Milwaukee Small Business Licenses and Permits

To best determine what, if any, licenses and/or permits you’ll need, start by visiting or calling your local municipality. For the most part, they can provide you with immediate direction. A business attorney is also a good source to get you started off on the right foot.

Since licenses and/or permits may influence some of your decision making regarding the form of your business and its location, research what’s required early in your set-up.

The Small Business Milwaukee staff has found the following resources to be helpful; we’re not affiliated with them in any way.

Business License (DBA)

A company typically uses a trade name to conduct business using a simpler name rather than using their formal and often lengthier name. Trade names are also used when a preferred name cannot be registered, often because it may already be registered or is too similar to a name that is already registered.

www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/Businesses/New-Business-home.aspx

www.wdfi.org/

Incorporation Of A Business

Incorporation is the formation of a new corporation. The corporation may be a business, a nonprofit organization, a sports club, or a local government of a new city or town.

www.wdfi.org/corporations/faqs.htm

Building Permits & Zoning Compliance

esla.wi.gov/apex/Customer_Portal_Intro_Page

www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/bi/

Licenses & Permits Required

Sales Tax Permits and more.. You need a seller’s Permit, A consumer’s Use Tax Certificate, A Use Tax Certificate, etc. 

www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/pcs-seller.aspx

dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/sb/sb003.pdf

Fire Inspections & Permits

dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/FDPSInspector/Default.aspx

Health Inspections

mydatcp.wi.gov/SiteMap/BrowseService/SG_96776507-fcbe-e211-b39f-0050568c06ae?Key=Services_Group

Environmental Permits

dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/sb/sb003.pdf

Child Care Permits

dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/startcc

Various Other Permits 

city.milwaukee.gov/Information-and-Services/obtainLicensesPermit

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