How Much Does a Business License Cost? [2026 Guide]

There's no single answer

$50 for a business license in Phoenix. $4,800 for a Tavern license in Chicago. $500,000 for a quota liquor license in Miami. When someone asks "how much does a business license cost?" the honest answer is: it depends on your city, your state, your business type, and your revenue. Here are real numbers for 2026.

General business license costs by city

• Los Angeles, CA: Based on gross receipts. Minimum about $150/year. A business grossing $500,000 pays roughly $1,200/year.
• San Francisco, CA: $92 for the Business Registration Certificate, plus gross receipts tax starting around $600/year.
• Houston, TX: Flat fee. Most retail and service businesses pay $100 to $300/year.
• Austin, TX: $50 to $200 depending on type.
• Miami, FL: $50 to $250/year.
• Chicago, IL: Limited Business License $250/2 years. Retail Food $660/2 years. Tavern $4,400/year.
• Atlanta, GA: Minimum $75/year based on revenue.
• Phoenix, AZ: Flat $50.

Industry-specific license costs

Liquor licenses

California ABC Type 47/48: $13,800 base, secondary market $50,000 to $200,000. Texas TABC: $5,531 to $6,281 for 2 years. Florida 4COP quota: $50,000 to $500,000+ secondary market. New York SLA: $4,352.

Health permits

Full food service: $200 to $1,000/year. Mobile food vendor: $300 to $900/year. Salon establishment: $25 to $200/year.

Contractor licenses

California CSLB: $450 application + $200 license + $25,000 bond. Florida CILB: about $400 application/exam + $209 renewal. NYC HIC: $200/2 years + $10,000 to $25,000 bond.

The costs nobody warns you about

Processing time: a 4-month liquor license process while paying $5,000/month rent is a $20,000 hidden cost. Professional help: $2,000 to $10,000 for permit expediting. Insurance: $10,000 to $25,000/year for a bar. Renewal penalties: an expired license can cost 10x the renewal fee.

How to budget

Budget 2% to 5% of first-year startup costs for permits. Budget 1% to 2% of revenue annually for renewals. If you need a liquor license, add $5,000 to $200,000+.

Get exact numbers

Run the free permit checker for your specific business type and city. Check costs for a bar in Los Angeles or a restaurant in Houston. And track it all with PermitDue, one payment, no subscription.