The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the issuance of official City of Chicago business licenses. To apply for a business license, you may APPLY ONLINE, or meet in-person with one of our Business Consultants at the Small Business Center. Powered by SourceLink®, Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. All rights reserved. Photo Credit: Chicago City Hall, Eric Allix Rogers. The insurance must name the City of Chicago as an additional insured, non-contributory entity and … Learn more at Chicago.gov/COVIDVax. Users can search by address, business … signs, canopies, awnings, benches, sidewalk cafes, etc.) The SBC is the business licensing division of BACP, and the City’s “one stop shop” for business licensing, public way use permitting, and connecting entrepreneurs and business owners to business resources. The following is a guide for business owners, and/or their legal representatives, looking to apply for business licenses in Chicago. Prepare a business plan that will suit your short and long term goals.We encourage you to visit BACP online for more information on business planning, connecting with resources and other important information to help you in being successful. 3 Simple Steps to Obtain a Business License, Empowering Businesses and Protecting Consumers, An official website of the City of Chicago, Permit for Business ID and Advertising Signs, Vital Records from the Cook County Clerk's Office, AIC (Annual Inspection Certification) Inspections, Economic Disclosure, Affidavit, Online EDS, One Good Deed Chicago Volunteer Opportunities, City Council Office of Financial Analysis, Schedule an Appointment with a Business Consultant, Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC). Rather than having to get in contact with multiple government entities, we provide you with everything you need to know for all your business license … Business License Look-up This interactive website allows users to search for businesses, in any area of the City, with a current City of Chicago business license. Businesses with an trade firm name other than the owner's legal name are required to get a(n) Cook County DBA ( doing business … Businesses Requiring a Village License Every business operating within the Village of Chicago Ridge is required to be licensed. Appointments are recommended for … 3 Simple Steps to Obtain a Business License … If you have a business in Illinois, you must register with the Illinois … You must input your own name and your own email address. Consult with an Illinois registered Corporate/Business Law Attorney; Consult with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Go to the Small Business Center (SBC), on the 8, The SBC walk-in schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, To save time, make an appointment to meet with an, SBC Business Consultants will help determine which license(s) you need, process your business license application, and connect you with business resources, Chicago Business Direct is accessible anytime, however, application processing by the SBC Business Consultants occurs during business hours, For assistance with the system or an online application, call 312-74-GOBIZ (744-6249); Monday through Friday; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Most business license types, with the exception of some specialty licenses, can be applied for online, Find standard, and additional license-specific, business license application information requirements in the, All business owners must provide a valid, government-issued, photo ID with current home address, The City of Chicago is divided into distinct zoning districts that reflect the diversity of business and neighborhood uses; each zoning district has different regulations about the types of business activities that are permitted, Location-based business license applications must have the provided business location address approved by a License Zoning representative; non-location-based license applications will not require a Zoning approval, Either your SBC Business Consultant, or the online application system, will inform, or prompt, you of any required documents, Submit your required documents to your SBC Business Consultant (if in-person), or upload to attach to your application (if online), Either your SBC Business Consultant, or the online application system, will inform you if a “Health Consultation” is required, If applying for a food-related business license, then you will be prompted to meet with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) – Food Protection Sanitarian, at the SBC, to review equipment and food safety operations, Only after all requirements are met, and the application is approved, will payment be requested, Either your SBC Business Consultant will generate your payment coupon (if in-person) or the payment page will display (if online), Either your SBC Business Consultant, or the online application system, will inform you if any inspections are required, If inspection(s) is/are required as part of the business license application, then your SBC Business Consultant will schedule your appointment (if in-person), or the inspecting department(s) (e.g. At LicenseSuite, simply enter your City, State, and industry and click 'Get Your Licenses.' Register With IDOR. Chicago, IL 60601 However, the Office of the City Clerk does not have any additional … There are two ways to apply for a City of Chicago business license: (1) In-person at the SBC in City Hall, or (2) online via the Chicago Business Direct, which is the City’s online business license application, renewal, and management system. Those that operate a business in Chicago will need to be issued a business license by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at 121 North LaSalle Street, room 800. There is a better way to meet all your legal obligations and get a Chicago, Illinois Business License. Please click on the "Get Started Online" button below to access Chicago Business Direct. EIN with the IRS, DBA with Cook County, or CORP/LLC with the State of Illinois) are not business licenses, but are prerequisites for your City of Chicago business license application. If you are an employee of a business… It allows YOU, as a person, to log into Chicago Business Direct. Resource Partner Login, Selling to Big Business and the Government, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), 3 Simple Steps to Obtain a Business License, City of Chicago, Small Business Center, County, State, and Federal Business Registration, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation – Get My License, Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) – Licensing, City of Chicago, Department of Public Health, Food Service Sanitation Certificate, City of Chicago Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC), Illinois State Bar Association – Illinois Lawyer Finder, Department of Buildings (DOB) sign construction permit, Connect with Chicago business support service providers, Ask us anything about entrepreneurship in Chicago, Accommodations, Animal Care and Services, Children Services, Commercial and Business Services, Entertainment, Food, Home Based Businesses, Home Repair and Construction Services, Hospital and Commercial Care Facilities, Liquor, Manufacturing, Motor Vehicle Services, Outdoor Vending, Parking Lot/Parking Garage, Pawnshop/Secondhand Dealer, Personal Services, Pharmaceutical Representative, Pop-Up Establishment User & Host, Public Vehicles, Shared Housing, Tobacco, Valet Operator and more, Review the list of City of Chicago business licenses, with license fees and terms, in the SBC, Most businesses operating in Chicago require a City of Chicago business license issued by BACP, Businesses that require a City of Chicago business license may not conduct business until receipt of their City of Chicago business license certificate (for establishments) and/or photo ID badge (for individuals), Most business licenses have a two-year term; regardless of the term, all businesses must renew their license(s) at the end of its term to continue legal operations, Businesses with multiple locations must obtain separate business licenses for each location, Business licenses are not transferrable; new business owners purchasing an existing business must apply for their own business license; an existing business moving to another location must apply for a new business license, Business licenses from other municipalities are not valid in Chicago, and vice versa. 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