Business Registration and Licensing | Doing Business in DC | DCRA
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Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs NICHOLAS A. MAJETT, DIRECTOR November 10, 2011 G O V E R N M E N T O F T H E D I S T R I C T O F C O L U M B I A Business and Professional Licensing Administration (BPLA) PATRICIA GRAYS, ACTING ADMINISTRATOR Doing Business 2.0
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Washington, DC Economic Partnership’s Doing Business in DC program on Business Registration and Licensing featuring officials from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)
Transcript of Business Registration and Licensing | Doing Business in DC | DCRA
Department of Consumer & Regulatory AffairsNICHOLAS A. MAJETT, DIRECTOR
November 10, 2011
G O V E R N M E N T O F T H E D I S T R I C T O F C O L U M B I A
Business and Professional Licensing Administration (BPLA)PATRICIA GRAYS, ACTING ADMINISTRATOR
Doing Business 2.0
BPLA is the licensing and business compliance body of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). There are six (6) divisions and/or programs within the administration:
Business Licensing Division (BLD) Corporations Division (CORPD) Occupational and Professional Licensing Division (OPLD) Regulatory Investigations Section (RID) Special Events and Vending (SE&V) Weights and Measures Division (WMD)
In addition BPLA began offering services to our customers via our Small Business Resource Center (SBRC)
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BUSINESS LICENSING
OVERVIEW
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BUSINESS LICENSING DIVISON MISSION
The Business Licensing Division (BLD) is responsible for theprocess, issuance and renewal of business licenses for citizens
and entities seeking to conduct business in the District ofColumbia.
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BUSINESS LICENSING OVERVIEWNUMBER OF LICENSE CATEGORIES
Issue licenses in 165 categories Top licensing categories
One Family Rental Home Improvement Contractors Home Improvement Salesman Restaurants General Business General Contractors
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BUSINESS LICENSING OVERVIEWBASIC LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Before an application for a business license can be received, there are some basic requirements:
Step 1: Corporate Registration (if operating as a Corporate entity i.e. corps., LLCs or Partnerships)
Step 2: Registration with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (FR 500 Notice of Business Tax Registration or the FR 164 for Non-profit Organizations)
Step 3: Certificate of Occupancy (if operating out of an office location in the District) or Home Occupation Permit (if conducting business out of the home)
Step 4: Clean hands certification
Step 5: BBL application
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BUSINESS LICENSING OVERVIEW ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC
LICENSING CATEGORIES
Certain licensing categories require additional information to include:
Bond Insurance Criminal History Check Other District Agency Signatory Approval (i.e. Department of Health)
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BUSINESS LICENSING DIVISION STATISTICS
Number of Active Business Licenses:- Approximately 43,000 registered
Number of Phone Calls:- Approximately 150 per day
Walk-In Customers:- Approximately 150 per day
Online Renewals/Revenue-Approximately 1,312 transactions (FY2011)-Approximately $ 440,642
Total Revenue:- Approximately $7 million in FY 2010
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BUSINESS LICENSING DIVISIONUPDATES
Business License Division News:– Online submission (OSUB) of new applications for 10 business license
categories is scheduled to launch by 12/9/2011
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CORPORATIONS
OVERVIEW
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CORPORATIONS DIVISION OVERVIEW
The Corporations Division is responsible for the examination,custody and maintenance of the legal documents filed bycorporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,cooperative associations, business trusts and trade names.
The Superintendent of Corporations also serves as the Mayor’sAgent for service of Process for businesses that are defunct, orfail to maintain an agent in the District or are operating in theDistrict without proper registration.
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CORPORATIONS DIVISION PRIMARY PROGRAM OPERATIONS
The Corporations Division registers and provides file maintenance services for the following: CORPORATIONS:
- Business & Professional Corporations- Non- Profit Corporations
PARTNERSHIPS:- General Partnerships- Limited Partnerships- Limited Liability Partnerships
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES BUSINESS TRUSTS (effective January 2012) COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS TRADE NAMES
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CORPORATIONS DIVISION STATISTICS
Number of Entities of Record:- Approximately 270,000 registered
Number of Phone Calls:- Approximately 125 per day
Walk-In Customers:- Approximately 90 per day
Online Filings Transactions/Revenue- Since 6/13/2011-Approximately 8907 transactions-Approximately $1.4 million
Total Corporate Transactions:- Approximately 62,000 in FY 2011
Total Revenue:- Approximately $11 million in FY 2011
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CORPORATIONS DIVISION UPDATES
Corporations Division News:– Implement new corporate law by 1/1/2012;– Launch expanded online services site by 1/1/2012;
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER OVERVIEW
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTEROVERVIEW
The Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) provides workshops and one-on-one technical assistance to customers seeking
assistance with navigating the District’s regulatory environment.
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTERPROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE
INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS
External Service Providers DC Chamber of Commerce Foundation (DCCCF) DC Bar’s Pro Bono Program DC Women’s Business Center (DCWBC) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)
Internal Services Providers Business Licensing Division Corporations Division
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTERONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS
One-On-One Sessions Often Involve:
Individual tutorials and explanations of the business license application process
Individual reviews of application packages to ensure that customers are applying for the correct business license category, corporate and/or trade name registration
Provide guidance to customers through each step of the business license and corporation application process
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER STATISTICS
Number of Individual SBRC Customers:- As of 10/31/2011 approximately 106 customers have attended
150 one-on-one sessions
Percentage of customers that obtained a business license:- Approximately 13% as of 10/31/2011
Percentage of customers that registered with corporations:- Approximately 11% as of 10/31/2011
Percentage of customers that obtained a business license or registered with corporations:
- Approximately 25% as of 10/31/2011
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTERHOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
How to Register for a one-on-one Session in the SBRC Services are available by appointment only Online registration SBRC website is http://dcra.ecenterdirect.com
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER UPDATES
Ongoing and Future Objectives: Increase the number of service provides Increase “Train-the-Trainer” sessions provided to services providers Implement group workshops sessions for customers
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