Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Philadelphia, PA

Complete permit and license guide for starting a wedding planner in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Verified 2026-09-02 5 stops $100–$600 est. 1–3 weeks to obtain all required licenses
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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, operate as an LLC/corporation, or file certain business tax returns. Free from the IRS. Sole proprietors with no employees may use their SSN instead.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online)

State of Pennsylvania

2 stops

  1. Pennsylvania Sales Tax License

    Required for businesses selling taxable goods or services in Pennsylvania. Register with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue via myPATH.

    Official government source

    Free1–5 business days

  2. General Liability Insurance (Recommended)

    Wedding planners in Pennsylvania are not legally required to carry liability insurance, but most venues require proof of $1M–$2M general liability coverage before allowing a planner to work on-site. Many clients also require it in your contract.

    $400–$1,200/yearSame day (online quotes)

City of Philadelphia / Philadelphia County

2 stops

  1. Philadelphia Commercial Activity License

    All businesses operating in Philadelphia, including wedding planners operating as sole proprietors, LLCs, or corporations, must obtain a Commercial Activity License (CAL) from the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). The license is free, does not expire, and does not need to be renewed. You must first have a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) account with the Department of Revenue; applying online through eCLIPSE issues the license automatically.

    Official government source

    $0 (no fee)Same day (issued automatically online via eCLIPSE)

  2. Fictitious Name (DBA) Registration — PA Department of State

    If operating under a trade name (e.g., "Perfect Day Events" rather than your legal name), register the fictitious name with the Pennsylvania Department of State under the Fictitious Names Act (54 Pa.C.S. § 311) before accepting payments under that name — Pennsylvania fictitious names are filed at the state level, not with Philadelphia County. Sole proprietors and other individual owners must also officially publish notice of the filing in newspapers of general circulation in the county. File online through the Department of State's Business Filing Services portal.

    Official government source

    $70 state filing fee (newspaper publication for individual owners costs extra)1–2 weeks

Terminus

Open for business — est. $100–$600 · 1–3 weeks to obtain all required licenses

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Official Sources

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