Cleaning Service Permit Requirements in Charlotte, NC

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. NC Sales Tax Registration (NCDOR)

   General residential and commercial cleaning services performed on real property are not subject to NC sales tax. Although the statutory definition of repair, maintenance, and installation services in G.S. 105-164.3 includes cleaning and washing, NCDOR's Services to Real Property Taxability Chart lists custodial, janitorial, and maid services, window washing, gutter cleaning, and power washing of real property as exempt — the exception being janitorial services billed as part of the gross receipts from renting an accommodation. If you sell taxable tangible goods (for example cleaning supplies at retail), register with the NC Department of Revenue for those sales.

   Official government source

   Free — NCDOR charges no fee to register for a Certificate of Registration.·Online registration is submitted immediately; NCDOR does not publish a fixed issuance turnaround.

   Free — NCDOR charges no fee to register for a Certificate of Registration.

   Online registration is submitted immediately; NCDOR does not publish a fixed issuance turnaround.

2. NC Secretary of State Business Entity Registration

   Required if operating as an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership in North Carolina. Filing with the NC Secretary of State establishes your legal business entity in the state and reserves your entity name. Sole proprietors and general partnerships trading under an assumed name instead file a certificate of assumed name with the county Register of Deeds.

   Official government source

   $125 for domestic LLC Articles of Organization or corporate Articles of Incorporation; $250 applies only to foreign (out-of-state) entity registration.·10-15 business days — the NC Secretary of State's posted turnaround for entity creation filings.

   $125 for domestic LLC Articles of Organization or corporate Articles of Incorporation; $250 applies only to foreign (out-of-state) entity registration.

   10-15 business days — the NC Secretary of State's posted turnaround for entity creation filings.

1. No General City of Charlotte Business Registration

   North Carolina repealed cities' and counties' authority to levy privilege/business license taxes effective July 1, 2015 (S.L. 2014-3, s. 12.3, repealing G.S. 160A-211 and G.S. 153A-152). Charlotte has no general city business license, business privilege license, or general city business registration, and Mecklenburg County levies none either. Residential and commercial cleaning services operating in Charlotte therefore need no city or county general business license. If you form an LLC or corporation, register with the NC Secretary of State. No state licence exists for general cleaning services in North Carolina.

   Official government source

   No fee — no such license or registration exists.·N/A — no such license or registration exists.

   No fee — no such license or registration exists.

   N/A — no such license or registration exists.

Official Sources

• City of Charlotte - Business Resources
• NC Department of Revenue - Sales and Use Tax
• NC Secretary of State - Business Registration

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