Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Charleston, SC

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

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. South Carolina Retail License

   Every person who engages in business in South Carolina as a retailer must obtain a Retail License from the SC Department of Revenue before making any retail sales subject to sales and use tax, including internet sales and infrequent sales. A separate license is required for each business location. The license does not have to be renewed while the same taxpayer keeps operating at the same location, but a new application is required after a change of ownership or after 24 months with no sales.

   Official government source

   $50 per location, non-refundable, and it is a one-time fee rather than an annual charge.·Not published by SC DOR. Applying through MyDORWAY is the fastest route — confirm current issuance time when you apply.

   $50 per location, non-refundable, and it is a one-time fee rather than an annual charge.

   Not published by SC DOR. Applying through MyDORWAY is the fastest route — confirm current issuance time when you apply.

2. General Liability Insurance for a South Carolina Wedding Planner

   South Carolina imposes no licensing requirement on wedding or event planners and does not require them to carry liability insurance. It is a contractual requirement instead: most venues require a certificate of insurance, commonly $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, naming the venue as additional insured before a planner may work on site, and many clients require it in the planning contract. If you handle alcohol service arrangements, host liquor liability may also be requested. Insurers and producers are regulated by the SC Department of Insurance.

   Official government source

   No state fee and no published rate — premiums are set by the carrier from revenue, number of events and coverage limits, and no South Carolina agency publishes premium figures. Quote several licensed carriers and check the venue’s required limits before binding.·Coverage is bound by your carrier, often the same day online; there is no state application or waiting period.

   No state fee and no published rate — premiums are set by the carrier from revenue, number of events and coverage limits, and no South Carolina agency publishes premium figures. Quote several licensed carriers and check the venue’s required limits before binding.

   Coverage is bound by your carrier, often the same day online; there is no state application or waiting period.

1. City of Charleston Business License

   All businesses operating or generating income in the City of Charleston must obtain an annual Business License from the city's Revenue Collections Division (not a City Clerk's Office). Wedding planners operating as sole proprietors, LLCs, or corporations need this license; the fee is based on gross income and the NAICS rate class, not a flat amount.

   Official government source

   Based on gross income and the NAICS rate class, per the SC Business License Tax Standardization Act (SC Code 6-1-400 et seq.) — no flat fee; use the city's business license calculator·Licenses expire April 30 annually; the city publishes no standard processing time (fire inspection scheduling alone can take up to 3 business days)

   Based on gross income and the NAICS rate class, per the SC Business License Tax Standardization Act (SC Code 6-1-400 et seq.) — no flat fee; use the city's business license calculator

   Licenses expire April 30 annually; the city publishes no standard processing time (fire inspection scheduling alone can take up to 3 business days)

2. Trade Name (DBA) — no South Carolina state registration

   South Carolina has no state DBA/fictitious-name filing system: SC Business One Stop states "The state of South Carolina does not register DBAs." There is no general requirement to file with Charleston County before accepting payments under a trade name. Record the trade name on your City of Charleston Business License application, your SCDOR business tax account, and your IRS EIN application, and check with the county for any local requirement.

   Official government source

   $0 at the state level — SC Business One Stop states "The state of South Carolina does not register DBAs"; the trade name is recorded on your local business license application. A local jurisdiction may charge its own fee if it requires registration.·No state filing step; the trade name is recorded when your local business license is issued — check your county/municipality for any local requirement

   $0 at the state level — SC Business One Stop states "The state of South Carolina does not register DBAs"; the trade name is recorded on your local business license application. A local jurisdiction may charge its own fee if it requires registration.

   No state filing step; the trade name is recorded when your local business license is issued — check your county/municipality for any local requirement

Official Sources

• City of Charleston — Business Licensing
• South Carolina Secretary of State
• IRS — Apply for EIN

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