The state of North Carolina has no single business license that will ensure compliance with the numerous state licenses, permits, and regulatory requirements. Additionally, your business may be subject to local and/or federal requirements. Simply knowing which agencies to contact for all of these permits can be a very confusing task for a new entrepreneur.

Contact the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Business ServiCenter at 800.228.8443 or 919.447.7828 for state licensing and permitting requirements.

North Carolina Department of Commerce 
301 N. Wilmington St. 
Raleigh, NC 27601-1058 
919.733.4151

Business Link North Carolina 
15000 Weston Pkwy
Cary, NC 27513
800.228.8443
Provides information and assistance in locating and applying for business licenses.

Business Name Registration 
Wake County Justice Center
Wake County Register of Deeds 
300 S. Salisbury St., Suite 1700
Raleigh, NC 27601 
919.856.5460
Application and information on business name registration

City of Raleigh Business License
City of Raleigh | Department of Finance/Revenue Division
222 W. Hargett St. 
PO Box 590 
Raleigh, NC 27602 
919.996.3215
Processes applications for all businesses conducting business in the Raleigh city limits

Inspections and Permits 
Wake County Department of Planning, Development, and Inspections
336 Fayetteville St., First Floor 
Raleigh, NC 27601 
919.856.6060 
Building permits, sign permits, inspections, and zoning permits

North Carolina Privilege License 
North Carolina Department of Revenue 
501 N. Wilmington St. 
Raleigh, NC 27604 
General Information: 877.252.3052
    Corporate and Franchise Tax
    Sales and Use Tax Registration 
    Other Taxes
Excise Tax Division: 877.308.9092
Electronic Services: 877.308.9103

Corporation Charter (Corporation Only) 
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State 
Corporations Division 
2 S. Salisbury St. 
Raleigh, NC 27601 
919.807.2225

For general information on corporate application and name availability, contact the town hall of your municipality.

Apex
73 Hunter St. 
Apex, NC 27502 
919.249.3400

Cary
316 N. Academy St. 
Cary, NC 27513 
919.469.4000

Fuquay-Varina 
401 Old Honeycutt Road 
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 
919.552.1400

Garner 
900 7th Ave. 
Garner, NC 27529 
919.773.4407 

Holly Springs 
128 S. Main St. 
Holly Springs, NC 27540 
919.552.6221

Knightdale 
950 Steeple Square Court 
Knightdale, NC 27545 
919.217.2220 

Morrisville 
100 Town Hall Drive 
Morrisville, NC 27560 
919.463.6200 

Raleigh
222 W. Hargett St.
Raleigh NC 27601
919.996.3000

Rolesville 
502 Southtown Circle 
Rolesville, NC 27571 
919.556.3506 

Wake Forest
301 S. Brooks St. 
Wake Forest, NC 27587 
919.435.9400

Wendell
15 E. Fourth St. 
Wendell, NC 27591 
919.365.4450

Zebulon
1003 N. Arendell Ave. 
Zebulon, NC 27597 
919.269.7455