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Maine Business License
How do you make your business operational in Maine? Registering your business is one way but that is only half of the work done. You will have to apply for a business license or permit depending on the type of business you have. Once you have the required permit or license, you can operate your business from anywhere in the state.
Maine Business License Requirements
How do you obtain a business license in Maine? Does your business require a license or a permit? Who is the issuing authority for these licenses or permits? These are some of the important questions that you might be confronted with and hence, we have created a guide that will help answer some of these questions.
Let us look at a step-by-step approach towards acquiring a Maine company license or a permit.
Step-1: Identify the Industry or Type of Business
Which industry is your business entity a part of? It is important to know that the state of Maine does not provide licenses to all types of businesses. Some of the businesses may require local permits or business license in Maine issued by city or county authorities. The nature of permit or license issued by the state depends on the type of industry. Some of the industries or type of businesses wherein a license is issued by the state include:
- Gaming Industry
- Liquor
- Agriculture Industry
- Food Establishment
You are probably asking: What type of Maine company license or permit is issued by county or city authorities? This depends on the city or county where your business has been registered or is established or plans to operate from. Let’s look at the following examples to understand this well:
PORTLAND, MAINE
If you are planning to set up your business in Portland then the business license and permits are issued for the following industry or type of business:
- Circus License
- Massage Establishment
- Mobile Food Service
- Temporary Food Service
- Transient Sellers Permit
- Outdoor Dining Public or Private Property
There are several other businesses that will require a Maine company license or permit issued from the county or city office.
BATH, MAINE
If you are planning to set up your business in Bath then the business license and permits are issued for the following industry or type of business:
- Gasoline
- Pin Ball & Gaming Machines
- Disposal – Commercial
- Transient Sellers of Consumer Goods
- Victualer – Mobile Food Service
- Victualer – Restaurant
There are several other businesses that will require a Maine company license or permit issued from the county or city office.
Step-2: Apply for a Business License
Now that you know the type of business or the industry, it is time to understand the application procedure. The processing and the fee for a Maine company license vary according to the industry or type of business and where the business is situated. Here is an example that will help you understand how the process works:
PORTLAND, MAINE
If you are planning to set up a Mobile Food Service in Portland then here is the information regarding the business license:
- The Application Fee: $45
- Health Inspection Fee: $150.00
- Food Truck License Fee: $546
- If you are planning to operate in the “Night” (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) then there is an extra fee of $218
Business License is issued by: Permitting and Inspections Department
License Expiry and Renewal: Expires annually on March 31
MAINE STATE LICENSE
If you are planning to set up a Retail Food Establishment in the state then here is the information regarding business license in Maine:
- Establishment with 0 to 10 employees: $20
- Establishment with 11 to 25 employees: $50
- Establishment with 26 or more employees: $150
Business License is issued by: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations
License Expiry and Renewal: The license issued is for a one year period and expires annually
In order to procure the correct business license in the state of Maine, it is extremely important to approach the right licensing authority.
If you require any information regarding registration of your business in Maine, please feel free to call us on 702-871-8678.