The most important thing to do when researching business licenses is to contact each of the necessary government agencies directly to verify the requirements that apply to you. Almost all municipalities require some type of business licence or permit. These permits and licences are governed by local bylaws that have been passed to protect the community against certain hazards and to better organize business development. However, these by-laws do not attempt to regulate the integrity or honesty of businesses. Those issues are left to consumer watch groups such as the Better Business Bureau.
Some people tend to use the terms licences and permits interchangeably.
Licences and permits are actually two separate issues and care should be taken to investigate the requirements of both to determine if either or both apply to your business. Permits usually relate to the land use at the location of your business, namely your physical premises. Licences most often pertain to the business activity that occurs on those premises. One of the most common types of permits for small businesses is the Home Occupancy Permit. Many municipalities have bylaws that allow for home occupancy for small businesses, subject to some restrictive conditions.