Why this is the part that trips people up
Licensing is not one list. It is a stack of them. There is usually a state-level registration for the business itself, sometimes a trade or contractor license on top of that, a local business license in each city you work in, and permits for specific jobs. A painter working residential in one town and light commercial in the next can easily need four separate things, each with its own renewal date and its own fee.
Nobody hands you that list. You find out when a client asks for your license number, when a city inspector shows up, or when an insurer asks before writing a policy. First-generation owners get hit hardest here, because there is no one at the dinner table who already learned it the hard way.
What we do about it
We start from what you actually do and where you actually do it — your trade, your service area, residential or commercial, whether you subcontract, whether you handle anything regulated. From that we build the real list for your situation and tell you what each item is for.
We prepare the applications and get them in front of you to sign. Where a license needs proof of insurance, a bond or a test, we tell you that up front with the cost and the timeline, not after the application is rejected. Fees go to the issuing agency at cost.
Then every expiry date goes on your compliance calendar, and renewals get handled before they lapse rather than after. A lapsed license is usually a bigger problem than the original application, because some agencies make you start over.
Signs you need this
- A client asked for your license number and you had to look it up.
- You work in more than one city and only registered in one.
- You are not sure whether your trade needs a contractor license.
- An insurer or a commercial bid asked for documentation you did not have.
- You have been running for a while and never registered anywhere.
- A renewal lapsed and you are not sure what that means.
If two or more of these sound familiar, take the free business checkup — ten questions, two minutes, and you get the list of gaps either way.
How it works
Map your trade and territory
What you do, where you do it, residential or commercial, and whether you subcontract.
Build the real list
Every state, county and city requirement that applies, written down with what each one is for.
Apply
We prepare the applications, you sign, fees go to the agency at cost.
Track and renew
Every expiry date goes on your compliance calendar and gets handled before it lapses.
What is included
- Research of state, county and city requirements for your trade
- A written list of what you need and what each item is for
- Application preparation and filing support
- Sales tax and withholding account registration where required
- Renewal dates added to your compliance calendar
- Renewal handling as part of your monthly partnership
All of this sits inside one package — the Whitelow Launch + Back Office Partnership — rather than being quoted as a separate service.
Who it is for
- Trades that need a licence to bid work legally
- Owners working across several towns or counties
- Businesses that have been operating informally and want to get current
- Anyone moving from residential into commercial work
What affects the price
Whitelow sells one package with two ways to pay: $2,497 one-time plus $597 a month, or $0 up front in exchange for a 15% stake in the LLC. Government fees and your QuickBooks subscription are passed through at cost on both. These are the factors that move what this piece of the work involves:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your trade | Some trades need only a general business licence. Others need a contractor or speciality licence, a bond, or a test. |
| How many cities you work in | Many cities require their own licence for work inside their limits, so a wide service area means more registrations. |
| Whether you are starting fresh or catching up | Bringing a lapsed or never-filed situation current sometimes involves back fees or penalties set by the agency. |
| Agency fees | Licence and permit fees are set by the issuing agency and passed through at cost, never marked up. |
See both payment options side by side, including what each one costs in year one.
Frequently asked questions
What licenses does a painting or landscaping business need?
It depends on your state and on each city you work in. Most service businesses need at least a state business registration and a local business license per city. Some trades also need a contractor or specialty license, and some need a bond. We research your specific trade and service area and give you the written list rather than a general answer.
Do I need a license in every city I work in?
Often yes. Many cities require a business license from any company doing work inside their limits, even if your office is somewhere else. If you work across several towns, that is several licenses — and it is one of the most common gaps we find in businesses that have been running for years.
What happens if I have been working without one?
Usually you register and pay what is owed, sometimes with a penalty. It is far cheaper to fix now than to have it surface during a dispute, an insurance claim or a commercial bid. We would rather tell you plainly and get it current than leave it sitting.
Are the license fees included in your price?
No, and that is on purpose. Government filing, license and permit fees are passed through to you at cost on both payment options, so our price is pure service and you are never paying a markup on a state fee.
How do I find out what licences I need?
There is no single list, which is the problem. Requirements sit at the state, county and city level and differ by trade. We research your specific combination and give you the written list rather than sending you to a government website.
How often do licences renew?
Most are annual, but it varies by agency, and they rarely all fall on the same date. That is exactly why they go on a calendar someone is watching rather than in your inbox.