Landscaping Business Permit Requirements in Milwaukee, WI

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. Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Seller's Permit

   Required of every individual, partnership, corporation or other organization with a Wisconsin sales location making retail sales of taxable products or taxable services, with limited exceptions for wholesalers, manufacturers and certain marketplace sellers. The permit is issued through Business Tax Registration, which also covers withholding and use tax accounts. Rates: 5% state; seventy counties add 0.5%; Milwaukee County is 0.9% and the City of Milwaukee adds 2%, both effective January 1, 2024, so the rate inside Milwaukee is 7.9% - the only Wisconsin city with a municipal sales tax.

   Official government source

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.·Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.

   Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

2. Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator License

   If you apply pesticides or herbicides as part of landscaping services in Wisconsin you must be certified and licensed through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Pass the commercial applicator certification exam for each category you work in, then hold an Individual Commercial Applicator License (ICAL). If you run the application business yourself rather than working for someone else's licensed business, the company also needs a Pesticide Business License.

   Official government source

   $45.00 per year for the Individual Commercial Applicator License ($40 base fee plus a $5 ACCP surcharge). The certification exam is free on paper at proctored locations or $45.00 computer-based through Pearson VUE. Pesticide Business License: $80.00 per year non-bulk, $92.50 per year if you handle bulk pesticide.·Not published - licenses run January 1 to December 31 and are renewed annually; certification itself is valid for five years.

   $45.00 per year for the Individual Commercial Applicator License ($40 base fee plus a $5 ACCP surcharge). The certification exam is free on paper at proctored locations or $45.00 computer-based through Pearson VUE. Pesticide Business License: $80.00 per year non-bulk, $92.50 per year if you handle bulk pesticide.

   Not published - licenses run January 1 to December 31 and are renewed annually; certification itself is valid for five years.

1. No general business license in Milwaukee

   Milwaukee has no general business license. The City Clerk's License Division publishes the complete list of licenses and permits it administers, and every entry is a specific regulated activity (alcohol, cigarette and tobacco, food dealer, massage establishment, secondhand dealer, home improvement contractor, public entertainment premises, snow plowing, weights and measures and the like). The Department of City Development does not issue business licenses at all. What most businesses actually need from the City is a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Neighborhood Services before opening a commercial space, plus any specific license that matches their activity.

   Official government source

   $0 for a general license (none exists). Certificate of Occupancy fee varies by proposed use, size of space and how long it was vacant, plus a $6 processing fee and a 1.6% IT and Training surcharge.·Not applicable for a general license.

   $0 for a general license (none exists). Certificate of Occupancy fee varies by proposed use, size of space and how long it was vacant, plus a $6 processing fee and a 1.6% IT and Training surcharge.

   Not applicable for a general license.

2. Milwaukee County / Milwaukee Contractor Registration

   Landscaping contractors may need to register with Milwaukee County or the City of Milwaukee. Some jurisdictions require a separate contractor's registration for landscaping and irrigation work.

   Official government source

   $50–$200·1–3 weeks

   $50–$200

   1–3 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Milwaukee Department of City Development
• Wisconsin Department of Revenue — Seller's Permit

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