Business Licensing

How to Get Licensed

Prepare before you begin:

• Select your business structure: (i.e. sole proprietorship, corporation, LLC, etc.)
  • For more information go to: Business Structure FAQs
• Determine your line of business and NAICS code:
  • For more information go to: Line of Business / Alaska NAICS Code
• Research and select your business name:
  • For more information go to:
                     Selecting a Name for Your Business
    Determine a "Distinguishable" Name
• If an entity (i.e. corporation, LLC, LLP, LP, etc.) select your Registered Agent:
  
  • For more information go to: Registered Agents FAQs
• For additional resources go to: BusinessLicense.Alaska.Gov, and scroll down to RESOURCES.
• Further assistance: you are advised to seek the services of an attorney or other qualified professional.

Step 1 (if applicable)
Corporations Section:

Register your corporation/entity with the State of Alaska Corporations Section to receive an Alaska entity number. All forms are located on our Forms and Fees page. Once on that page, scroll down to your specific entity type and click on the appropriate form.

Note: All entities are required to have a registered agent with an Alaskan physical and mailing address. For additional registered agent information, see the Registered Agent FAQs. For more information on selecting an entity type, go to: Business Structure FAQs

Note: Potential foreign entity exemptions may exist under State of Alaska corporation statutes; however they may not exist under professional licensing statutes, procurement statutes or other program statutes which supercede corporation exemptions. For more information regarding corporation statutes on foreign entity exemptions click on Exemptions FAQs.

For additional corporations information and forms go to the Corporations Section . Please direct any corporation questions to the specific corporation examiner based on alpha-range of the entity name.

Step 2 (if applicable)
Professional License Section:

Before engaging in a business practice regulated under Alaska Statute Title 8 (AS 08) you must obtain a professional license.

If applicable, apply to the State of Alaska Professional License Section for an entity professional license for corporations, LLCs, LLPs, LPs, or apply for an individual professional license .

For additional professional license information and forms go to Professional License Section. 

Step 3
Business License Section:

Before engaging in business activity, per AS 43.70.020, you must obtain a business license.

Apply to the State of Alaska Business License Section for a business license.

Note: The business license application will ask for the Alaska entity number (from Step 2, if applicable) and professional license number (from Step 1, if applicable).

For additional business license information and forms click on Business License Section . Please direct any business licensing questions to the specific business license examiner based on the alpha-range of the business name.

General Information:

Hardcopy filings are date stamped and processed in the order received. Standard processing time is 10-15 business days. Online filings are immediate filings unless flagged for examiner review; if flagged for examiner review, standard processing time will be applied. Please consider the different filing methods if you need to coordinate filing with more than one Section within this Division. Hardcopy filings to multiple Sections can be filed at the same time to obtain the same date stamp received. Filings, upon review by an examiner to determine compliance, are filed for record based on the date they were received complete and compliant.

Step 4
IMPORTANT — Check with other agencies.

After you have met the above requirements (Step 1-3) with this Division there will be other agencies you need to work with to ensure compliance with local, state and federal government requirements.

Alaskan employers are required to register with the Alaska Department of Labor Employment Security tax unit 2024_First_Time_Filers.pdf (alaska.gov) and to obtain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees.

For more information go to: Business Structure FAQs , see question #16.

For additional resources, which may provide technical, informational or advisory assistance, go to:

• Small Business Assistance Center
• Alaska Small Business Development Center
• Starting a Business for People with Disabilities
• Workshops for Small Business
• IRS Small Business Center

In addition, you may wish to contact a professional association or organization affiliated with your business activity.

If you need further assistance you are advised to seek the services of an attorney or other qualified professional.

This Division does not provide legal advice. The information contained within these webpages is provided for your convenience and is not to be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to know what your registering, reporting and filing requirements are based on your specific business activities. Not knowing what is expected of you may not preclude you from the legal obligation to meet these requirements and compliance with the law. You are encouraged to seek the advice of a professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Attorney if you need additional assistance.