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 Out of City Business License

Agency:City of Allentown Revenue Department (PA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Out of City Business License Registration Application 

Filing Method:

Mail. 

Agency Fee:

$35 application fee

Law:

City of Allentown Code

Registration Renewal

Form:

Out of City Business License Registration Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail. 

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

Agency Fee:

$25

Registration Renewal

Form:

Business License Registration Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail

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

Form:

Business License Registration Application

Instructions:

All filings require the submission of Federal Tax form to accompany the application.

Filing Method:

Mail or Online

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by estimated gross receipts.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Business License Registration Application (Renewal)

Instructions:

All filings require the submission of Federal Tax form to accompany the application.

Filing Method:

Mail or Online

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by estimated gross receipts.

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.

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.

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: