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Baltimore
Based on your selections, this plan has 9 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Maryland
- File formation documents with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file Maryland entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- County trader's license — Baltimore, Baltimore City County, Maryland — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Baltimore — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $300.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
8 of 9 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Baltimore
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Baltimore:
- Contractor licensing: Maryland Home Improvement Commission
- Real estate licensing: Maryland Real Estate Commission
- Alcohol licensing: Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission (with local boards)
- Child care licensing: Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care
- Health facility licensing: Maryland Department of Health
- County trader's license — Baltimore, Baltimore City County, Maryland (Clerk of the Circuit Court: Baltimore / Baltimore City County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Baltimore (Baltimore (Baltimore City County) building department, city)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: County trader's license — Baltimore, Baltimore City County, Maryland; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Baltimore. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: dat.maryland.gov, marylandtaxes.gov, labor.maryland.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in Maryland
- File formation documents with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: dat.maryland.gov, marylandtaxes.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $300.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: dat.maryland.gov, marylandtaxes.gov
In your plan for Baltimore, requirements come from four levels. Maryland sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (4): Maintain a registered agent in Maryland; File Annual Report and Personal Property Return (Maryland); Register for and file Maryland entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Maryland)
- City (2): County trader's license — Baltimore, Baltimore City County, Maryland; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Baltimore
Sources: dat.maryland.gov, marylandtaxes.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance.
- Workers' compensation: Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. Required when: 1 employee
- Register to withhold Maryland income tax from wages.
Sources: labor.maryland.gov, labor.maryland.gov, services.marylandcomptroller.gov