District of Columbia · Start a business
How to start a business in District of Columbia
District of Columbia licenses business activity by the type of activity conducted, through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
See the checklistShort answer
To start a business in District of Columbia, pick a structure and file with the Corporations Division: $99 for an LLC, $99 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. District of Columbia's business license rule covers many businesses.
Last checked .What do you file before you open in District of Columbia?
Pick a structure
Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See District of Columbia LLC guide, District of Columbia corporation guide, S corp or C corp in District of Columbia. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.
Check and register the name
Search the Corporations Division records before you pick a name: state name search. The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection's Corporations Division registers trade names through BOSS for $55, and a registered trade name is renewed every two years. 1 See District of Columbia name search guide.
File with the state
District of Columbia charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $99 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $99 3. See LLC cost.
Name a registered agent
The articles of incorporation must give a registered agent's name and address in the District of Columbia. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See District of Columbia registered agent rules.
Which accounts do you open after you file in District of Columbia?
Get an EIN
An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5
Open your state tax accounts
The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue takes new business registrations on the FR-500 form, filed through MyTax.DC.gov. 6 See Sales tax permit.
Register as an employer
The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services requires any business with employees working in the District to register online through its Employer Self-Service Portal. 7 District of Columbia employers report each newly hired or re-hired employee to the District of Columbia Directory of New Hires within 20 days of the hire or re-hire date. 8 The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services says an employer with 1 or more employees must have workers' compensation insurance, or apply for approval to self-insure. 9
What keeps your District of Columbia business in good standing?
Check licenses and permits
The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection licenses business activity in the District, and the license an owner or operator needs depends on the business activity conducted. 10
Calendar the yearly filings
DC biennial report: $300, due every two years, by April 1. 11 See District of Columbia annual report.
Use free local help
Small business advising in District of Columbia runs through the DC Small Business Development Center. 12 The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection points entrepreneurs to BOSS as the system for information on starting, growing and maintaining local businesses. 13
What it costs to start a business in District of Columbia
Do you need a business license in District of Columbia?
Often, yes. District of Columbia's business license rule covers many businesses but not all of them; the conditions are in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: BOSS.
- Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit. The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection says a business in a commercial location needs a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Buildings, and one in a residential space needs a Home Occupation Permit before the business license. 15
- General Business license fees. The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection lists General Business license fees of $49 for 6 months, $99 for 2 years and $198 for 4 years. 16
How to register a business name in District of Columbia
| Question | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Where it is filed | With the state 1 |
| Office | Corporations Division |
| What it is called | trade name |
| Fee | $55 |
| Term in years | 2 |
Check that the name is free first: state name search.
Also in District of Columbia
- Paid Family Leave tax. The District of Columbia Office of Paid Family Leave sets a Paid Family Leave tax rate of 0.75% of the wage paid to each covered employee for every quarter of 2026. 17
More for District of Columbia
Start your District of Columbia business
We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.
Start my LLCCommon questions
What are the steps to start a business in District of Columbia?
Pick a structure, file with the Corporations Division, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Office of Tax and Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.
What does it cost to register a business in District of Columbia?
In District of Columbia, an LLC filing is $99 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $99. The biennial report is $300 every two years.
Can I start a business in District of Columbia with no money?
District of Columbia charges $99 to file an LLC, and the biennial report is $300 every two years. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one.
Are there small business grants in District of Columbia?
The District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development lists one grant of $175,000 for fiscal year 2027, open to District-based for-profit or non-profit entities not funded through its Main Streets Program.
What is the District of Columbia SBDC?
The District of Columbia Small Business Development Center offers one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to new and existing businesses, with Howard University serving as the network's headquarters.
Sources 18 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
- DBA or trade name registration dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dlcp.dc.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
- Corporation filing dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Registered agent rule dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State tax registration otr.cfo.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Unemployment insurance registration unemployment.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- New hire reporting oag.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Workers' compensation coverage does.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- General business license dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- DC biennial report code.dccouncil.gov, checked Oct 4, 2026
- Small Business Development Center dcsbdc.org, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State business portal dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- General Business license fees dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Paid Family Leave tax dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State small business funding dslbd.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
Last verified Nov 12, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.