Starting a Business in Huntington: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Huntington: 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 Huntington, WV
- Municipal business and occupation (B&O) tax — Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia · City: Huntington / Cabell County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Huntington · Huntington (Cabell County) building department (city)
- Obtain and renew the Huntington business license · City of Huntington Finance Division (city)
- File the City of Huntington Business & Occupation tax return · City of Huntington Finance Division (city)
- Form the business: West Virginia Secretary of State
- Register for state taxes: West Virginia State Tax Department
- Register as an employer: WorkForce West Virginia
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Huntington
Based on your selections, this plan has 12 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 West Virginia
- File formation documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file West Virginia entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- West Virginia business registration certificate — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Municipal business and occupation (B&O) tax — Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Huntington — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain and renew the Huntington business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $30.00 one-time and $25.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
10 of 12 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 2 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Huntington
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 Huntington:
- Contractor licensing: West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board
- Real estate licensing: West Virginia Real Estate Commission
- Alcohol licensing: West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration
- Child care licensing: West Virginia Department of Health
- Health facility licensing: West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification
- Municipal business and occupation (B&O) tax — Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia (City: Huntington / Cabell County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Huntington (Huntington (Cabell County) building department, city)
- Obtain and renew the Huntington business license (City of Huntington Finance Division, city)
- File the City of Huntington Business & Occupation tax return (City of Huntington Finance Division, city)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: West Virginia business registration certificate; Municipal business and occupation (B&O) tax — Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Huntington; Obtain and renew the Huntington business license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.wv.gov, tax.wv.gov, workforcewv.org
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in West Virginia
- File formation documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: sos.wv.gov, tax.wv.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $30.00 one-time and $25.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: sos.wv.gov, tax.wv.gov
In your plan for Huntington, requirements come from four levels. West Virginia 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 (5): Maintain a registered agent in West Virginia; File Annual Report (West Virginia); Register for and file West Virginia entity-level taxes; West Virginia business registration certificate…
- City (4): Municipal business and occupation (B&O) tax — Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Huntington; Obtain and renew the Huntington business license; File the City of Huntington Business & Occupation tax return
Sources: sos.wv.gov, tax.wv.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with WorkForce West Virginia.
- Workers' compensation: West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. Required when: 1 employee
- Register to withhold West Virginia income tax from wages.
Sources: workforcewv.org, labor.wv.gov, tax.wv.gov