Avoid costly mistakes: The 9 business licenses every owner needs to know about

If you’re running a business, you must understand what licenses are required - here are the 9 licenses you’re most likely to need:

(this post was remixed from a Twitter thread you can find here)

1. Selling food?

You have to register your food business with your local council.

This is free and is required if your business involves selling, cooking, preparing, storing, or handling food in general.

You must register at least 28 days before you start any food operation.

2. Dealing with meat or dairy?

You need food premises approval from your local council if your business serves meat and dairy products (including eggs).

There are some exceptions.

But this licence is in addition to registering your food business with the council (#1 mentioned above).

3. Selling alcohol?

You need a premises licence and/or a Personal licence from your local council.

The cost of the premises licence depends on the fee band of your premises.

You or someone in your business requires a qualification to apply for a Personal licence.

4. Playing recorded music?

You need to apply for TheMusicLicence through the PPL PRS website if you are playing or performing music in public.

For example:

• to play music on your premises; or

• playing hold music on a customer service call.

5. Putting on live entertainment?

You need a premises licence from your local council to use your premises for regulated entertainment, for example:

• A live music performance

• Staging a play

• Showing a film

• Playing recorded music

• etc. etc. (many others)

6. Hosting an event?

If you're hosting an event that is not already covered by an existing licence you have, you need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) from your local council.

For example, holding a wedding reception at a community centre.

You’ll need to apply a minimum of 10 days before the event.

7. Trading on the street?

You need a street trading licence from your local council.

You may have to pay a licence fee as well as charges for things like street cleaning or waste collection.

If you trade without a licence you could be fined up to £1,000.

8. Selling door-to-door?

You need to apply to the Chief of police for a certificate in the area where you sell.

The certificate permits you for door-to-door selling on foot, carrying goods with you.

9. Offering credit services?

You need to apply to the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) for authorisation to provide credit.

Providing credit services is complex and highly regulated.

As a result, receiving this authorisation from the is an extremely involved and lengthy process.

Unless this is what your business specialises in and/or is a critical part of your business model, this is not recommended.

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