Licenses and permits protect your business from penalties and risk of closure, as well as help customers feel reassured it's safe to do business with you. You may need licenses, permits, and registrations to legally run your business and meet all local, county, state, and federal requirements. The exact number of business licenses you need to register for depends on your industry, location, and business activities. On average, LegalZoom's business license customers require at least 6 licenses to operate legally.
For example, if you want to operate your business from home, you may need a home occupation permit. A restaurant might need a health department permit in addition to an alcohol and food service license—and may even want a music license to host shows. If you open a shop, you may need a seller's permit and a sales tax license.