If you want to start a business in Nevada, you'll need a state business licence from the secretary of state; nearly all Nevada businesses need one. You'll also need to comply with any federal, city, or county licensing requirements, which are based on your chosen location, industry, and whether you plan to sell taxable goods or services.

Below, we'll discuss how to get a business licence in Nevada, how much it will cost, and how to renew it.

Key takeaways

• Nevada requires nearly all registered entities to have a state business licence. Separate federal, city, and county licensing requirements might also be needed.

• Orion, the state's online business portal, handles most of the state-level filings, including business formation, the state licence application, and annual renewals

• State licence fees range from US$200–US$500, while local fees vary widely by county and city.

Why do you need a business licence in Nevada?

To legally open a business in Nevada, you'll need to obtain a business licence from the secretary of state, and comply with state business licensing rules as detailed in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 76. And depending on where your business will be operating from, you might also need to apply for some city or county permits and business licences.

What types of business licences and permits does Nevada require?

Your business might need to apply for various state, local, and occupational permits or licences. A state business licence is required for almost every registered entity, including limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, partnerships, and most sole proprietorships that operate under trade names.

Your business might need to apply for these licences and permits:

• City or county business licence: Clark County, Washoe County, and most incorporated cities, including Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, and Sparks, also require their own business licences. Your business likely will need a business licence from the county and city that you will be operating from.

• Occupational licences: Certain professions have to obtain specific licences outside the general licensing process. If you are a contractor, for example, you'll need to register with the Nevada State Contractors Board. Real estate agents need to apply through the Nevada Real Estate Division, cosmetologists and barbers need to register with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology, and food service businesses need to obtain health permits.

• Sales and use tax permit: If your business plans on selling tangible goods or certain taxable services, you'll need to register with the Nevada Department of Taxation before your first sale

• Federal licences: If your business belongs to a regulated industry – such as gun sales, alcohol manufacturing, or interstate transportation – you'll need to meet certain federal regulations

How do you get a business licence in Nevada?

Orion, the state's online business portal, centralises most of the licensing process. Here are the steps to obtain a licence:

• Choose and register your business structure: Decide whether you're forming an LLC, corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Then file your formation documents (e.g., articles of organisation for an LLC) with the secretary of state through Orion. Sole proprietors who use their own legal names typically skip this step unless they're filing trade names.

• Appoint a registered agent: Nevada requires LLCs and corporations to designate a registered agent with a physical address in the state; post office (PO) boxes are not accepted. This is where the state will send your legal and other official correspondence.

• Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN): You'll need this to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file your state business licence application. You can apply for an EIN on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at no cost.

• Apply for the Nevada state business licence: You can file an application through Orion along with your Annual List, which is a document that names your management team. Most new businesses submit this paperwork at the same time they file their formation documents.

If you're selling taxable goods or services, you'll need to register for a sales and use tax permit separately through My Nevada Tax – the state's tax portal. Local and occupational licences are handled separately. For local licences, you'll have to go through your county clerk's office and, if you'll be operating in an incorporated city, your city's business licence division. If your profession requires an occupational licence, you must go through the relevant state board.

How much does a business licence cost in Nevada?

Costs vary by business structure and location, and local fees change often enough that it's worth confirming the actual amount with the relevant office before you file. Here's a general range of costs to expect based on the most recent published fee schedules:

• State business licence: This costs US$500.00 for a corporation and US$200.00 for an LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship. It must be renewed every year. Some exemptions are available for home-based or low-revenue businesses.

• City or county business licence: The cost ranges between US$50.00 – US$500.00, depending on where your company operates and the business type. It must be renewed every year.

• Sales and use tax permit: There's a one-time US$15.00 registration fee, plus a remitted security deposit based on estimated tax filings

• Occupational licence: The cost ranges between US$100.00 – US$800.00, depending on the profession. It must be renewed annually or biennially.

How do renewals work for a Nevada business licence?

Nevada ties state business licence renewal to your Annual List filing. It's due every year by the last day of your entity's formation month. The secretary of state sends email reminders if you've registered an address with Orion. But notices aren't guaranteed to arrive, so you might want to track the deadline yourself.

You'll need to complete the business licence renewal online through Orion, where you'll pay the state fee and the Annual List filing fee. If you miss the deadline, Nevada adds a late penalty and switches your business status to being in default. If the fee is not paid within a year, the licence will be revoked, which can affect your ability to open business bank accounts or sign contracts under that business name.

Counties and cities set their own renewal dates so you could be renewing your state licence one month and your county licence in a completely different one.

How do Nevada business licence rules differ from other states?

Some business licence requirements in Nevada differ from other states. For example, all companies must pay the state business licence fee, even those expecting modest revenue. Nevada offers an exemption for certain sole proprietorships and home-based businesses under specific revenue thresholds, but you have to apply for it through Orion; it isn't automatically applied.

Entrepreneurs looking to open a home-based business in the cities of Las Vegas and Henderson will need to apply for a home-occupation permit in addition to a state business licence because some residential zones restrict commercial activity. This is true even for remote businesses or those expecting little traffic.

In addition, Clark County and Las Vegas have their own permit caps and zoning restrictions for short-term rental businesses, which are separate from general business licensing regulations.

How Stripe Atlas can help

Stripe Atlas handles everything you need to legally launch your company – incorporation, Employer Identification Number (EIN), equity setup, and tax filings – so you can fundraise, open a bank account, and start accepting payments in as little as two business days, from anywhere in the world.

Join 100,000+ startups incorporated using Atlas, including startups backed by top investors like Y Combinator (YC), a16z, and General Catalyst.

Get started in minutes with Atlas

The application takes under 10 minutes. You'll choose your company structure, confirm your name is available, add up to four cofounders, set your equity split, and e-sign. Then Atlas takes it from there, including notifying cofounders to sign their documents electronically.

Banking and payments before your EIN arrives

Atlas files your EIN application automatically after incorporation. You don't have to wait – Atlas enables pre-EIN payments and banking so you can start accepting payments and making transactions right away. US founders with a Social Security number (SSN) are typically eligible for expedited IRS processing.

Automatic 83(b) tax election filing

Atlas files your 83(b) election for you – US and non-US founders alike – with US Postal Service (USPS) certified mail and tracking to reduce personal income taxes. You'll get a signed 83(b) election and proof of filing directly in your Stripe Dashboard, with certified mail confirmation.

World-class company legal documents

Atlas provides all the legal documents you need to start running your company, drafted by Cooley, one of the world's leading venture capital law firms, and stores them directly in your Stripe Dashboard. These documents are designed to help you fundraise immediately and ensure your company is legally protected, covering aspects like ownership structure, equity distribution, and tax compliance.

US$2,500 in Stripe credits, plus US$50K+ in partner discounts

Atlas startups get US$2,500 in Stripe product credits for their first year, plus US$50,000+ in partner discounts on essential tools like AWS, Google, Xero, Perplexity, and more. Delaware registered agent service is also included free for your first year.

Learn more about how Atlas can help you set up your new business quickly and easily and get started today.

FAQs about business licences in Nevada