General Information

For help with the business license renewal process:

• Click here for Instructions on completing the Business License Renewal Application. 

• Click here for Processing Errors and avoid having your renewal application and payment returned and having to pay penalties. 

• All businesses must have all approvals obtained, and all applicable fees and taxes paid current before a business license will be issued.

Please see the Handbook for more information.

These approvals, fees, and taxes include the following:

1.  All businesses selling prepared or modified foods must be up- to-date on ALL Hospitality Tax payments. (Example: businesses selling food ready for consumption by the public: restaurants, caterers, and others.) Click here for more information. 
2. All businesses offering accommodations of less than 30 days must be up-to-date on their Tourism Development Fee payments. (Example: hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and others.) 
3. All businesses must be registered and up-to-date on the Business Personal Property Taxes for every business location. 
4. All businesses buying gold from the general public must obtain a Precious Metals permit. To obtain this application, click on Forms on the right. (Example: pawnshops, some jewelry stores, and others.) 
5. All businesses that the County Hazardous Materials Coordinator has identified as possibly having Hazardous Materials must submit a Hazardous Materials Certification Page certifying whether or not they have hazardous materials. To obtain this page, click on Forms on the right. 
6. All businesses must have their previous years’ business licenses before they will be issued a current business license. Penalties continue to accumulate on business licenses that have not been renewed. 
7. All businesses with a change of ownership, location, or business activity that have not yet notified the BSC and obtained Zoning and, if applicable, the Fire Marshal and DHEC approval, will need to do so before obtaining a current business license. 

Please check first with your accountant or financial records to assess your compliance levels with these requirements.

The Business Service Center now has inspectors and auditors on staff to assist with compliance and accurate reporting. Please be sure to check your revenues, deductions, and your compliance with the above requirements before submitting your business license renewal form to the Business Service Center.

• If any processing issues occur, or any business license requirements are not met prior to submitting your renewal form, you will be notified and penalties will accrue after the deadline until all requirements are met.

• Learn more about business licenses and operating a business in Richland County by visiting the “Doing Business in Richland County” tab or the “Frequently Asked Questions” tab on the right.

Important dates for Richland County businesses: 

• January 1 Businesses may begin renewing their business licenses online and save $10. Click “Online Renewal Form” from the list on the right 

• January 3 The County will be open for business. Business license renewal applications are mailed to businesses.

• January 15 The deadline to pay Business Personal Property Taxes without penalty. NOTE! Businesses located in any part of Richland County must submit a copy of their Business Personal Property Tax receipt with their business license application in order to receive their business license.

• March 15 The deadline to renew business licenses without penalty.

• Also see the “Calendar” tab on the right for more important dates.

Richland County Business Handbook:

The Business Service Center has updated its Business Handbook. This easy-to-read Business Handbook describes the County’s various requirements to do business in Richland County. The County strongly urges all businesses to be familiar with these requirements to help ensure they are operating lawfully.

Hospitality Tax rate for Richland County has returned to 2%.

• The Hospitality Tax rate for the unincorporated areas of Richland County returned to 2% beginning Friday, July 1, 2011.

• Businesses selling prepared/modified foods or beverages in these areas must be sure to charge the 2% Hospitality Tax rate starting Friday, July 1, 2011.

• Businesses in the unincorporated areas of Richland County must be sure to remit to the County the Hospitality Taxes at the 2% rate beginning August 1, 2011.

• Businesses located within the city limits of Irmo and Eastover should continue to charge, collect, and remit Hospitality Taxes at the 1% rate.