Licenses and Regulations

Regulations are industry-specific, and involve rules put in place by government agencies. Licenses for operating your business depend both on your location and your industry.

Tips

Starting points:

Make a list of agencies and relevant legislation that impact your business.
Compile information about licenses you will need to operate, including the cost of obtaining a license.

Suggested strategies:

IBISWorld database's industry reports have a "Operating Conditions" tab that summarizes regulations to consider for that industry.
Because licenses are industry and location specific, local government websites and trade association websites are good places to find licensing information.

The subscription resources below marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

IBISWorld External This link opens in a new window
Detailed market research reports and analysis on over 700 U.S. industries. The Library’s subscription also includes U.S. Specialized Industries and U.S. Business Environment Profiles. Onsite public users cannot download the reports, but limited printing of report sections is available.
Reading Room patrons have read-only access without downloads to the licenses product.

The following materials link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are provided when available.

Small Business Sourcebook by Gale Research Company
Call Number: HD2346.U5 S66
Published/Created: Annually, 1983-present
Organized by industry, each entry lists trade associations and organizations and industry publications.

These are freely available online sources provided by government agencies, trade publications, and organizations.

Directory of Secretary of State Offices and Websites (The Balance) External
Once you've decided what state you'll start your business in, use the Secretary of State website to make sure you are following all required registration forms, licenses, regulations.
SBA: Stay Legally Compliant
Provides guidance to keep your business compliant with state and federal business laws. Covers state and federal filing requirements and maintaining licenses, permits and recertification.
SBA: Apply for Licenses and Permits
Covers federal and state licenses and permits for operating a small business.
Small Business | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA provides safety and health resources specifically designed for small businesses. Find information on complying with OSHA standards and receive advice through OSHA's no-cost and confidential On-Site Consultation Program.
Small Business Handbook OSHA
This handbook is provided to owners, proprietors and managers of small businesses by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The handbook should help small business employers meet the legal requirements imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act), and achieve an in-compliance status before an OSHA inspection.

Small Business Hub: A Research Guide for Entrepreneurs

Licenses and Regulations

Tips

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