Clipboard with a blank form, a pen and a small plant on a desk, How to Start a Business in Reno, Nevada

How to Start a Business in Reno, Nevada

Last verified: November 5, 2026

Quick answer: a Reno business has to clear three levels in order: the Nevada Secretary of State (entity and state business license), the Nevada Department of Taxation (tax registration), and then the City of Reno.

  • Who licenses you: the City of Reno Business License Division if your address is inside Reno or you do any business physically in the city. Sparks and unincorporated Washoe County license separately.
  • Where to apply: the One Regional Licensing and Permits portal, or in person at Reno City Hall, 1 East First Street, 2nd floor.
  • City fee: from $70 a year, set by license classification or annual gross receipts.
  • Bring: proof of your Nevada State Business License and Department of Taxation registration, workers' compensation proof if you have employees, and a fictitious name filing if you use a trade name.
  • City contact: 775-334-2090.

Reno is in Washoe County. Nevada has no state personal or corporate income tax (Nevada Secretary of State: Why Incorporate in Nevada, Wayback snapshot of October 11, 2026), but a Reno company still pays state filing fees, a city license and, depending on size, payroll and gross-receipts taxes. This guide walks through the order of filings and what each one costs. The city license has its own detailed guide: Reno business license: fee, application and renewal.

Informational only: this guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm your situation with a Nevada attorney or CPA, especially for liability protection and tax treatment.

Reno, Sparks or Washoe County: Who Licenses You

Three offices license businesses in the Reno area, and your address decides which one applies. The City of Reno licenses a business whose physical address is inside city limits or that conducts any activity physically inside the city (City of Reno: New Business License Information). Washoe County licenses businesses located in unincorporated areas such as Sun Valley, Lemmon Valley, Spanish Springs and Incline Village, and it also expects a county license from a business based in Reno or Sparks that physically works in those unincorporated areas (Washoe County: Business License). A Reno contractor or mobile service that crosses into those areas can therefore need both licenses.

For the other two offices, see our Washoe County business license guide and Sparks business license guide, and the City of Sparks: business licenses page.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these before you file:

  • A business name that carries an LLC designation and is distinguishable from every name on file with the Secretary of State (NRS 86.171).
  • A structure decision: LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship or partnership. This guide follows the LLC path; our LLC versus corporation guide covers the choice.
  • A registered agent: every Nevada LLC needs one with a street address in Nevada, and the filing must include the agent's signed certificate of acceptance (NRS 86.231, NRS 77.310). Our registered agent guide explains when you can act as your own.
  • Names and addresses of the organizer and of each manager, or of each member if the LLC is member-managed (NRS 86.161).
  • Filing money: $425 for the state side in the first year (see the cost table below).

Reno Business License: What the City Requires

The City of Reno license is separate from the Nevada State Business License, and the city will not process an application without proof of the state license (City of Reno: New Business License Information). That is why the state filings below come first.

  • Authority: the city licenses under NRS 268.095, and its rules are in Reno Municipal Code Titles 4 and 5 (City of Reno: Common Questions and Business Resources).
  • Fee: there are over 100 license classifications. A business not on the city's fee schedule pays by annual gross receipts: $70 up to $20,000, $150 from $20,001 to $100,000, and $150 plus 0.085% of receipts above $100,000 up to $5,000,000 (same source). Confirm your classification before you budget.
  • Location: the city rejects a P.O. box as a business location; it can be a mailing address only.
  • Zoning: check with the city's planner of the day, 775-321-8309, before you sign a lease. Commercial sites also go through building, fire and planning reviews, and food service needs Northern Nevada Public Health approval.

The complete application walk-through, renewal rules and late penalty are in our Reno business license guide.

Step-by-Step: Start a Business in Reno

Step 1: Check and Reserve Your Business Name

A Nevada LLC name must contain one of the designations in NRS 86.171, such as Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C. or LC, and must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from existing and reserved names. Check availability with the Nevada Secretary of State: business entity search.

If you are not ready to file, a name reservation holds the name for 90 days for $25 (Nevada Secretary of State: name reservation, Wayback snapshot of September 26, 2026; fee also in NRS 86.561).

Step 2: File Your Articles of Organization

File online through the Nevada ORION business portal. The articles name the company, state the registered agent information and acceptance, list the organizers, and name the managers or members (NRS 86.161). They do not ask for a county of operation. The filing fee is $75 (NRS 86.561).

The Secretary of State can charge a fee for faster service, capped by statute at $125 for same-day-to-24-hour service, $500 for 2-hour service and $1,000 for 1-hour service (NRS 225.140). Those are ceilings, not the amounts charged, so check the amount in the portal before you pay. If you would rather not file yourself, you can compare Nevada LLC services.

Step 3: File the Initial List and Get the State Business License

An LLC files its initial list with the articles, and the list fee is $150 (NRS 86.263). The entity gets its Nevada State Business License when it files that list. The fee is $200, or $500 for a corporation (NRS 76.100).

Both renew every year. The annual list is $150 and is due by the last day of the month in which your LLC's anniversary falls (NRS 86.263). The Secretary of State lists the same due month and a $100 late penalty for the license (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot of October 14, 2026). See our annual list and license renewal guide.

Step 4: Register With the Department of Taxation

You need this registration before the city will license you. Register through Nevada Department of Taxation: start and run a business. If you sell taxable goods, you also need a sales tax permit, which the Department lists at $15 per location. The statewide base rate is 6.85% and Washoe County adds a local rate, so look up the combined rate for your address in the Department's sales and use tax rate publications before you price anything.

Step 5: Apply for Your City of Reno License

With the state license number and tax registration in hand, apply to the City of Reno as described in the city license section above. If you use a trade name that differs from your LLC name, file a fictitious firm name with the Washoe County Clerk: Business Services Division first; the city asks for proof. Our DBA guide covers the process.

Step 6: Get Your EIN

The IRS issues the EIN free of charge. Form your LLC with the state first, then apply directly through the IRS: Get an Employer Identification Number page, because the IRS warns that applying before the state filing can delay the EIN. Beware of paid look-alike sites. See how to get an EIN in Nevada.

Step 7: Open a Business Bank Account

Bring your filed articles and EIN letter to a Reno bank or credit union. Keeping business money in its own account protects the separation between you and the LLC. Our best banks for small business in Nevada guide lists options.

What Starting in Reno Costs

ItemCostSource and notes
Articles of organization$75NRS 86.561
Initial list (LLC)$150NRS 86.263; $150 again each year
Nevada State Business License$200 ($500 corporation)NRS 76.100; renews each year
Name reservation (optional)$25Holds the name for 90 days
Sales tax permit (if you sell taxable goods)$15 per locationNevada Department of Taxation
City of Reno business licenseFrom $70City of Reno fee schedule; by classification or gross receipts
Fictitious firm name (if used)Set by the clerkConfirm the amount with the Washoe County Clerk
Registered agentSet by each providerFree if you act as your own agent

For a new LLC, the state side is $425 in the first year ($75 plus $150 plus $200) and $350 each year after, before the Reno license and any registered agent fee.

Taxes Beyond the License Fees

Reno-Specific Points to Check

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying to the city first. The city will not process the application without the state license.
  • Using the wrong jurisdiction. Reno, Sparks and unincorporated Washoe County each license separately, and working in more than one can mean more than one license.
  • Missing the annual list. A late list adds a $75 penalty, and an unresolved default ends in revocation of the charter (NRS 86.272 and 86.274).
  • Treating no income tax as no taxes. The license fees, sales tax, Modified Business Tax and federal taxes all still apply.
  • Skipping an operating agreement. It is not filed with the state, but it records how the LLC is run and how profits are shared.

Next Steps After Formation

  1. Open a business bank account with your articles and EIN letter.
  2. Get the City of Reno license before you start operating.
  3. Buy insurance that fits your industry; see Nevada business insurance coverage.
  4. Write an operating agreement.
  5. Put your annual list and license due month on the calendar.
  6. Talk to a CPA about federal tax planning and estimated payments.

For free counseling, the Nevada Small Business Development Center can help with planning and licensing questions.

Disclaimer

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm fees and requirements with the Nevada Secretary of State, the Department of Taxation, the City of Reno and the Washoe County Clerk, and talk to a Nevada attorney or CPA if your structure is complex.

Sources

Keep exploring: related Nevada guides