Having a business license in Wyoming allows your business to operate legally and helps ensure your activities comply with regulations and taxes. Wyoming doesn’t require a state-level license to operate. Local licensing requirements depend on the type of business and the city or town where it operates. In some cities, a business license is only required for certain types of businesses. In others, you’ll need a license no matter what goods or services you’re selling there, even if that city or town isn’t your business’s main location.

Below, we’ll cover the licenses and permits you’ll need as a business owner in Wyoming, how to apply for them, and the required costs.

Key takeaways

• Wyoming business licenses are issued at the city and town level, but not all municipalities in the state require them. Many localities also issue licenses to particular businesses only.

• Businesses with assets located in the state are required to file an annual report each year and pay an annual report license tax of at least $60.

• The cost to get and renew a business license varies by municipality, but is typically a flat annual fee based on the business type.

What is a business license in Wyoming?

A business license gives you permission to operate and helps ensure you adhere to local regulations. In Wyoming, licensing functions at the city and town level. Counties in Wyoming don’t issue county-level business licenses. However, the county might oversee licensing for activities such as liquor sales, catering, or temporary or transient merchants.

Local requirements vary considerably. For example, in Gillette city, business licenses are required for taxi operators, liquor establishments, and mobile food vendors, among others. Auctioneers, carnival operators, and pawnbrokers need a business license in Laramie. The city of Cheyenne requires licenses for a wider range of business owners, such as barbers and beauty shops, bowling alley and skating rink operators.

What are the types of business licenses and permits in Wyoming?

The Wyoming licenses and permits to be aware of include:

• Local business licenses: Licensing rules vary widely by municipality. In some cases, your industry will determine whether you need a business license in the town or city where the business is based. In others, such as in the city of Green River, all businesses with a storefront or operations there must apply for a general business license. Some municipalities also have business licenses for particular circumstances, such as operating a rental housing unit or a home-based business.

• Individual occupational licenses: Depending on the locality, individual service providers might also need an occupational license to work legally. In Cheyenne, tattoo artists, massage therapists, horse and carriage drivers, and taxi drivers require occupational licenses separate from the establishment’s own business license. It’s also common in Wyoming for contractors to need a local occupational license.

• Statewide professional licenses: Healthcare providers, accountants, and other state-regulated occupations generally need licensing from Wyoming state professional boards.

• Sales tax license: The state of Wyoming levies sales tax for all businesses with physical or economic nexus there. If your business has a physical presence in Wyoming or earned $100,000 or more in gross revenue from sales in the state during the prior calendar year, you must register for a sales tax license with the Wyoming Department of Revenue.

• Federal license for regulated industries: Certain federal licenses and permits are also required for activities regulated by federal agencies. For example, if your business sells alcohol in Wyoming, you will need to apply for a federal permit through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

What are the steps to get a business license in Wyoming?

Follow these steps to get a business license and set up your business in Wyoming:

1. Choose your business type: Pick a business structure, such as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Then confirm the availability of your company’s name using the Wyoming Secretary of State’s search tool. The department provides a company name guide with tips on how to choose a suitable name and make sure it’s not already in use.

2. Register with the Wyoming Secretary of State: If you are registering an LLC, profit corporation, nonprofit corporation, or limited partnership, you can submit an online form to register your business with the Wyoming Secretary of State. You’ll need to use a paper form if your business entity is a registered limited liability partnership, statutory foundation, or statutory trust. The filing fee is $50 or $100, depending on the type of business. You can also register a trade name or trademark for your business by mail.

3. Get a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN): Before applying for a business license, you’ll need to secure an EIN from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An EIN works like a Social Security number for your business, and you’ll need one in order to pay taxes and hire employees. You can apply online via the IRS.

4. Obtain a local business license: To determine whether you need a license in the city or town where the business is located, contact your local government. You can find your city or town clerk in the Wyoming Association of Municipalities’ municipal directory. If you need a business license, you may be able to apply online, by mail, or in person, depending on what the locality offers.

5. Apply for a Wyoming professional license: Review the list of licensed occupations for regulated industries from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services to find out if you need to apply for a professional license, then submit an application through the proper agency.

6. Apply for a state sales tax license: Submit an application to the Wyoming Department of Revenue’s Excise Tax Division in order to collect and pay state sales tax. To apply online, first create an account on the Wyoming Internet Filing System (WYIFS), and then complete the required forms online. You’ll receive your license within about two weeks. You can also send the form by mail, which will prolong processing times.

How much does a business license cost in Wyoming?

Local business license costs in Wyoming vary significantly by location and business type. You might not have to pay anything for a general business license if the city or town where you operate doesn’t issue them or if your industry doesn’t require licensure.

If you do need to pay for a business license, the cost is typically a flat annual fee of $25 to $200. In some towns, the cost is notably higher. In Jackson, for example, you’ll pay up to $891 as a non-sales-tax collecting business with 100 or more employees.

License fees for different industries also vary widely, depending on the industry and where you obtain the license. For example, a local taxi cab license costs $25 in the city of Cheyenne, while a state of Wyoming midwifery license costs $1,200.

You’ll also pay the Wyoming Secretary of State up to $100 to register your business and at least $60 to submit an annual report each year. Finally, you might pay for occupational licenses if your profession requires it. Professional licenses also range in cost, depending on the industry.

How do you renew your Wyoming business license?

Each Wyoming city and town has its own business license renewal procedures. In general, you’ll submit a license renewal application each year. The term of the license is typically January 1 to December 31. Often, the city or town clerk proactively sends renewal applications to currently operating businesses at the beginning of December, with a December 31 due date.

Professional licensing renewal rules in state-regulated industries also vary widely. For example, dieticians must renew licenses annually, between April 1 and June 15. Professional geologists are required to submit renewal applications between October 1 and December 31.

Depending on the licensing authority, you may be able to renew your business license online, in person, or by mail. Keep track of important dates and sign up for reminders so you don’t miss renewal deadlines.

What specific licensing considerations should you know about in Wyoming?

Here are a few Wyoming business licensing process nuances to consider:

• Annual report license tax: Every year you’re in business in Wyoming, you’ll need to submit an annual report and pay a filing fee, known as a license tax. The report provides updated contact information for your business and, potentially, lists the value of its Wyoming-based assets. Each year, it’s due on the first of the month your business was formed and registered with the Wyoming Secretary of State. This is in addition to any local licenses or permits your business is required to get.

• Tiered business license fees in Jackson: While many municipalities have limited licensing requirements and low fees, the town of Jackson has an uniquely costly fee structure. Businesses pay license fees based on the number of employees and whether or not they collect sales tax. Sales tax-collecting businesses must pay $136 to $684 annually for their business license. Non-sales-tax-collecting businesses pay $179 to $891.

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FAQs about how to get a business license in Wyoming