Guide summary

You must check which licences or permits your business needs before you start trading. Requirements depend on what you do, where you operate, and your industry. Operating without the right licence is a criminal offence and can lead to fines, closure, or imprisonment. Use the GOV.UK licence finder or contact your local council to find out what you need.

Use GOV.UK licence finder to see what licences you need
Contact your local council for alcohol, food, waste and street trading licences
Register food businesses with the council at least 28 days before opening
Food business registration is free; hygiene rating comes after inspection
Alcohol premises licence costs £100 to £1,905 depending on property value
Waste carrier licence costs £191 for new, £130 for renewal (3 years)
Apply for planning permission before changing building use or adding signage
Allow 3 to 6 months for some licences to be processed
Check with professional bodies if you work in a regulated profession
Penalties include fines, closure orders and imprisonment for unlicensed trading

Many businesses need specific licenses or permits to operate legally. Requirements depend on what you do, where you operate, and your industry sector.

Operating without required licenses is a criminal offence. Penalties include fines, closure orders, or imprisonment depending on the violation.

Business licenses and permits: what you might need

Overview of common business licenses and how to find what your business needs.

Many businesses need specific licenses or permits to operate legally. Requirements vary by:

Business activity: What you do (sell alcohol, food, provide healthcare, use hazardous materials)
Location: Where you operate (local authority requirements)
Sector: Industry-specific regulations

Operating without required licenses is a criminal offence with fines, closure orders, or imprisonment depending on the violation.

Common business licenses

Alcohol licensing: Premises license required to sell or supply alcohol. Apply to local council. Cost: £100-£1,905 depending on rateable value.
Food business registration: Free registration with local authority at least 28 days before opening. Food hygiene rating assessed after opening.
Waste carrier license: Required if transporting business waste. Upper tier: £191.02 new / £130.25 renewal (3 years). Apply to Environment Agency.
Entertainment license: Required for regulated entertainment (live music, plays, films). Often included in premises license.
Street trading license: Required for selling goods on the street or in public places. Apply to local council.
Taxi/private hire license: Driver and vehicle licenses required. Apply to local authority. Costs vary widely.
Professional licensing: Some professions require registration: solicitors (SRA), accountants (ICAEW/ACCA), financial advisers (FCA), healthcare professionals (CQC/HCPC).

Planning permission

You may need planning permission if you:

Change property use: Converting residential to commercial, or changing commercial use class
Work from home: If business use changes the character of the property or causes disturbance
Make alterations: External changes, extensions, signage
Listed buildings: Almost all changes require Listed Building Consent

Check before you start: Apply to local planning authority. Fees vary (£200-£500 typical for small business). Takes 8-13 weeks.

How to find what you need

Use GOV.UK license finder: Enter your business activity and select your nation at gov.uk/find-licences
Contact your local authority: Many licenses are issued locally (alcohol, food, waste, street trading)
Check sector-specific regulators: FCA (financial services), CQC (healthcare), Ofsted (childcare)
Professional bodies: If you're in a regulated profession

Find licenses for your business (opens in a new tab)

Requirement · Food, Drink & Hospitality

Hospitality businesses: alcohol and entertainment

If you're opening a pub, restaurant, bar, or hotel, you'll typically need:

Premises license (alcohol): £100-£1,905 depending on rateable value. Apply to local licensing authority at least 28 days before opening.
Personal license: Required for designated premises supervisor. £37 application, must complete accredited qualification (1-day course ~£150).
Food business registration: Free, register at least 28 days before opening.
Music license: May be included in premises license or require separate PRS/PPL licenses.

Timeline: Start license applications 3-4 months before opening. Premises license can be challenged by residents or authorities.

Applies to: All hospitality businesses serving alcohol or food, or providing entertainment

Enforcement:

Trading Standards and local licensing authority enforce. Penalties: Unlimited fines, imprisonment up to 6 months, closure orders.

Apply for alcohol license

Requirement · Retail & Consumer Goods

Retail businesses: product safety and trading standards

Retail businesses must comply with:

Product safety: All products must meet UK safety standards. Toys, electrical goods, cosmetics have specific requirements.
Age-restricted sales: If selling alcohol, tobacco, knives, solvents - need age verification policies and staff training.
Weights and measures: Scales and measuring equipment must be legally certified if selling by weight/volume.
Sunday trading (large shops): Shops over 280m² can only open 6 continuous hours between 10am-6pm on Sundays.

No upfront license for general retail, but Trading Standards enforce product safety and consumer protection laws.

Applies to: All retail businesses selling goods to consumers

Enforcement:

Trading Standards enforce. Penalties: Unlimited fines, product recalls, closure orders for serious violations.

Product safety requirements

Planning permission for business use

You need planning permission if you:

Change property use class: E.g., residential to commercial (except limited home-based business)
Make external changes: New shopfronts, signage, extensions
Work from home at scale: If business changes property character (lots of visitors, deliveries, parking issues)
Listed building: Almost all changes require Listed Building Consent

Use GOV.UK license finder

Enter your business activity and postcode at gov.uk/find-licences to get personalized list of licenses.
Check with local authority

Contact your council's licensing team - many licenses are issued locally (alcohol, food, waste, street trading).
Budget for license costs

License fees vary widely (free for food registration, £100s-£1,000s for alcohol, environmental permits).
Allow 3-6 months lead time

Some licenses take months to process. Apply early - you cannot trade without them.
Check planning permission

If changing property use or making alterations, check with local planning authority first.

Common license types by sector

Food businesses: Free registration with local authority 28 days before opening. Food hygiene rating (0-5 stars) after inspection.
Alcohol sales: Premises license £100-£1,905 (based on rateable value). Personal license £37 + qualification course.
Waste carriers: Upper tier license £154 for 3 years if transporting business or commercial waste. Register with Environment Agency.
Taxi/private hire: Driver and vehicle licenses from local authority. Medical assessment, DBS check, knowledge test. Costs vary by area.
Entertainment: Regulated entertainment (live music, plays, films) often covered by premises license. May need separate PRS/PPL licenses.
Street trading: License from local council to sell goods in streets or public places. Costs and availability vary widely.
Environmental permits: Required for activities causing pollution or using hazardous materials. £1,000s application fee, apply to Environment Agency.

Find licenses for your business (opens in a new tab)

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Licensing Act 2003 Primary 2003 · UK-wide Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Part VIII Primary 1990 · UK-wide Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 Primary 1989 · UK-wide Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Primary 1976 · UK-wide Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Food hygiene) EU Retained 2004 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

GOV.UK license finder (opens in a new tab)

Search by business activity and location for all licenses you might need.

GOV.UK

Apply for alcohol license (opens in a new tab)

Premises and personal licenses for selling alcohol.

GOV.UK

Free registration with local authority for food businesses.

GOV.UK

Check planning permission (opens in a new tab)

Find out if you need planning permission for your business premises.

MHCLG

Environmental permits (opens in a new tab)

Permits for activities that could harm the environment.

Environment Agency

Product safety requirements (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

Business licenses: what you need

Planning permission for business use

Use GOV.UK license finder

Check with local authority

Budget for license costs

Allow 3-6 months lead time

Check planning permission

Common license types by sector

Legal basis

Official guidance

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