Pen, notebook and reading glasses on a wooden table, Nevada Business License: What You Need and How to Get It

Nevada Business License: What You Need and How to Get It

Last verified: November 5, 2026

This guide is for you if you are about to get a Nevada state business license for the first time: a new LLC or corporation, a sole proprietor, or an out-of-state company that now has an office or an employee in Nevada. The part most guides get wrong is the agency. The Nevada Secretary of State issues the license, not the Department of Taxation, and an LLC or corporation pays for it together with its initial list instead of filing a separate application. Renewing an existing license is a different task, covered in our annual list and license renewal guide.

Who Issues the Nevada State Business License

The Secretary of State issues it under NRS 76.100. The license is statewide, it carries the business identification number the Secretary of State assigns to you, and it is in addition to any license from the city or county where you operate (NRS 76.100(6)). It is not a tax return, and it does not register you to collect sales tax; the Department of Taxation handles that separately (see the last section). Nevada does not impose a state income tax on individuals, according to the Department of Taxation, but it does levy other business taxes, and those are separate from this license.

Do You Need a Nevada State Business License?

If you are an entity on file with the Secretary of State, yes, whether or not the business earns anything (NRS 76.020(1)(c)). Everyone else depends on what they are:

Who you areState license needed?Source
LLC, corporation, limited partnership or other entity organized under NRS Title 7Yes. Paid with the initial list and every annual list, even with no revenue.Nevada Legislature: NRS 76.020(1)(c), 76.100(1)(a)
Sole proprietor who files IRS Schedule C, E or F for the activityYes, before you conduct business.NRS 76.020(1)(b), 76.100(1)(b); Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ
General partnershipYes. One license in the partnership's name, not one per partner.Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ
Out-of-state businessYes if it has an office or other base of operations in Nevada, a Nevada registered agent, or pays wages to someone who does the work in Nevada. A business with none of those is deemed not to conduct business here.NRS 76.100(7)
Home-based business run by a natural person with net earnings at or below the statutory capExcluded, but you claim the exclusion with a certificate of exemption that you renew every year.NRS 76.020(2)(c), 76.105
501(c) nonprofit, government entity, or a person whose only business is renting four or fewer dwelling unitsExcluded. Entities under NRS chapters 82 and 84 need no exemption filing; other claimants apply for a certificate of exemption.NRS 76.020(2), 76.105

Our position: if you are not sure an exclusion fits, apply anyway. A missed license costs the fee plus a $100 penalty for each year you conducted business without one (NRS 76.110), and for an entity a missed license also counts as a missed annual list, which starts the default process.

The home-business exclusion is narrower than most people assume. The Secretary of State describes it as a natural person, or a married couple, running the business from a personal residence with no part of it held open to the general public; clients who come by appointment do not count as the general public. The Secretary of State also says real estate agents and swap meet vendors are not working from home for this purpose and need the license (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot October 14, 2026). The earnings cap is 66 2/3% of the average annual wage computed under NRS chapter 612, so the dollar figure moves every year; we do not print one, and the Secretary of State can tell you the current number. For the zoning side of working from home, see our Nevada home-based business guide. For a borderline case, ask a Nevada business attorney or a CPA before relying on an exclusion.

What You Need Before You Apply

  • Your exact business name. For an entity, the name exactly as it is on file with the Secretary of State, plus the business identification number the Secretary of State assigned (NRS 76.100(2)(b)). A sole proprietor gives the name the business operates under.
  • The Nevada location of your place of business. If an entity has no place of business in Nevada, its registered agent's address is treated as the location (NRS 76.100(2)). A registered agent's filing must state an actual street address or rural route box number in Nevada (NRS 77.300).
  • The right signer. The owner of a sole proprietorship, a member or partner of a partnership, a manager or managing member of an LLC, or an officer of a corporation (NRS 76.100(3)).
  • The fee. $200, or $500 for a corporation (NRS 76.100(2)(c)).
  • An EIN. The Department of Taxation's start-a-business page lists the EIN as step 1 and says to have it before you apply for the business license. It is free from the IRS; see our Nevada EIN guide. Confirm in the portal whether it asks for one in your case.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Nevada Business License

Step 1: Form Your Entity First, If You Need One

An LLC or corporation does not make a separate license application. The statute says an entity obtains the license at the time it files its initial list (NRS 76.100(1)(a)), and the Secretary of State says the list and the license cannot be filed separately. Both are due by the last day of the month after you file your articles (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot October 14, 2026).

The state fees on that first filing are $75 for LLC articles (Nevada Legislature, NRS 86.561), $75 for corporation articles at the lowest share tier, rising with the authorized shares (Nevada Legislature, NRS 78.760), and $150 for the initial list of an LLC or a corporation (NRS 86.263, NRS 78.150). The statute lets the Secretary of State charge up to $125 for service within 24 hours, up to $500 within 2 hours and up to $1,000 within 1 hour (Nevada Legislature, NRS 225.140). Those are ceilings, not the amount charged, so check the current schedule before you pay for speed. The Secretary of State says the license itself cannot be expedited, but an entity that files its initial list on an expedited basis gets the license with no additional expedite fee.

For the full formation walkthrough, see our Nevada LLC guide or corporation guide. If you would rather hand the filing to someone else, compare Nevada LLC formation services.

Step 2: Apply Online Through ORION (Sole Proprietors and Partnerships)

A sole proprietor or general partnership applies for the license directly. The Secretary of State accepts applications online, by mail or in person. Online, you use ORION, the Secretary of State's business portal and choose "Get a New State Business License or Renew a State Business License"; the Secretary of State says that filing is effective immediately and that the online service carries no additional fee (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot October 14, 2026). The older SilverFlume address now redirects to ORION. We could not open the portal's screens from our checking server, so we do not describe them here. The Secretary of State's State Business License page links the forms.

Step 3: Pay the License Fee

  • $200 for sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and other non-corporate entities
  • $500 for corporations organized under NRS chapter 78, 78A or 78B, and for foreign corporations that file lists under chapter 80

A sole proprietor pays with the application. An entity pays with its initial list. The Secretary of State rejects an application or list that arrives without the fee (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ). We do not list accepted payment methods because we could not read the portal's payment screen.

Step 4: Save Your License and Tell Your Other Agencies

The license shows your business identification number (NRS 76.100(5)). To prove you hold it, show the license or let the other office look you up in the Nevada Secretary of State business entity search, which lists the license and its expiration date. A copy of the license costs $2 through the Secretary of State's Copies Order Form. The Secretary of State does not notify the Department of Taxation, your city or your county when your license is cancelled, in default or reactivated; the Secretary of State says that is the owner's job (Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot October 14, 2026).

What the Nevada Business License Costs

ItemCostSource and notes
State business license: LLC, sole proprietor, partnership, other non-corporate$200Nevada Legislature: NRS 76.100(2)(c)
State business license: corporation$500NRS 76.100(2)(c)
Penalty for conducting business without the license, or paying it late$100, added to the feeNRS 76.110, 76.130(4)
LLC articles of organization$75Nevada Legislature: NRS 86.561
Initial list, LLC or corporation$150NRS 86.263, NRS 78.150
Copy of your license$2Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ (Wayback snapshot October 14, 2026)
Sales tax permit, only if you sell taxable goods$15 per locationDepartment of Taxation: start and run a business

For a new LLC, the first state filing adds up to $425 ($75 articles, $150 initial list and $200 license), and the yearly cost afterward is $350 ($150 annual list and $200 license). A new corporation at the lowest share tier pays $725 the first time ($75, $150 and $500) and $650 a year at the lowest annual list tier. City and county license fees are not in these totals; each jurisdiction sets its own. Our Nevada startup cost guide puts every fee in one place.

Renewing and Closing Your License

An entity renews the license with its annual list, by the last day of its anniversary month. A sole proprietor or general partnership renews on or before the expiration date printed on the license, and the Secretary of State sends a notice 90 days ahead; not receiving it does not excuse a late payment (NRS 76.130(3)). The same $100 penalty applies to a late renewal. The filing steps and the default timeline are on our annual list and license renewal page.

Closing has its own rule. A sole proprietor or general partnership that stops doing business must cancel the license online with the Secretary of State at least 10 days before it expires, or the next fee and penalty still come due, and no part of an unexpired license is refunded (NRS 76.130(1)(b); Nevada Secretary of State: State Business License FAQ). An LLC or corporation files dissolution papers instead; see how to dissolve a Nevada LLC.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying to the Department of Taxation. The Secretary of State issues the license. The Department of Taxation only sends you to ORION for it.

Paying the list and skipping the license. They are separate fees, a list without the license fee is incomplete, and a late license counts as a missed annual list (NRS 76.130(4)).

Assuming no revenue means no license. An LLC or corporation on file owes it whether or not it earned anything (NRS 76.020(1)(c)).

Relying on the home-business exclusion without checking. It is limited to natural persons and married couples, it has a yearly earnings cap, and the exemption certificate itself must be renewed.

Assuming the other agencies know your status. The Secretary of State tells no one when your license lapses or when you cancel it.

Stopping at the state license. Your city or county license is a separate filing with a separate fee.

Next Steps After You Get Your License

  1. Get your local license. The state license does not replace it. Clark County has six licensing jurisdictions, and the primary location of the business decides which one you file with; many addresses with a Las Vegas mailing address sit in unincorporated Clark County (Clark County: step-by-step guide to apply for a business license). Start with the office for your location:
  2. Register with the Department of Taxation if you sell taxable goods. The sales tax permit costs $15 per location, you apply through My Nevada Tax or with the paper registration form, and the Department says you need the business license first (Department of Taxation: start and run a business). Our resale certificate guide covers the next piece.
  3. Register for unemployment insurance if you will have employees. The Department of Taxation says that registering with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation also registers you for the Modified Business Tax (Department of Taxation: start and run a business).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Nevada business license last?

One year. You renew it every year, with the annual list for an entity or by the expiration date for a sole proprietor or partnership. It does not renew by itself.

Can I get a Nevada business license the same day?

The Secretary of State says an online application is effective immediately, and that the license itself cannot be expedited for a fee. For an LLC or corporation, the timing depends on when the articles and initial list are accepted.

Do I need an EIN before I apply?

The Department of Taxation's start-a-business page says to get your federal EIN first, so plan on it. The EIN is free at the IRS Get an Employer Identification Number page; paid look-alike sites are not needed.

Does a nonprofit need a state business license?

A 501(c) nonprofit is excluded from the license (NRS 76.020(2)(b)), but the exclusion is claimed with the Secretary of State. A nonprofit organized under NRS chapter 82 is not required to have the license; one organized under chapter 81 files a Declaration of Eligibility for Exemption with its initial or annual list; other 501(c) organizations apply for a certificate of exemption (NRS 76.105; State Business License FAQ, Wayback snapshot October 14, 2026). See our Nevada 501(c)(3) guide.

Can I change the business name on my license?

An entity's license carries the exact name on file with the Secretary of State (NRS 76.100(2)(b)), so the change is an amendment filed with the Secretary of State, which is $175 for an LLC (NRS 86.561). Because the Secretary of State does not tell other agencies, update the Department of Taxation and your city or county yourself.

Is the state license the same as a city or county license?

No. The statute makes the state license an addition to any local license (NRS 76.100(6)), and local offices set their own fees and forms.

What We Could Not Verify

The Secretary of State's website and ORION sit behind a bot challenge that our checking server cannot pass, so we did not read the portal screens or the Secretary of State's fee schedule. The fees on this page come from the Nevada Revised Statutes, which are the binding text. The Secretary of State's State Business License FAQ was read from a web archive snapshot dated October 14, 2026. We did not verify local license fees for any city or county. Confirm the amount at checkout and with your local licensing office before you pay.

Disclaimer

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and rules come from the statute sections and agency pages linked below as of November 5, 2026, and only the official sources are authoritative. For advice on your situation, consult a Nevada business attorney or a CPA. The Nevada Small Business Development Center also offers free business guidance.

Sources

Keep exploring: related Nevada guides