Kentucky Business License

For information on planning, operating, starting, or expanding your business, you can visit The Kentucky OneStop Business Portal. It is part of Kentucky state government and has links to important business-related government websites as well as other helpful resources for running or starting a small business.

You can also turn to The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (CED) for assistance. Information on innovation and entrepreneurship can be found on the Small Business Section of the CED website. Links for resources such as the Kentucky Innovation Network can also be found. Information on financial programs and business incentives is also available. The website has a database that links buyers and small businesses from both governments and larger businesses.

For advice on how to start, fund, or grow your business, The KentuckySmall Business Development Center (SBDC) is also a great resource. Its website provides confidential business counseling services and free online training sessions. For more information on making your business a success, there are over one dozen SBDC regional offices throughout Kentucky. The Kentucky SBDC is grouped with a national network of development centers for small businesses.

In Louisville, there is an SBA (Small Business Administration) district office. You can turn to its website for a list of upcoming events, news, and resources for small businesses. The website for the Louisville SBA also publishes a downloadable Resource Guide for Small Business that is Kentucky-focused.

Licenses are not needed for every business in Kentucky. Kentucky does not issue a general business license. Some businesses require multiple licenses or permits while others only need one or none at all. Kentucky occasionally refers to required licenses and permits collectively as "occupational." This term covers permits and licenses that are related to particular business activities. The terms "regulatory" or "professional" are also used to refer to these licenses and permits.

Occupational licenses or permits can cover specific types of business services or the sale of certain products. Regulatory licenses and permits may specifically cover businesses in the fields of health and safety or the environment. Different state agencies issue their own specific licenses or permits. You can visit the Kentucky OneStop Business Portal for help regarding which regulatory permits or licenses you may need. The information can be found in the section titled "Occupational Business Licenses/Permits."

State licenses are not the only business licenses that are issued. Some cities and counties issue local business licenses. The requirements change based on the county or city involved. For example, Lexington has its own unique business license requirements. To find out whether your city or county has specific local licensing requirements, check its website. Be sure to check the city or county in which your business will operate. Under some state or federal laws, some businesses are excluded from needing local licenses.

Some legal business types require records to be filed with the state. For example, limited liability companies need records to be filed with the state as well as corporations. In Kentucky, LLCs, corporations, and specific other business types must file organizational records with the Kentucky SOS. Feel free to visit the Business Filings section of the SOS website for additional information.

Kentucky requires members of some occupations or professions to get specific licenses that are issued by the state. A list of many of the professions and occupations whose members are required to be licensed can be found online in The Occupational Licenses / Permits tab of the Kentucky OneStop Business Portal. When you visit the list, click on a profession and you will receive a link to the website for the profession's state agency or regulatory board. From this regulatory board or agency, you will find information on any licensing requirements. Some professions aren't listed on the Kentucky OneStop Portal, so you will need to do a separate Google search for the licensing information you need. Attorney and Physician are two professions not listed on the website.

Some small businesses are given a name that is different their owner's, and other businesses like corporations and LLCs, for example, are registered with one name but ran under another. The original name is sometimes referred to as the registered name, the true name, or the real name. Depending on the location or structure of your business, its alternative name could be called its assumed name, fictitious name, or trade name. The alternative name may also be called its "doing business as" (DBA). Kentucky requires the name that businesses will be operated under be registered with the SOS. This includes corporations, LLCs, and partnerships. Sole proprietors must file the assumed name of their sole proprietorships with the county clerk in the county where they are a resident.

Service marks, Trademarks, and trade names have unique legal definitions. Speaking generally, they are used to identify products, businesses, or services. They distinguish them from their competitors. The state can register trade names, trademarks, and service marks which is not the same as federal registration. More information about this can be found by visiting the Trademarks and Service Marks section of the SOS website.