They did it to get around a military regulation at Ft. Huachuca that prevented uniformed soldiers from entering business establishments. State licenses are also required of businesses that must meet certain state standards or codes, such as restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol. Each state has different agencies regulating these types of businesses. Contact your local government offices to see if your particular business requires a state license.
Local libraries are another good source for state-specific licensing information.
Obtain license requirement information and application paperwork from the state agency regulating your kind of business. Complete the application and file it with the appropriate state office, and pay filing fees as required. In some states, business licenses are the exception rather than the rule. However, almost all states require a sales tax license or permit for all retail businesses. This allows you to charge sales tax to customers on items purchased.