Partnerships, LLC's, and Corporations
You must register with the state first to start a general or limited partnership, LLC, or corporation.

Location & Zoning
Get an edge up on the process by making sure to check the zoning laws and decide on a location for your business before registering. This will save you time and money!

Naming
Before you decide on a name for your business, do some research and see what names are taken. Make sure to do this before you file your final Trade Name check to see if it already exists.

Register Business Trade Name
All new businesses can register their trade name to the City of Stamford for an $10.00 fee

• Trade Name Application

Personal Property Declaration
If you own tangible business assets in the city of Stamford, you are required by law to submit a declaration of your personal property assets to the Assessor each year by November 1 (a 25% assessment penalty shall be applied if the form is not submitted by this due date). Once your business is registered with the City of Stamford, you will automatically receive a Personal Property Declaration Form. Personal Property is assessed based on the mill rate, asset value and depreciation.

Real Estate Needs
Dependent on your location, required space, permits needed, etc. Call Economic Development for a list of commercial real estate brokers (203-977-5168).

Obtain a Tax Registration Number
If you do not have a Connecticut Tax Registration Number or need to register additional locations, register your business with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services online service.

NOTE: Only the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services can issue Connecticut tax registration numbers for sales tax, withholding tax and all other state taxes we administer

Obtain Correct Business Licenses
The State of Connecticut’s requires new businesses to obtain certain licenses which correspond to their available services. The cost of the license will depend on the trade or occupation. Visit the Connecticut Licensing Info Center (http://www.ct-clic.com) for a list of all the licenses required by the state.

Most businesses must register with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). If you are not a US citizen, you may need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead.

Employer Identification Number (EIN)
An EIN is also known as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number and is issued by the IRS. A business needs an EIN to pay employees and to file business tax returns. The EIN is a unique identifier for your business. It does not expire and, once an EIN has been given to an entity, it is never issued again.

NOTE: A sole proprietor without employees, may use their Social Security Number instead of an EIN. This is the only exception.

Apply for an EIN from the IRS either online, by fax, or by mail. To register online, use the IRS EIN Assistant. For fax or mail, review the IRS instructions for details.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
If you are not a resident of the US and do not have, or are not eligible for, a Social Security Number, you might need to an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Similar to the EIN, this ID number allows business owners to comply with US tax laws. Learn more about the ITIN or apply through the IRS.