Business license · New York

Does Your LLC Need a Business License in New York?

The short answer. We have not confirmed whether New York requires a general state business license, so do not assume it does not; check New York Business Express. Your local government may also require its own license.

New York Business License at a Glance

General state business license	Not confirmed
City or county licenses	Local governments may require one (see Local licenses)
Trade and professional licenses	State licensing boards (see Trade licenses)

Read from the government sources listed at the foot of this page, last checked September 30, 2026. See the sources.

Does New York Require a State Business License?

We have not confirmed whether New York requires a general state business license, so do not assume it does not; check New York Business Express.

New York's own guide to business licenses and permits is New York Business Express.

City and County Business Licenses

New York's Business Express says many counties, cities, towns and villages also require local permits and licenses. Check with the local authorities where your business is located and where it will do business.

Where New York points businesses for local requirements.

Professional and Trade Licenses

New York State licenses a wide range of occupations, such as dentists, nurses, teachers, chiropractors and veterinarians, through several state agencies. Business Express keeps a directory of New York State licenses, permits and certifications. Look up New York license requirements.

Our verified guides for specific trades in this state:

See trade and business license requirements by state for every trade we cover.

Other New York Registrations to Check

New York articles of organization, the filing that creates the LLC itself.
New York Certificate of Authority, for a business that sells taxable goods or services.
New York resale certificate, to buy inventory for resale without paying tax on it.
How to get an EIN, the federal tax ID most LLCs need to open a bank account or hire.

Frequently Asked Questions

: We have not confirmed whether New York requires a general state business license, so do not assume it does not; check New York Business Express.
: New York's Business Express says many counties, cities, towns and villages also require local permits and licenses. Check with the local authorities where your business is located and where it will do business.
: New York State licenses a wide range of occupations, such as dentists, nurses, teachers, chiropractors and veterinarians, through several state agencies. Business Express keeps a directory of New York State licenses, permits and certifications.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each state's law and agencies say about a general state business license, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you which licenses your own business needs: that turns on what the business does, where it operates, and what its city or county requires, and fees and exemptions change between our reviews. Confirm your own position with the state agency named on this page, the city or county where the business is located, and any state board that licenses your trade before you open.

Sources

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified New York sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.

businessexpress.ny.gov/app/portal/content/start_a_businessNew York Business Express, How to Start a Business in New York
businessexpress.ny.govNew York Business Express, home page
businessexpress.ny.gov/app/portal/faq/c/687New York Business Express, FAQ: Business Licenses and Permits
esd.ny.gov/sites/default/files/NYS-Starting-A-Biz-Aug2021.pdfEmpire State Development, New York State Small Business Guide (Aug. 2021) (archived copy)

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Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.