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Plan for Albuquerque, NM

Starting a Business in Albuquerque: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist

A step-by-step plan to open a business in Albuquerque: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.

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Dates

Permits and registrations specific to Albuquerque, NM

Sales tax permitNew Mexico CRS (Combined Reporting System) registration
City of AlbuquerqueHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Bernalillo CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
  • City/county business registration — Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico · City or county: Albuquerque / Bernalillo County (city)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Albuquerque · Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) building department (city)
  • Hold an Albuquerque business license · City of Albuquerque Department of Finance and Administrative Services (city)
  • File Bernalillo County business personal property return · Bernalillo County Assessor (county)
Register with these New Mexico agencies

Startup sequence and prerequisites in Albuquerque

Based on your selections, this plan has 10 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.

Do these first

  1. Maintain a registered agent in New Mexico
  2. File formation documents with the New Mexico Secretary of State
  3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Then, once those are done

  • Register for and file New Mexico entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • City/county business registration — Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Albuquerque — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Hold an Albuquerque business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Start planObligations (9)
Government fees

No fee amounts are known for this plan yet.

Total incomplete: some fees unknown

10 of 10 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 0 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.

File formationOct 25, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateJan 1, 2027in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 10Saved in this browser

Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.

Suggested planning date: Oct 25, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked

File the formation documents with the state.

Suggested planning date: Nov 8, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Maintain a registered agent in New Mexico

Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.

Suggested planning date: Nov 11, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: File formation documents with the New Mexico Secretary of State

State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.

Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.

Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.

Statutory deadline: Nov 1, 2026 · in 14 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business operates in NM. Schedule: November 1.
Statutory deadline: Feb 28, 2027 · in 133 days
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Applies because: Business is located in Bernalillo County, NM. Schedule: Last day of February.
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 179 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Federal tax treatment is sole_prop. Schedule: April 15.
Suggested planning dates are allowances, not agency processing times. Statutory deadlines come from the rules and are labeled as such.

Common questions about Albuquerque

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 Albuquerque:

  • Contractor licensing: New Mexico Construction Industries Division
  • Real estate licensing: New Mexico Real Estate Commission
  • Alcohol licensing: New Mexico Alcohol and Gaming Division
  • Child care licensing: New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department
  • Health facility licensing: New Mexico Department of Health
  • City/county business registration — Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico (City or county: Albuquerque / Bernalillo County, city)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Albuquerque (Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) building department, city)
  • Hold an Albuquerque business license (City of Albuquerque Department of Finance and Administrative Services, city)
  • File Bernalillo County business personal property return (Bernalillo County Assessor, county)

With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: City/county business registration — Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Albuquerque; Hold an Albuquerque business license. Change the industry above to see yours.

Sources: sos.nm.gov, tax.newmexico.gov, dws.state.nm.us

Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:

  1. Maintain a registered agent in New Mexico
  2. File formation documents with the New Mexico Secretary of State
  3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Sources: sos.nm.gov, tax.newmexico.gov

No fee amounts are recorded for your plan yet.

Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.

Sources: sos.nm.gov, tax.newmexico.gov

In your plan for Albuquerque, requirements come from four levels. New Mexico 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 (3): Maintain a registered agent in New Mexico; Register for and file New Mexico entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (New Mexico)
  • County (1): File Bernalillo County business personal property return
  • City (3): City/county business registration — Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Albuquerque; Hold an Albuquerque business license

Sources: sos.nm.gov, tax.newmexico.gov

  • Register for unemployment insurance with New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
  • Workers' compensation: New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration. Required when: 3 employees
  • Register to withhold New Mexico income tax from wages.

Sources: dws.state.nm.us, dws.nm.gov, tax.newmexico.gov

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