To start a business in the City of Lynchburg, please follow these steps:

• You must obtain a Letter of Approval from the Community Development Department. There is no charge for this document.
  Contact Community Development 434-455-3900
• You must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Inspections Department. If you are operating the business out of your residence, you do not need the certificate. There is no charge for this document.
  Contact the Inspections Department 434-455-3910
• If you are using a trade name and are not registered as a corporation of any type, you must register the name with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. There is a $10 charge to register the name.
  Contact the Clerk's office 434-455-2620
• You must complete a Business License Application and submit it to the Commissioner of the Revenue along with copies of the above documents. The completed application can be  to cor.business@lynchburgva.gov. The business license fee is based on gross receipts (gross purchases for wholesalers). You must estimate the gross receipts from the start of your business until the end of the current calendar year. Once you have been in business for a full calendar year, the license will be based on the previous year's gross receipts.

The following schedule is utilized to determine the amount of the business license tax:

If gross receipts/purchases are greater than $100,000 the following schedule is utilized:

• Retail merchant - 20 cents per $100 of gross receipts
• Contractor - 16 cents per $100 of gross receipts
• Business/personal service - 36 cents per $100 of gross receipts
• Professional service - 58 cents per $100 of gross receipts
• Wholesale merchant - $20 plus 28 cents per $100 of gross purchases

Business License Application

For further information regarding Business License Tax 434-455-3880.