Massage Therapy 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 Safety and Professional Services - Massage Therapist License

   Massage therapists in Wisconsin must be licensed by DSPS. You must complete an approved massage therapy program (documented on DSPS Curriculum Form #2962) and pass an approved, nationally administered entry-level competency examination - the MBLEx or NCBTMB certification both qualify; the MBLEx is not uniquely required.

   Official government source

   $75 Massage Therapist or Bodywork Therapist credential fee, renewing biennially on 2/28 of odd-numbered years ($100 with late fee) - DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees.·Not published by DSPS - initial applications are filed at license.wi.gov.

   $75 Massage Therapist or Bodywork Therapist credential fee, renewing biennially on 2/28 of odd-numbered years ($100 with late fee) - DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees.

   Not published by DSPS - initial applications are filed at license.wi.gov.

2. 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.

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. Zoning / Certificate of Occupancy

   A Certificate of Occupancy is required for any commercial space used as a massage therapy practice; it is issued by the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services through the Development Center. Confirm with the Department of City Development that the location is properly zoned for personal service businesses - if the use is not permitted or is a special use, Board of Zoning Appeals authorization is required first. Note that a separate Massage Establishment License from the City Clerk's License Division also applies to massage businesses.

   Official government source

   Certificate of Occupancy fee varies by proposed use, size of the space occupied, and how long the space was vacant; every application also carries a $6 processing fee plus a 1.6% IT and Training surcharge. Call the Development Center Plan Examination staff at (414) 286-8210 for your project's amount.·Not published. The City states that if the use requires Board of Zoning Appeals authorization, that step alone generally takes about 6-8 weeks.

   Certificate of Occupancy fee varies by proposed use, size of the space occupied, and how long the space was vacant; every application also carries a $6 processing fee plus a 1.6% IT and Training surcharge. Call the Development Center Plan Examination staff at (414) 286-8210 for your project's amount.

   Not published. The City states that if the use requires Board of Zoning Appeals authorization, that step alone generally takes about 6-8 weeks.

Official Sources

• Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services — Massage Therapist License
• City of Milwaukee Department of City Development

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