The answer starts with your exact business address — not just the city name in your mailing address. Here's how to figure out who licenses your business and what to do next.
Your LLC is the legal business entity you form through the Georgia Secretary of State.
Your local Business/Occupation Tax Certificate or business license is handled by the jurisdiction where the business actually operates.
An address can say Lawrenceville, Snellville, Duluth, or another Gwinnett city in the mailing address without necessarily being inside that city's legal limits.
Gwinnett County provides a Business Address Search specifically to determine whether an address falls within the County's jurisdiction for business licensing.
Gwinnett County Licensing and Revenue handles your Business/Occupation Tax Certificate. Continue down this page for the County process.
Contact that municipality for its licensing requirements. Fees, applications, zoning requirements, and terminology can differ by city.
Don't guess based on your ZIP code or mailing address. Use the County address search or GIS system before applying.
If your business is within one of these municipal boundaries, start with that city's government rather than the County's unincorporated-area business-license process.
New County business-license applications are currently submitted through the Gwinnett County Business Tax Portal.
Make sure the address falls within unincorporated Gwinnett and that your business activity is allowed at that location.
The exact documents depend on whether the business is home-based, commercial, professionally licensed, or otherwise regulated.
Gwinnett County directs new business applicants to its online Business Tax Portal.
Your location, profession, product, or industry may trigger zoning, occupancy, health, state licensing, tax, or special-use requirements.
For County-licensed home businesses, current application requirements include:
For County-licensed commercial locations, current requirements can include:
Gwinnett currently directs businesses selling goods to obtain an applicable Sales and Use Tax ID through the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Food sales can require licensing or approval through Georgia environmental health authorities or the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
If Georgia regulates your profession or occupation, you may need to provide proof of the applicable state license.
Certain businesses — including examples such as car dealerships, personal care homes, and daycares — may trigger additional special-use requirements.
These figures apply to the County process for unincorporated Gwinnett. City fees and calculations can be different.
Currently non-refundable and non-prorated.
Based on tax class and gross revenue. Current County rates range from $0.65 to $1.30 per $1,000.
Current County-listed typical CO fee, when a CO is required.
No. Your LLC formation creates the legal entity with Georgia. Local licensing is a separate process.
Not necessarily. The mailing city does not always match the legal jurisdiction. Check the exact business address first.
Yes. Home-based businesses can still have licensing and home-occupation requirements. The details depend on the jurisdiction and business activity.
Gwinnett County refers to its local credential as a Business/Occupation Tax Certificate and commonly describes it as a business license.
A move can change your licensing jurisdiction and can also trigger address, zoning, occupancy, or license updates. Check before assuming your existing setup follows you automatically.
EIN, banking, taxes, bookkeeping, insurance, annual registrations, and other setup may still be on your list.