Pennsylvania Business License

A businessman opening the office door for his employees

General Business License Requirements for Pennsylvania.

Business licenses are often required of business entities, regardless of their products and services. This page provides an overview of business license requirements in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania General Business Licenses

Pennsylvania Business License

Not required



General Business License licensure is not required on the State level in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania does not have a general business license at the state level, but local licenses are often required.

Local General Business Licenses

City of Allentown Business License
Agency:City of Allentown Revenue Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$35

Registration Renewal
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$35

Due:

Annually by December 31.

City of Bethlehem Business Privilege License
Agency:City of Bethlehem Tax Bureau (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Business License Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail to Tri State Financial Group, LLC P.O. Box 38 Bridgeport, PA 19405 

Agency Fee:

$25

Registration Renewal
Form:

Business License Registration Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail to Tri State Financial Group, LLC P.O. Box 38 Bridgeport, PA 19405 

Agency Fee:

$25

Due:

Annually by April 30.

City of Easton Business License
Agency:City of Easton Finance Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by estimated gross receipts.

Registration Renewal
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by estimated gross receipts.

Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31. Annual tax payments are due annually by April 15. 

Hanover Borough Mercantile and Business Privilege Tax License
Agency:York Adams Tax Bureau - Employer Services Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

New Business Registration

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on gross receipts

Required Attachments:
Renewal Not Required

Not required



Licenses are automatically renewed with the filing and payment of a business's local taxes.

City of Harrisburg Business Privilege and Mercantile License
Agency:City of Harrisburg - Bureau of Licensing, Taxation, and Central Support (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Register Your Business

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:
  • $50 license and filing fee
  • Additional fees vary based on the nature of the business and gross receipts
Before you Apply:

The Bureau of Licensing, Taxation, and Central Support highly recommends first-time applicants call the office to verify the required documents and initial fees to avoid any processing delays.

Required Attachments:
  • Business Zoning/Fire Prevention Permit, if applicable
  • Home Occupation Agreement, if applicable
  • Health License, if applicable
Registration Renewal
Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:
  • $50 license and filing fee
  • Additional fees vary based on the nature of the business and gross receipts
Due:

Annually by December 31

Notes:

Renewal notices with instructions will be mailed prior to the expiration of the license

Township of Lower Merion Business License
Agency:Township of Lower Merion Finance Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Business License Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$20

Registration Renewal
Form:

Business License Registration Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$20

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Notes:

An application only needs to be submitted if your business information has changed. If there has been no change, simply pay the fee to renew.

Lower Providence Township Business License
Agency:Lower Providence Township - Community Development Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Starting a Business in Lower Providence

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$100

Registration Renewal
Form:

Renewal forms, invoices, and instructions are mailed out prior to the expiration of the license. These are sent in the quarter in which your business license was approved the year prior. 

Filing Method:

Mail or online (a link will be sent to the license holder to pay fees online)

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by the inspection date indicated on the renewal notice

City of Monroeville Business Tax License
Agency:City of Monroeville - Business Tax Office (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Monroeville Business Registration Form

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Licenses are renewed with the annual payment of business taxes.

Montgomery Township Business Privilege License
Agency:Montgomery Township Finance Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Agency Fee:

Fees are based on annual gross receipts; the minimum fee is $10.

Notes:

Contact the department for a license application.

Registration Renewal
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fees are based on annual gross receipts; the minimum fee is $10.

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Montgomery Township Business Tax
Agency:Montgomery Township Tax Department - Business Privilege Tax/ Mercantile Tax (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Notes:

The Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors has appointed Berkheimer Innovations (Berkheimer) as the Business Privilege/Mercantile and Amusement Tax Collector. 

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Business Privilege and / or Mercantile Tax License Application 

Filing Method:

Online or mail 

Agency Fee:

Fee detemrined by business type. 

Registration Renewal
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by business type. 

Due:

Annually by December 31. 

Palmer Township Business Privilege License
Agency:Palmer Township Municipal Building (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:
Filing Method:

Mail or fax

Agency Fee:

$30 license fee

Notes:

Businesses applying for licenses with a physical location within Palmer Township will have their application sent to the Zoning Department for approval. Once approved, your application will be forwarded to Berkheimer Associates and the will bill you for your license and the associated taxes.

Registration Renewal
Filing Method:

Mail or fax

Agency Fee:

$30 license renewal fee

Due:

Annually by January 1

Notes:

Renewal notices and instructions are mailed prior to the expiration of the license 

Philadelphia Commercial Activity License
Agency:City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Reading Business Privilege License
Agency:City of Reading Citizens' Service Center (PA)
Initial Registration
Form:

Business Privilege License Application

Agency Fee:

$55

Registration Renewal
Form:

Renewal notices will be mailed annually in early January.

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by January 31.

Upper Merion Township Business Privilege License
Agency:Upper Merion Township - Finance Department - Business Tax Office/Tri-State Financial Group (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Township of Upper Merion Application Business-Mercantile License

Filing Method:

Mail or Fax

Agency Fee:

$25

Renewal Not Required

Not required



This license is renewed with the annual payment of the business privilege taxes and fees.

City of Whitehall Business License
Agency:Whitehall Township Tax Office (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Initial Registration
Form:

Business License Registration Application

Instructions:

Zoning certification must be submitted along with the application.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$35

Registration Renewal
Form:

Business License Application (Renewal)

Instructions:

Zoning certification must be submitted along with the application.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$35

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Bucks County Business License
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Registration Not Required

Not required



Learn about general business licensing requirements in other states:

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