Cleaning Service Permit Requirements in Columbia, SC

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. South Carolina Department of Revenue — 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 licence is required for each retail outlet. The licence 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 (S.C. Code Section 12-36-510(A)(1)). The statewide sales and use tax rate is 6%; SCDOR states counties may impose an additional 1% local sales tax where voters approve it, and the applicable local rates are published in forms ST-500 and ST-575.·Not published by SCDOR. 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 (S.C. Code Section 12-36-510(A)(1)). The statewide sales and use tax rate is 6%; SCDOR states counties may impose an additional 1% local sales tax where voters approve it, and the applicable local rates are published in forms ST-500 and ST-575.

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

2. South Carolina Workers' Compensation Insurance

   South Carolina requires an employer to carry workers' compensation insurance once it regularly employs four or more employees (SC Code 42-1-360). Employers with fewer than four regular employees, and sole proprietors with no employees, are generally exempt, though coverage may be elected voluntarily. Coverage is purchased from a private carrier or through approved self-insurance; the SC Workers' Compensation Commission administers the system.

   Official government source

   No state application fee — premiums are set by your insurance carrier based on payroll and classification code; the Commission does not publish premium amounts·Coverage is bound by your insurance carrier; the Commission does not publish a processing timeline

   No state application fee — premiums are set by your insurance carrier based on payroll and classification code; the Commission does not publish premium amounts

   Coverage is bound by your insurance carrier; the Commission does not publish a processing timeline

1. City of Columbia Business License

   Every business with a location inside Columbia city limits must hold a general business licence from the City of Columbia Business Licensing Division. The licence is renewed each year and must be displayed at your place of business. Applications and renewals are handled through the Business Licensing Self-Service Portal. Zoning compatibility for the business address is confirmed separately through Planning & Development.

   Official government source

   Based on gross income and the NAICS rate class under the SC Business License Tax Standardization Act (S.C. Code Section 6-1-400 et seq.) — there is no flat fee. For a new business the fee is projected from the start-of-business date through December 31; at renewal it is based on the previous year’s reported gross income. Use the city’s rate-class schedule to calculate your amount.·All Columbia business licences expire April 30, with the licence year running May 1 to April 30 and renewal season opening in February. Fastest through the Self-Service Portal; the city warns that mailed renewals can take six to eight weeks between February and June.

   Based on gross income and the NAICS rate class under the SC Business License Tax Standardization Act (S.C. Code Section 6-1-400 et seq.) — there is no flat fee. For a new business the fee is projected from the start-of-business date through December 31; at renewal it is based on the previous year’s reported gross income. Use the city’s rate-class schedule to calculate your amount.

   All Columbia business licences expire April 30, with the licence year running May 1 to April 30 and renewal season opening in February. Fastest through the Self-Service Portal; the city warns that mailed renewals can take six to eight weeks between February and June.

2. City of Columbia Home Occupation Form (home-based cleaning service)

   A cleaning service run from a home in Columbia must submit a home occupation form to the City of Columbia's Business Licensing office as part of its business license account; the city's own FAQ states that a home occupation requires the form. Zoning compatibility for the home-based use is confirmed through Planning & Development. South Carolina has no statewide DBA or fictitious-name registry, so there is no state trade-name filing to make; a trade name is normally recorded on the local business license itself.

   Official government source

   No separate home-occupation fee is published; the cost is the city business license fee, which is based on gross income and rate class. There is no state DBA filing fee because South Carolina does not register DBAs.·Fastest through the Business Licensing Self-Service Portal; the city warns that mailed renewals can take 6–8 weeks between February and June.

   No separate home-occupation fee is published; the cost is the city business license fee, which is based on gross income and rate class. There is no state DBA filing fee because South Carolina does not register DBAs.

   Fastest through the Business Licensing Self-Service Portal; the city warns that mailed renewals can take 6–8 weeks between February and June.

Official Sources

• City of Columbia Business License Division
• South Carolina Department of Revenue — Retail License

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