Simpsonville Business License

If you plan to open or run a business inside Simpsonville, you will likely need a city business license. Many owners overlook it until they are ready to open, and it is separate from anything you file with the state. South Carolina does not issue a general statewide business license. Registering your company with the Secretary of State does not give you permission to operate in the city. This guide walks through the steps to get a Simpsonville SC business license for the 2026-27 license year, from confirming your address to renewing by April 30.

This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Fees, rates, and rules change, so confirm every figure with the agency named before you commit money. For questions about your entity structure, taxes, or a complicated license situation, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.

How Local Licensing Works in South Carolina

South Carolina has no general state business license. Registration with the Secretary of State is a corporate filing, not a permit to operate. Local business license taxes are levied by most cities and by only nine counties: Beaufort, Charleston, Dorchester, Horry, Jasper, Marion, Orangeburg, Richland, and Sumter. Greenville County is not on that list, which is why businesses in unincorporated areas of Greenville County generally do not pay a county license tax.

Inside Simpsonville, the city license is the main local permit. The city's Business License Department is at 425 E Curtis St, and the phone number is 864-967-9526.

What You Need Before You Apply

Gather these items before you call or visit. A missing document is the most common reason an application stalls.

• A confirmed address inside the city limits. Your business location determines whether you need a Simpsonville license at all.
• Your legal business structure. Know whether you are a sole proprietorship, general partnership, LLC, or corporation. Sole proprietors and general partnerships do not file organizing documents with the Secretary of State.
• A federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). You can apply for one free through the IRS website.
• A plain-language business description. The city sorts businesses into Classes 1 through 7, and your class sets your rate.
• A written estimate of gross receipts for the year. Keep your math so you can explain it if asked.
• A trade name, if you use one. South Carolina has no state DBA filing, so your local license is where a trade name gets recorded.
• A SCDOR retail license number, if you sell tangible goods. Get this before your first sale.
• A zoning answer, if you work from home or plan a short-term rental.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Simpsonville Business License

Step 1: Confirm you are inside Simpsonville city limits

A Simpsonville mailing address does not always mean you are inside city limits. Five Forks, for example, is unincorporated Greenville County. Businesses there do not pay the city license. They register with the county instead, and that registration is free. Before you spend money on other steps, call the Business License Department at 864-967-9526 and confirm your parcel is inside the city.

Step 2: Form your entity, if you have not already

If you operate as a sole proprietor under your own name, skip this step. Otherwise, file with the Secretary of State:

• LLC: File Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company under S.C. Code Section 33-44-203. The filing fee is $110. The name must include the words limited liability company or limited company, or an abbreviation such as LLC or L.L.C.
• Corporation: File Articles of Incorporation for a Domestic Business Corporation under S.C. Code Section 33-2-102. The filing fee is $110. File Form CL-1 with it, and pay the one-time $25 initial License Fee within 60 days of doing business or using capital in South Carolina.

File online through Business Entities Online at businessfilings.sc.gov. Documents filed online are returned within 24 to 48 business hours. The Secretary of State does not publish a separate expedite fee. Search the name first in the entity search. If you need more time, you can reserve a name for 120 days for $25. The reservation cannot be renewed.

Your registered agent must be a South Carolina resident individual, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or an authorized foreign entity, with a street address in the state. The agent's name and address must appear on your formation document. Remember that this filing is not your business license.

Step 3: Get your EIN

Apply for your EIN through the IRS. The city will ask for it, and the SCDOR Business Tax Application will as well. List any trade name on the EIN application too, so your records match.

Step 4: Get a SCDOR retail license if you sell goods

If you sell tangible goods, you need a Retail License from the South Carolina Department of Revenue. It is a one-time, nonrefundable $50 fee per location, applied for through the Business Tax Application on MyDORWAY at dor.sc.gov. The state sales tax rate is 6%. Get this license before your first sale.

Step 5: Determine your class and estimate your fee

Simpsonville's 2026-27 license fees have a $60 minimum on the first $1,000 for every class. Above that, the rate runs from $0.90 per $1,000 for Class 1 up to $1.50 per $1,000 for Class 7. Confirm with the department which class fits your business and how the base for these rates is measured. Do not guess the class, because the wrong one can change your bill. Non-residents of the city pay double, so confirm your residency status when you apply. City license fees have risen 21.5% since 2020, so budget for the current rates rather than older figures you may find online.

Step 6: Apply with the Business License Department

Visit or contact the Business License Department at 425 E Curtis St, Simpsonville, or call 864-967-9526. Ask three questions: whether you can apply by mail or online, which payment methods are accepted, and what the current turnaround time is. Bring your EIN, entity documents, class description, gross receipts estimate, and any trade name or zoning paperwork. Pay the calculated fee, and keep your license records with your business files.

Step 7: Check the hospitality and accommodations taxes

If you sell prepared food or beverages, ask the Business License Department about the city hospitality tax. Confirm the current city hospitality tax rate directly with the department at 864-967-9526 before you price your menu. Lodging operators also collect a 3% local accommodations tax, which applies to short-term stays.

Short-Term Rentals in Simpsonville

A short-term rental needs two things: a city STR permit and the regular business license. STRs are allowed only in the R-Lo, R-Mid, R-Hi, and R-OI zoning districts. Apartments are not eligible. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before you buy furniture or list the property. The 3% local accommodations tax also applies, so set up your bookkeeping to track it from the first night.

Renewal Deadlines for the 2026-27 License Year

Simpsonville business licenses renew each year, with renewals due April 30. Put that date on your calendar as soon as you receive your first license. Local renewals are processed through localblrenewal.com, but confirm with the Business License Department that your Simpsonville renewal uses that portal. Renewing late creates the risk of penalties, so do not wait for a reminder.

Other Licenses You May Need

A city license does not cover every activity. Check these separately:

• Retail food permits come from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, not DHEC, which was split in 2024.
• Contractor licenses: Commercial contractor work above $10,000 generally requires a state contractor license, and residential specialty work above $500 requires registration. Confirm the current thresholds and the licensing agency before you bid a job.
• DBA or trade names: There is no state DBA filing. Record your trade name with the city on your local license.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Treating your Secretary of State filing as your city license. The two are separate.
• Assuming a Simpsonville mailing address means city limits. Confirm your parcel first.
• Guessing your class. Ask the department and keep a written note of the answer.
• Forgetting the non-resident doubling. Budget for it if it applies to you.
• Filing an annual report you do not owe. A standard South Carolina LLC is not required to file an annual report or pay the corporate License Fee. A corporation files the one-time CL-1 at formation and then an annual report (Schedule D) with its SC1120 or SC1120S.
• Booking a short-term rental without zoning approval. Apartments and properties outside the four eligible zones do not qualify.
• Making sales before your retail license is issued. Apply for the SCDOR license first.
• Missing the April 30 renewal. Set a reminder for March.

What to Expect After You Apply

Owners who arrive with a complete packet, a confirmed address, and a reasonable gross receipts estimate often find the first filing goes more smoothly. Results vary by business type, class, and location, so treat these as general patterns rather than promises. Ask the department for the current turnaround time at 864-967-9526, and plan to open only after your license and any required state registrations are in hand.

For a deeper look at South Carolina state requirements, start with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and the Secretary of State's business entities page. Small business owners can also contact the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers for free guidance.

Need help with a complex structure, a multi-location business, or an unusual license question? Talk with a qualified attorney or CPA before you file.