Vermont · Start a business

How to start a business in Vermont

Vermont requires workers compensation coverage for all employment, including independent contractors and subcontractors.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$155FILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINMAROPENVERMONT · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Vermont, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $155 for an LLC, $155 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

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What do you file before you open in Vermont?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Vermont LLC guide, Vermont corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Vermont. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. Vermont registers an assumed business name with the Secretary of State's Business Services Division and requires renewal every five years. Individuals using a name with their full legal name are exempt. 1 See Vermont name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Vermont charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $155 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $155 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A Vermont corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and a registered agent for service of process in the state. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Vermont registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Vermont?

  1. 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

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Vermont Department of Taxes registers new businesses through its myVTax portal, with a separate account for each of Sales and Use, Meals and Rooms, and Withholding tax. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    The Vermont Department of Labor treats an employer as liable for unemployment insurance coverage when it has an employee in each of 20 different weeks or pays at least $1,500 in gross wages in a calendar quarter. 7 Vermont employers report each new hire online through the Department of Labor's Employer e-Services within 10 days of the first day work is performed. 8 The Vermont Department of Labor says workers compensation coverage is required for all employment, and employers are liable for anyone they employ, including independent contractors and subcontractors. 9

What keeps your Vermont business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation takes applications for individual and business licenses through its Online Services Platform. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Vermont annual report: $45, due March 31 every year. 11 See Vermont annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Vermont runs through the Vermont Small Business Development Center. 12 The Vermont Business Portal is the state's online hub for starting, managing and growing a business, with a new business checklist. 13

What it costs to start a business in Vermont

$155to file an LLC 2
$155to file a corporation's articles 3
$70for an assumed business name 2
$45each year, annual report 11
7,614business applications filed in Vermont in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Vermont?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 16 Vermont's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Vermont Business Portal.

  • Meals and Rooms Tax license. A Vermont business that sells meals or rents rooms must obtain a Meals and Rooms Tax license from the Department of Taxes and display it where customers can see it. 15

How to register a business name in Vermont

QuestionVermont
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeSecretary of State Business Services Division
What it is calledassumed business name

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Vermont

  • Child Care Contribution. Vermont employers pay a Child Care Contribution of 0.44% of employee wages earned in Vermont, remitted to the Department of Taxes with withholding tax, and collection began on July 1, 2024. 17
  • Unpaid family and parental leave (Act 32). Under Vermont Act 32, employers with at least 10 employees who work an average of 30 or more hours per week must give eligible employees unpaid bereavement, safe, parental and qualifying exigency leave. 18

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Vermont?

Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Vermont Department of Taxes, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Vermont?

In Vermont, an LLC filing is $155 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $155. The annual report is $45 each year.

Can I start a business in Vermont with no money?

Vermont charges $155 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $45 each year. 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 Vermont?

The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development lists two State Small Business Credit Initiative programs, a Venture Capital Program and a Loan Participation Program, funded through $57.9 million in ARPA money.

What is the Vermont SBDC?

The Vermont Small Business Development Center is a statewide program of the Vermont State Colleges, hosted by Vermont State University, and offers one-to-one, no fee, confidential advising.

Sources 19 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration sos.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.vermont.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing sos.vermont.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule legislature.vermont.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration tax.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration labor.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting labor.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage labor.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  10. General business license sos.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. Vermont annual report bizfilings.vermont.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center vtsbdc.org, checked Nov 13, 2026
  13. State business portal business.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Meals and Rooms Tax license tax.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  16. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. Child Care Contribution tax.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  18. Unpaid family and parental leave (Act 32) labor.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  19. State small business funding accd.vermont.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

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