At the company formation and business start-up stage it is necessary to identify, if any license is required. License is usually required when providing financial services, such as banking, since the strict regulation of European Union law is applicable. The same applies to other monetary services that involve money transfers, financial institutions, insurance companies and insurance brokers, trade with obligations and securities, trade with jewelries and gambling. In some jurisdictions license for auditors, attorneys at law, notaries, bailiff require permission. Acquisition of a license is necessary for construction works on the site. Different type of sales tax should be applied in case some jurisdictions require seller’s permit and, in addition, registration in the tax registry, VAT payer registry or acquisition of a tax free certificate.
Depending on type of products, the licenses and permits can be necessary for different scopes, for example, for alcohol trade you might require wholesale or retail license, or license for strong alcohol beverages and beer. If the company conducts business related to sale of excise products such as coffee, oil, tobacco, or provides warehouse services for above-mentioned products, such activities require the acquisition of a license.
Pharmaceutics, medicine manufacture and activities related to addictive and psychotropic substances also require a specific license, which usually includes several criteria to be fulfilled, since the activities are directly related to human healthcare.
Commercial activities with explosives, pyrotechnics and other explosive materials, as well as all type of firearms and ammunition and other substances that are necessary for military purposes are strictly regulated and require a license in order to deal with. If the company provides transport related services such as cargo or passenger transportation via airways, railway, ships or motorways – a transportation license will be required in the majority of cases.
Mail services and wireless communications, social services, employment agencies, security companies, private detectives – all of the above require a license. Environment impacting activities such as geology, oil manufacturing, activities that may cause environment pollution, rubbish and waste disposal and recycling, activities with chemical substances and radioactive materials - also require a license.
Hotels, hostels, guest houses and other tourist-related locations as well as tourism operators and tourism agencies require a license.
Wood recycling, cultivation and cutting, land surveying services - require a license. Hunting and hunting-related activities require a license. The same applies to anglers. Production and distribution of strategic resources such as gas, electricity and water require a license. In each jurisdiction the list of commercial activities subjected to licensing may differ.