Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Portland, ME

Complete permit and license guide for starting a wedding planner in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

Verified 2026-09-06 4 stops $100–$400 est. 1–3 weeks
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop
  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Maine

1 stop
  1. Maine Revenue Services — Sales Tax Registration

    Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services in Maine. Maine charges a 5.5% state sales tax (food and lodging have different rates). Register with Maine Revenue Services online.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online)

City of Portland / Cumberland County

2 stops
  1. City of Portland Business License (specific regulated activities only)

    Portland does not require a business licence of every business. The City's Business License Administrator (207-874-8557, [email protected]) issues licences only for specific regulated categories: food service and liquor establishments, breweries and distilleries, food trucks and pushcarts, temporary events and catering, flea markets and second-hand dealers, marijuana businesses, massage therapists and establishments, taxi/livery/tour vehicles and valet parking, farmers market vendors, fire permits, scrap metal recycling and transient sellers. If your business is not in one of those categories, no City of Portland business licence is required. Where one does apply, most types need Zoning, Health, Code Enforcement, Fire, Police (SBI background check) and Treasury approvals first, and outstanding taxes or sewer fees will block issuance.

    Official government source

    $45 flat application fee (a single $45 fee even when applying for several licence types at once) and $35 a year to renew - not revenue-tiered. Sole proprietors and partnerships also file a d/b/a for $10.Licences are annual. Allow time for the departmental approvals - zoning, health, code, fire, police background check and treasury - before the licence issues

  2. Trade Name (DBA) Registration - Portland City Clerk

    Under 31 MRSA section 2, a Maine sole proprietor who does business under any name other than their own must file a sworn certificate with the clerk of the city or town where the business is carried on, before commencing business; section 7 exempts corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies, which instead file an assumed name with the Maine Secretary of State. For a Portland business that filing goes to the Portland City Clerk. There is no county filing - ccrod.org is the Cumberland County, NORTH CAROLINA Register of Deeds and has nothing to do with Maine, and Cumberland County, Maine has no clerk's office for business names.

    Official government source

    Filing fees are set by the municipality and are modest (neighboring Bangor charges $10); confirm the current Portland amount with the City Clerk at 207-874-8677File with the City Clerk before you begin doing business under the assumed name

Terminus

Open for business — est. $100–$400 · 1–3 weeks

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