If you plan to start a business in Montana, you’re going to need all the applicable Montana business licenses and permits. In the Treasure State, business licensing is done at the city and county level. However, various Montana state agencies control professional licensing. Fortunately, Montana does a good job of centralizing licensing information and procedures, making it reasonably easy for entrepreneurs to determine which licenses and permits they need and to apply for them. Here is a guide to the licensing information and procedures a Montana small business owner needs to be aware of.
There are some important reasons why small business licenses and permits are required. One is to ensure that businesses abide by Montana law and by the regulations of the communities in which they do business. An equally important reason has to do with public safety. For example, the licensing and permitting processes ensure that operations such as restaurants and health care providers maintain safe premises. Also, they validate that professional services such as architecture, plumbing, and electrical work are being performed by professionals with the right qualifications.
Both licenses and permits are issued by federal, state, and local governments. However, there are key differences in why they exist and how you apply for them. Licenses track businesses that exist in a community and also ensure that business owners that provide professional services are qualified. You obtain them by registering and paying a fee. For some, you may also have to take an exam or otherwise prove your qualifications.
Permits exist to ensure public safety. They usually require an initial inspection as well as ongoing followups. For example, a food truck or restaurant must pass initial and ongoing health department inspection to obtain and retain its license.
Montana businesses require city and county licenses, and they may need some state licenses as well. Certain types of businesses will also require federal licensing.
Certain lines of business require federal permits and licenses. The Small Business Administration maintains a list of these. They include agriculture, alcohol, aviation, firearms and explosives, fish and wildlife, maritime transportation, mining, nuclear power, radio and TV broadcasting, and transportation. Each is governed by its own federal agency, and each agency has its own application process and fees
For state licenses, the state’s Small Business Licensing Information web page is a good place to start. It lists a number of license types that are issued by state agencies, including agriculture, gambling, liquor, cannabis, and professional and contractor licenses. It contains a link to the Montana Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) Licensing 101 page. This lists the agencies you may have to work with.
The Montana License Lookup contains a complete list of all the state’s professional licenses with links to sites where you can learn more and apply.
In Montana, most business licenses other than professional licenses are local. The Montana League of Towns and Cities provides a Municipal Directory with contact info, and the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) also lists resources you may have to contact.
If your line of business is regulated by a federal agency, you may need a license from that agency. The Small Business Administration maintains an Apply for Licenses and Permits page that lists these business types. They include agriculture that crosses state lines, alcoholic beverages, aircraft operations, firearms, ammunition, explosives, fish and wildlife import and export, commercial fishing, mining and drilling, nuclear energy, radio and TV broadcasting, and transportation using oversized vehicles. The SBA site provides a link to the governing agency for each on these lines of business where you can learn more about what you need.
The Montana eStop Business License Guide is a comprehensive document that has complete information on 10 of the most common licenses. eStop licenses include state lottery, retail food, nursery, underground storage tanks, measuring devices, scales, tobacco and nicotine, and beer and wine off-sale. There is a link to the eStop Business Licenses Online Service, which is a portal where you can apply for these 10 licenses. You will have to create an account and log in to see the actual application forms.
Other professional licenses can be obtained though the Montana License Lookup site. By clicking through the particular license you’re interested in, you can apply for a license or renew one. Some but not all license applications can be made online. Others will require mailing a form. If you have questions about the processes, you can call the Montana Department of Labor & Industry at (406) 444-6880 or email [email protected].
For city, town, and county licenses, you will have to contact the municipalities where you plan to operate. You can find contact information at the Montana Association of Counties and the Montana League of Cities and Towns. Each community will have its own licenses, fees, and application process.
To apply for federal licenses and permits, go to the relevant agency using the link provided on the Apply for Licenses and Permits web page. Each agency has its own procedure for applying for the licenses and paying the required fee. If you are in the broadcasting business, for instance, you’ll need to go to the FCC Consumer Information on Obtaining Licenses page. There is where you’ll see the links for all the types of communications the FCC licenses.
The waiting period for a license depends on the municipality or state agency that is issuing it. This is among the information you should find when you go to a specific website to apply. Some communities, such as Missoula, provide a portal where you can track status information.
There is no standard renewal policy for Montana licenses and permits. It depends on the agency or government that issues the credential. However, most Montana licenses will have to be renewed annually. A few are renewable biennially. You will have to check with the agency or municipality for its renewal policies. In most cases, you will see that when you initially apply, and you can use a similar process to renew.
Because Montana business licenses are granted at the local level, while professional licenses are issued by state agencies, there can be a mishmash of procedures and contact points for obtaining licenses and permits. However, Montana provides a rich array of online resources for identifying and applying for the small business licenses you need. If you methodically work through the resources described in this article, you can be confident you won’t miss anything. You can always call or email the Department of Labor and Industry, or the municipalities in which you expect to do business, if you are unclear on some points.
Your business career could be over before it gets started. Operating without proper licensing is a crime. Not only could your enterprise be shut down temporarily or permanently, you personally could be subject to criminal charges.
You don’t need to register a sole proprietorship with the community, but you still must obtain any licenses and permits required by your line of business.
In most cases, yes. Because there is no sales tax, Montana doesn’t have the “one-and-done” seller’s licenses. Most licenses are renewed annually, though a few are biennial. Make note of the renewal requirements when you initially apply.
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos.
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