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How do I get a business license?

Nevada Secretary of State (entity formation) / Nevada Department of Taxation (tax registration) / Local jurisdiction for local licenses
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine your business structure: sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership
  2. Register your business entity with the Nevada Secretary of State (for LLCs and corporations) - file online at esos.nv.gov (Nevada SilverFlume Business Portal); Nevada offers one of the most streamlined entity formation processes nationally
  3. Obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS at irs.gov if forming an entity, hiring employees, or operating as a partnership
  4. Obtain a NEVADA STATE BUSINESS LICENSE from the Nevada Secretary of State - required for all businesses operating in Nevada; $200 initial fee; renew annually; obtained through SilverFlume at silverflume.nv.gov; this is a STATE-LEVEL business license requirement (different from most states where business licensing is purely local)
  5. Register with the Nevada Department of Taxation for applicable state taxes:
  6. - Nevada Sales Tax Permit/Certificate of Authority (if selling taxable goods/services)
  7. - Modified Business Tax registration (if you have employees)
  8. - No Nevada state income tax registration needed (Nevada has no individual or corporate income tax)
  9. Register at tax.nv.gov or through SilverFlume
  10. Check with your city or county for LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSES - Nevada municipalities independently require additional local business licenses beyond the state license; Clark County, City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, City of Reno, and Carson City each have their own local licensing requirements
  11. Check for industry-specific state licenses: contractors (Nevada State Contractors Board - contractors.nv.gov); real estate, cosmetologists, health professionals through the Nevada Department of Business and Industry - business.nv.gov
  12. Renew entity annual list with Secretary of State; renew state business license annually; renew local licenses per city schedule
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Business name and type of activity
  • Nevada business address and registered agent
  • Entity formation documents if LLC or corporation
  • EIN or Social Security number
  • Industry-specific certifications if applicable
Fee
LLC formation: $75 online; corporation: $75 online; ANNUAL LIST (annual report): $350 (LLC and corporation - higher nationally, includes $200 state business license renewal); Nevada State Business License initial: $200; Sales Tax Permit: free; local license: varies by city/county RENEWAL: Annual list (entity report) + state business license renewal: due last day of anniversary month each year; failure to file results in revocation; local license: annual per city ONLINE OPTION: Yes - silverflume.nv.gov (Nevada SilverFlume - excellent one-stop portal for entity formation, state business license, and tax registration); esos.nv.gov; tax.nv.gov WHERE TO GO: Nevada SilverFlume (entity formation + state business license); Nevada DOT (sales tax); City/County (local license); Nevada State Contractors Board (contractor license)
Online Option
Yes - silverflume.nv.gov (Nevada SilverFlume - excellent one-stop portal for entity formation, state business license, and tax registration); esos.nv.gov; tax.nv.gov
Where to Go
Nevada SilverFlume (entity formation + state business license); Nevada DOT (sales tax); City/County (local license); Nevada State Contractors Board (contractor license)
County-specific variations apply

Clark County (Las Vegas area), City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, City of North Las Vegas, Washoe County (Reno area), City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Carson City each have their own local business licensing requirements IN ADDITION to the state business license. The Clark County/Las Vegas area has multiple overlapping licensing jurisdictions - businesses must determine which city or unincorporated area they're in and get the right local license(s).

Nevada Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Nevada STATE BUSINESS LICENSE: $200/year, required for ALL businesses operating in Nevada - unusual nationally (most states don't have a statewide business license requirement); obtained through SilverFlume.
  • Nevada SilverFlume (silverflume.nv.gov): Nevada's excellent one-stop business portal for entity formation, state business license, tax registration, and more.
  • NO STATE INCOME TAX: Nevada has no individual or corporate income tax - significant business advantage; no income tax registration needed.
  • Nevada sales tax: 6.85% state rate; county option taxes add 0.25-0.375%; Clark County (Las Vegas) total: 8.375%; Washoe County (Reno): 8.265%.
  • CONTRACTOR LICENSE: Required for all contractors (general and specialty); apply at contractors.nv.gov | (702) 486-1100.
  • Annual list + state business license combined in annual renewal: $350 for LLCs and corporations.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Nevada Secretary of State, Business Services - nvsos.gov | (702) 486-2880; Nevada SilverFlume: silverflume.nv.gov; Nevada DOT - tax.nv.gov | (775) 684-2000; Nevada State Contractors Board - contractors.nv.gov | (702) 486-1100