It’s critical to have your business license options in order before you start trading.
Most businesses will need a license of some kind — in fact, some may require many licenses. The typical suspects, including a liquor licence, are included on the list. Then there are the more esoteric ones, such as placing seats and tables on the sidewalk.
We’ll assist you in determining which licenses your small company need.
What sorts of companies need a permit?
If you sell booze, you’ll need an alcohol license, as well as a premises licence if you’re in a building.
If your company is active in any of the following categories, you will absolutely require a license:
- Childcare
- Breeding dogs
- Ear piercing is a procedure that involves piercing the ear
- Services related to gambling
- Taxi driver Personal trainer/fitness coach
- Owner of a pet store
- Financial and credit services
- security officer
- Transporting goods (HGV)
- Importation and exportation
- Businesses in the food industry
- Tattoo studio
Let’s look at a few instances to see how it all fits together.
Beauty Salon
The first thing to look into is the media that is being broadcast inside your salon, whether it is a TV license or a music license. After that, you’ll need to get a CCTV license, a pavement or street display license, and premises license if you want to provide your customers a glass of champagne with their haircut and blow-dry.
Remember to submit your application to the Information Commissioner’s Office to handle personal data (ICO).
Food trailer
A street trading license is required for a food truck owner (apply at least 28 days before you start trading). You might be fined up to £1000 if you don’t obtain one. Make sure you and all of your employees have a level two food safety certificate, which can be obtained for roughly £100 apiece.
Temporary licenses
You must also take into account temporary licences. They may be hired for street celebrations and other special occasions. As part of your first study, investigate everything and do a license check.
You’ll need a license to sell alcohol (but not if you’re giving it free) and sell food after 11 p.m. at one-time events. You may give out alcohol as a raffle prize, but there are certain limits on what contestants can receive – check with your local council. Tell your council if your raffle prizes total more than £500 since you may need to register it as a lottery.
Where do I go to get my licenses?
In most cases, your local government is the first place to go for licenses. You must go via a professional authority such as the DVLA, the Gambling Commission, or the Financial Conduct Authority for other sorts of the company (FCA). The following nations are responsible for child care licensing in the United Kingdom:
- In England, Ofsted is in charge of inspecting schools.
- Scotland’s Care Inspectorate
- Care & Social Services Inspectorate in Wales
- Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland.
Whether you’re launching a business outside of England, check with your local authorities to see if your particular business license is handled by a devolved entity.
Take everything into consideration once again. Sign up for PPL PRS, for example, if you wish to play music in your business. They handle all aspects of music licensing.
Similarly, even if the TV is on silent in the background, a TV license is necessary for company premises that have one.
A CCTV license may be obtained through the Security Industry Authority. If you’re selling door-to-door, you’ll need a Pedlar’s Certificate (but not if you only visit clients and don’t sell to them). Apply at your local police department.
Use the government’s license finder to save time. It will ask you questions about your business to determine which licences you need.
The majority of them will need a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) or disclosure and barring service check (DBS).
How much will a license set you back?
The cost will vary depending on the sort of company you want to start, your location, and the licenses you want to apply for. It ranges from £100 to many thousand pounds.
CCTV licenses, for example, cost £210 and are valid for three years. Workers on the front lines need a licence, while managers need a licence.
What is the cost of a business licence?
For health and safety considerations, you may require a license in specific cases. A license also keeps you on the straight and narrow legally, keeping your company responsible for its activities and promoting best practices. It helps in your money for tax purposes.
What if I don’t receive a driver’s license?
Those without a license risk being fined or imprisoned.
Not only that, but you must follow the license’s restrictions or risk being fined, convicted, or having your firm shut down. It’s possible that you won’t be able to apply for the required licenses again, putting your company in jeopardy.
This holds true for other legal needs, such as public liability insurance.
Check your local authority’s business license websites for anything we haven’t addressed here. They’ll spell out the terms and conditions, as well as the prices and deadlines.
