Photography Business Permit Requirements in Grand Rapids, MI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Also useful for opening a business bank account and separating personal and business finances. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

2. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (Drone Photography)

   Required if you offer commercial aerial photography using drones (unmanned aircraft systems). Must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an approved testing center. Operating commercially without this certificate can result in significant fines. This is a federal requirement enforced by the FAA regardless of state.

   Official government source

   $175 (exam fee)·2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

   $175 (exam fee)

   2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

1. Michigan — No State Photography License Required

   Michigan does not license or certify photographers. LARA's Bureau of Professional Licensing publishes the complete list of occupational professions it regulates under the Michigan Occupational Code — accountancy, appraisal management companies, real estate appraisers, architects, barbers, collection agencies, cosmetology, professional engineers, hearing aid dealers, landscape architects, personnel agencies, real estate brokers/salespersons, and professional surveyors — and photography is not among them. There is no state board that certifies photographers. Separate obligations still apply: register an LLC or corporation with LARA's Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau or file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk, and note that Michigan's 6% sales tax applies to prints, albums, digital files delivered on tangible media, and other tangible personal property you sell, so a Treasury sales tax license may be required even though the profession itself is unlicensed.

   Official government source

   N/A — no state photography license exists, so Michigan charges no licensing fee.·N/A — there is no state application to file and no processing period.

   N/A — no state photography license exists, so Michigan charges no licensing fee.

   N/A — there is no state application to file and no processing period.

2. Michigan Department of Treasury — Sales Tax License

   Michigan requires photographers to collect sales tax on tangible goods sold (prints, albums, digital images on physical media). The state sales tax rate is 6%. Register with the Michigan Department of Treasury.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate to 1 week (online)

   Free

   Immediate to 1 week (online)

1. Grand Rapids - No General Business License Required

   Grand Rapids does not require a general business or occupational tax certificate. The City Clerk's Office licenses only specific regulated categories (downtown vendors, hotels/motels, indoor events, liquor, mobile food vendors, mobile vending carts, parking facilities, pawnbrokers, pedicab companies, second hand dealers, going out of business sales, and similar); photography businesses are not among them. Home-based photographers who receive clients at their residence may need a Grand Rapids Home Occupation License instead.

   Official government source

   $0 - no general business license applies·N/A

   $0 - no general business license applies

   N/A

2. Grand Rapids — Commercial Photography / Film Permit (Public Locations)

   If you conduct paid photography shoots in public spaces (parks, streets, city-owned plazas) in Grand Rapids that impact traffic, pedestrians, or parking, you need a Film and Photography Permit from the City Clerk's Office. Apply at least 15 days before your project date; requires a site map showing locations and equipment placement.

   Official government source

   $25 (non-refundable application fee)·Apply 15+ days ahead; city responds in 2-3 business days

   $25 (non-refundable application fee)

   Apply 15+ days ahead; city responds in 2-3 business days

Official Sources

• Grand Rapids Business Licensing
• Michigan Department of Treasury — Sales Tax License
• FAA — Become a Drone Pilot (Part 107)

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