The deadline to apply for a Fayetteville business license is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31.
Business owners who apply after the deadline will be subject to increased fees.
As of last week, more than 2,400 business owners had applied, said Cory Whorton, office manager of Fayetteville’s Development Services Department. In a video released by city staff Thursday, Whorton said the number had jumped to 2,502.
Whorton said his department is mailing out about 200 to 300 finalized licenses per week.
Beginning Nov. 1 application fees will increase from $35 to $38 for non-home-based businesses and from $22 and $24 for home-based businesses. Fees will increase again in December and January.
Businesses exempt from the fee include church-based businesses with no generated income, businesses owned by minors and landlords with fewer than three rentals.
Business owners must renew their licenses each year for $15.
City officials have said that the program does not create any revenue, but that the fees are for self-funding purposes only and are used to offset administration costs including printing of the licenses.
Links
» Business Licensing Program main page
» “Do I Qualify?”
» Online application
» Printable application
» Fee structure
» Ordinance No. 5347 – Business Registry
Business license FAQs
Who must register?
All businesses, institutions, corporations, LLCs, LLPs, partnerships, non-profit associations or corporations, sole proprietorships or other non-governmental entities with a physical address or which operates a legally permitted home occupation. Businesses with multiple physical addresses must obtain a separate license for each address.
How about religious entities?
Churches and other religious institutions are exempt from the program unless they are operating functions like daycare.
And minors?
Individuals under eighteen years of age are exempt.
Do landlords have to register?
Individual landlords not operating as a corporation, LLC, LLP, or any other formal business entity, who rent out less than three (3) dwelling units, and no commercial, industrial, or institutional unit, site or building are exempt.
How much is it?
Registration is $35 for regular businesses and $22 for home-based businesses (there’s a discount of a few bucks if registering online). Annual renewals are $15.
Is there a penalty?
Yes. Operating without a license is a violation punishable by a fine up to $250 per day.
