Wyoming Business License

Starting a business in Wyoming? Your first priority should be to get a business license.

This Wyoming Business License guide can be used to ensure that you’re fully compliant with all local, state and federal laws.

Whether you’re opening a trendy café or venturing into digital marketing, we’ve simplified the entire process into clear, digestible steps.

Let’s get started.

Do I Need a Business License in Wyoming

In Wyoming, there is no “general” business license that you will need to obtain irrespective of your business and location.

All in all, this will depend on a variety of factors, such as your location, niche, and industry.

Type of Business

In the following section, we outline how the nature of your business can determine the types of licenses you’ll need to secure in the state.

Here are some types of business licenses that are unique to Wyoming:

• Sales Tax Licenses: If your business sells goods or services that are subject to taxation, you’ll need to register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue. A sales tax license authorizes businesses to collect state and local sales taxes from customers. They’re mandatory licenses for retail and certain service-based operations
• Industry-Specific Licenses: Depending on your industry, you may be required to obtain a state or local business license in Wyoming. For example, general contractors are licensed by the localities, not the state. Those selling or manufacturing food products must also obtain a Wyoming Department of Agriculture license
• Professional Licenses: If you’re running a business in a regulated sector such as healthcare, legal services, or finance, you’ll need to secure an industry-specific professional license. For example, professionals in the medical field are required to be licensed by the Wyoming Medical Board. The Wyoming State Bar regulates the practice of law in Wyoming. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are licensed by the Wyoming Board of Certified Public Accountants
• Environmental Permits: In Wyoming, businesses in agriculture, environmental protection, health, and safety sectors often require specific environmental permits to operate in compliance with state regulations. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality also issues general permits for certain types of facilities like pilot plants, small wastewater systems, sewage, and water distribution

However, this is not the only factor influencing the exact combination of licenses you’ll need — the location of your business within Wyoming plays an important role as well.

Location

In this part, we quickly go over the different licenses and permits you might need for your business because of local, state, and federal regulations.

• Local: Local business licenses can vary by city or county. For example, the city of Cheyenne requires a general business license for certain businesses such as beauty shops, bowling alleys, food trucks, general contractors, and several others
• State: If your Wyoming business offers goods or services, you must obtain sales tax licenses as they are subject to tax. However, businesses that sell groceries, prescription medications, or provide certain professional services like medical, accounting, or legal aid are generally exempt from this license
• Federal: Most of Wyoming businesses don’t need federal licenses or permits. However, if your business operates in an industry overseen by the federal government you’ll need special licenses. These industries mainly cover areas like broadcasting, alcohol, and aviation, to name a few. The Wyoming Business Council, the economic development agency of the state, helps determine Wyoming business license requirements in your local jurisdiction

Since the exact permits and licenses your business will need are entirely unique to your situation, you’ll have to conduct thorough research into your own local, state, and federal regulations to smoothly launch your business.

Alternatively, many entrepreneurs opt to leverage the expertise of third-party services to handle this on their behalf.

How to Get a Business License in Wyoming

In order to get your business license(s) in Wyoming, you will need to complete the following steps:

• Form Your Business
• Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Apply for the Required Licenses and Permits

Let’s take a look at each step in more detail below.

Step 1: Form Your Business

Before setting out to obtain a business license in Wyoming, it’s pivotal that you first choose an appropriate structure for your business. Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and corporations are all common choices, however it’s often seen as the most advantageous for small businesses in Wyoming to form as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). There are a few reasons why:

• Limited Liability: Members are protected from personal liability for business debts, safeguarding personal assets
• Tax Benefits: LLCs typically enjoy a pass-through tax treatment, avoiding double taxation that corporations are subjected to
• Management Flexibility: LLCs allow for flexibility in management structure, either being member-managed or manager-managed based on the preferences outlined in the certificate of formation
• Ease of Formation: With the Wyoming Secretary of State providing forms that meet the minimum state law requirements and the option to file online, setting up an LLC is relatively straightforward

Many small business owners opt to avoid the tricky process of forming an LLC by instead leveraging the help of third-party LLC formation services.

Step 2: Obtain an EIN

The second step you’ll need to complete before applying for your business license is to obtain your EIN. This is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to businesses in the United States so that their financial transactions can be identified and tracked.

An EIN is often necessitated when applying for various permits and licenses as it allows local and state governments to ensure your business is operating within the confines of the law. You can obtain it in a number of ways:

• Online: You can apply for your EIN on the IRS’s official website by using the EIN Assistant. You should be granted your EIN shortly after completing this application.
• By Fax/Mail: After completing Form SS-4, you can apply for an EIN by submitting it to the IRS via mail or fax.
• By Phone: International applicants and businesses located outside US Territories are required to call the IRS at (267) 941-1099 to obtain their EIN — which they should receive during this call.

Note: If you are a sole proprietor, you will be able to use your Social Security Number (SSN) instead (as long as you do not have any employees).

Step 3: Apply for Licenses and Permits

After settling on the appropriate structure for your business and initiating the application for your EIN, the next step is to focus on securing the necessary licenses and permits to operate legally within your locale and industry.

• Local Licenses: You should reach out to your local government (city clerk or county recorder) to find out the specific licenses or permits your business needs. These requirements can differ significantly from one municipality to another
• Statewide Licenses: Determine if your business requires a sales tax license. If yes, you must register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue and file via the Wyoming Internet Filing System, by mail, or in person. Then, apply for a business license with the relevant state department. For instance, if you need an electrical license, you should apply through the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety and complete the necessary forms. Don’t forget to pay the applicable fees
• Federal Licenses: While the federal government doesn’t mandate licenses for general business operations, if your business falls under any government-regulated category, such as agriculture, fishing, firearms, and alcohol, it may be required to obtain additional federal licenses or permits

Note: For more detailed information on municipalities and their respective websites, check out the Wyoming Association of Municipalities’ website.

Step 4: Renewal of Licenses and Permits

The Wyoming sales tax license doesn’t require renewal.

Having said that, we recommend consulting with the appropriate state, local, or county authorities in order to learn more about the renewal guidelines for each permit and/or license that your business will need to hold.

Alternatively, due to how complicated each step of applying for and renewing business licenses is, you can use a third-party service in order to ensure that you do not miss out on any important filings.

How Much is a Business License in Wyoming

This will ultimately depend on a variety of different factors, such as your location, niche, and sector.

Since Wyoming does not require a “general” business license, you will need to check the fee of each local, state, and federal license that you will need to obtain in order to make sure your business remains legally compliant and is not subjected to fees and/or government penalties.

For example, if your business sells certain goods — and is required to collect sales tax — you will need to obtain a sales tax license, which carries a fee of $60.

All in all, we recommend consulting with the relevant state and local agencies to determine the exact costs for your specific business.