DC DOING BUSINESS GUIDE 2018/2019 33
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT BASIC BUSINESS LICENSING
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING FOR MY
BUSINESS?
I HAVE CLIENTS IN THE DISTRICT, BUT I DON'T
HAVE AN OFFICE THERE. DO I STILL NEED TO
APPLY FOR A BASIC BUSINESS LICENSE?
If you have thought through your business needs and your
business will not be operating out of a physical location,
then the process should take less than two weeks.
Inspections, plans, permit reviews, etc. demand more time
for brick-and-mortar businesses.
If you are conducting business in the District, are
registered with the Office of Tax and Revenue to do
business in the District, and are not otherwise licensed,
you are required to have a Basic Business License.
IF MY BUSINESS IS ALREADY REGISTERED
OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, DC, DO I STILL
NEED TO REGISTER MY BUSINESS IN DC TO DO
BUSINESS IN THE CITY?
I AM A SUB-CONTRACTOR AND AM ONLY IN DC
FOR ONE CONTRACT. DO I NEED TO GET MY OWN
BASIC BUSINESS LICENSE?
An organization registered in another state or country
that seeks to transact business in the District of Columbia
must obtain authority to do business in DC by filing an
application for foreign registration. See bit.ly/dcforeignreg
for more information. This is an easy process that DCRA
can help you expedite.
If you are a sub-contractor, and the firm you are contracting
with is properly licensed to do business in the District, you
are required to get your own; you would not fall under the
contractor's license.
I AM A CONTRACTOR WHOSE BUSINESS IS BASED
IN ANOTHER STATE, BUT I WANT TO DO BUSINESS
IN DC; DO I NEED TO SET UP AN OFFICE IN DC?
I'M EMPLOYED BUT I DO SOME FREELANCE
WORK ON THE SIDE. DO I NEED A BASIC
BUSINESS LICENSE?
No. If you are a contractor who is located and licensed
outside of the District, you must establish a Registered
Agent who will be the District’s primary point of contact
for your business. Visit bit.ly/registeredagent for
more information.
If you are conducting business in the District, are
registered with the Office of Tax and Revenue to do
business in the District, and are not otherwise licensed,
you are required to have a Basic Business License.
I'M A CONSULTANT, NOT A BUSINESS, AND I FILE
MY EARNINGS ON MY PERSONAL TAX FORM BUT
I WAS TOLD I STILL NEED A BASIC BUSINESS
LICENSE. WHY?
I’M SETTING UP A MOBILE FOOD BUSINESS,
BUT I’M BASED IN ANOTHER STATE. DO I NEED
A VENDING LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN
WASHINGTON, DC?
Unless you are registered as a business with the Office of
Tax and Revenue, and have a Business Tax ID number (also
referred to as a Federal Employer Identification Number),
you are not required to obtain a Basic Business License.
Yes. The vending license is one of the specialized
categories of business licenses that DCRA offers for
food trucks. There are specific requirements that the
vessel (truck or stand) must meet as well as specific tax
obligations that are unique to mobile vendors. Reach out
to DCRA or visit bit.ly/dcfoodtruckreg and dmvfta.org/
washingtondc for more information.
/dmvfta.org