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How to Get a Business License in Illinois

POR Hispanic Entrepreneurs March 04, 2024

Before opening your own company you should know how to get a business license in Illinois. We advance that you must investigate not only in the state, but in the county and the city because each one may have different requirements. In Hispanic Entrepreneurs We have more details on the requirements and the process.

Do I need a business license?

This is one of the most frequent questions that entrepreneurs ask themselves when they are ready to open their business. Most businesses need some kind of license or permit to operate. These types of documents are sometimes issued by the state, sometimes by the county. So you must find out in all instances what you need.

For some businesses, the process will be simple, while others require inspections and, therefore, take longer.

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If you want to get one Illinois business license You should go to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). This is the agency that is responsible for issuing licenses in the state.

Through IDFPR's Professional Regulation Division you can apply for a new license. Right there you can renew and verify professional license holders.

The role of the Division of Professional Regulation is to verify that the license holder has the necessary qualifications. Likewise, that it meets and applies all standards in professional practice.

Most professions need to obtain an IDFPR license to run a business. This includes health and occupational professionals. Find it list of regulated professions on the agency's website.

What happens if my business is at home?

Many people want to start and run their business from home. It should be borne in mind that this does not exempt from the responsibility of having the corresponding authorizations. In other words, most communities require that the company be registered and licensed.

In this case, the state of Illinois will not issue a license to operate a license from home. This type of procedure must be done before the municipal government and the county.

You also have to investigate what other regulations the community has. For example, there may be a time limit to work.

How to Get a Business License in Illinois

Obtaining the corresponding licenses is part of the process to open a business in Illinois. Any professional wishing to work in the state must apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

This applies to any regulated profession or occupation, among which we find architects, beauticians, barbers, counselors, detectives and many others. The IDFPR offers the complete list.

The application process and requirements depend on the profession itself. So it will be necessary to consult the statute corresponding to each case.

There are several methods to apply for the license. Among them we can mention:                      

  1. The applicant must pass several or all of the scheduled exams specific to their profession. In order to access through this method they must meet prerequisites that include education and experience.
  2. If the applicant has an original license issued in another state, they can request an endorsement of it. In this case it will be compared that the requirements were equivalent to those of Illinois at the time of applying for the license.
  3. Another method is the acceptance of the national examination that the interested party has presented in any state.
  4. You can also request the restoration of the license when it has expired and it is necessary to reapply. In some cases it will be necessary to take an exam.

Another way to access the licenses and permits to open a business It is through an application without an exam. This is possible when the applicant meets all the requirements established in the statute.

Requirements to apply for professional licenses

There are a series of requirements that are common to all professions and that must accompany the application document. These are:

  1. Complete all the questions with the person history included in the application document. This must be signed and include the application date.
  2. Send the application along with the payment of the corresponding fee and supporting documents.
  3. Exam results must be sent by the testing entity. The rest of the supporting documents can go along with the application or from the training center.
  4. You must include the Social Security Number or the SSN affidavit.
  5. Translate all non-English documents. The translation must be notarized.

In the case of health professions, the CCA form must be included and submitted along with the application.

Some professions also require criminal background checks and fingerprint processing by the Illinois State Police.

In addition to these, other types of business licenses may be required to operate in the state.

Now you know how to get a business license in Illinois. Also find out about the requirements that are required locally to open your business.

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