District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection - Business and Professional Licensing Administration - Business Licensing Division

Online

$654.50

Domestic Applicants:

1. Register your business entity with the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
2. Register with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Register with the Office of the Zoning Administrator.
4. Apply for a license using the Basic Business License Online Application

Foreign Applicants:

1. Foreign qualify your business entity with the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
2. Register with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Register with the Office of the Zoning Administrator. (only if operating an office location in the District)
4. Apply for a license using the Basic Business License Online Application

• Certificate of Liability Insurance
• Certificate of Occupancy (if located within the District)
• 3 contract/receipts samples that adhere to DC Municipal Regulations § 17-3905
• Notice of Business Tax Registration

Online

$654.50

• Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
• Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.

• Certificate of Liability Insurance 
• Certificate Holder is:  Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
• Police Criminal History Report
• Police Criminal History Report (Form PD-70)
• All applicants for a Basic Business License for the Home Improvement Contractor category must provide a certified copy of his/her Police Criminal History Report from the jurisdiction of residence. A resident of the District of Columbia may obtain a Police Criminal History Report (PD-70) from the DC Metropolitan Police Department, Police Criminal History Report Division, 300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 3055, Washington, DC 20001. Call (202) 727-4245 for details. A non-resident shall obtain this report from the jurisdiction in which he/she resides. All partners in a partnership and the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of a corporation must provide a Police Criminal History Report. The report must be no older than 30 days from the
  time of application. Please provide court documentation/dispositions regarding any criminal convictions(s) to avoid delay in the review of your application.
• Designation Letter
• Surety Bond - Home Improvement Surety Bond
  • All applicants for a Basic Business License for the Home Improvement Contractor category must post a Surety Bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand ($25,000) for the duration of the two-year license period. The Surety Bond may be issued by an authorized insurance carrier, or the applicant may post a cash bond with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
• Three (3) Contract Samples
• All applicants for a Basic Business License for the Home Improvement Contractor category must submit two (2) pre-printed Contracts in at least triplicate, on the form which shall comply with existing regulations pursuant to Code and DC Municipal Regulations.

Online

$288.20

Online

$288.20

• Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
• Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.

• Charities that raise less than $25,000 in contributions per calendar year provided that all functions, including fund raising functions, are carried on by individuals who are unpaid and that no part of the contributions shall inure to the benefit of any officer, member, or solicitor.
• Religious institutions
• Membership organizations
• Entities making solicitations solely for the American National Red Cross

Online

$0

District of Columbia Code Ann. § 44-1703

• Charities that raise less than $25,000 in contributions per calendar year provided that all functions, including fund raising functions, are carried on by individuals who are unpaid and that no part of the contributions shall inure to the benefit of any officer, member, or solicitor.
• Religious institutions
• Membership organizations
• Entities making solicitations solely for the American National Red Cross

Online

$0

Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.

District of Columbia Code Ann. § 44-1703

Online

$412.50

3-4 weeks

• Some District of Columbia counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

Domestic Applicants:

• Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Foreign Applicants:

• Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
• Obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

Foreign Applicants:

1. File foreign qualification documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

• IRS determination letter
• Professional fundraising contracts
• Certificate of occupancy
• DC tax number or certificate
• Certified resolution

Online

$412.50

• Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.
• Licenses can be renewed as early as 75 days prior to their expiration date.

D.C. does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.

• $250/month late fee (maximum of $500)
• Charities who do not renew their license within 6 months past its expiration date will need to go through the initial licensing process again

None

Online

$0

Within 30 days after the period for which a certificate of registration is issued OR within 30 days after a demand by the Mayor

Each registrant shall file a report with the Mayor, stating the contributions secured as a result of any solicitation authorized by such certificate and in detail all expenses of or connected with such solicitation, and showing exactly for what use and in what manner all such contributions were or are intended to be dispensed or distributed.

Online

$0

To close out your registration, submit a BBL cancelation request form online.

http://dcra.dc.gov/service/get-employment-agency-license

$1,534

http://dcra.dc.gov/service/get-employment-agency-license

$1,534

Biennially