Business License Help Page

Account Number

The Account Number can be found on the Business License Renewal Form. If you do not know your Account Number, please contact the Licensing Division at (816) 325-7079, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Additional Mailing/Contact Information

This address is used as an additional person to contact for your business. This address can be used when mailing licenses and renewals.

Business Address

The business address is the primary physical location of your business. If your business is located in the City of Independence, Missouri, the business address cannot be a P.O. Box number.

Business Information

The business information section describes the business name, physical location of the business, and contact information such as the phone number, fax number, and email address.

Business Activity

Provide a brief description of the business activities that take place in the City of Independence, Missouri.

Business Name

The business name exactly as it appears on the charter or other applicable legal document. If you are an individual (sole proprietor), enter your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security Card. Please do not use abbreviations for the legal name of your business.

Business Office Information

Information used for mailing purposes for a business/commercial location.

Business Ownership

The Business Ownership describes the ownership structure under which your business is owned and operated.

An Individual (Sole Proprietorship) is one individual in business alone. Sole proprietorships are the most common of business structure. This type of business is simple to form and operate, and may enjoy greater flexibility of management and fewer legal controls. However, the business owner is personally liable for all debts incurred by the business.

A Partnership is composed of two or more persons who agree to contribute money, labor, and/or skill to a business. Each partner shares the profits, losses, and management of the business, and each partner is personally and equally liable for debts of the partnership. Formal terms of the partnership are usually contained in a written partnership agreement.

A Corporation is a more complex. business structure. As a chartered legal entity, a corporation has certain rights, privileges, and liabilities beyond those of an individual. Doing business as a corporation may yield tax or financial benefits, but these can be offset by other considerations, such as increased licensing fees or decreased personal control. Corporations may be formed for profit or nonprofit purposes.

A Limited Liability Partnership is similar to a Partnership except that normally a partner does not have personal liability for the negligence of another partner.

A Limited Liability Corporation is formed by one or more individuals or entities through a special written agreement. The agreement details the organization of the LLC including: provisions for management, assignability of interests, and distribution of profits or losses.

Business Start Date - General Business License

Date you began operating the business under the ownership.

Business Start Date - Landlord License

Date you began collecting rents and/or deposits.

Business Type

The business type describes the main function or duties performed by your business. Please select the option that most closely describes the principal activity of your business.

Doing Business As

The name used for conducting business. This is sometimes known as the trade name. You must contact the Missouri Secretary of State to register your business name. The local number is 816-889-2925.

Federal Tax ID Number or SSN

The Federal Tax ID Number issued to LP, LLC or Corporation. The Social Security Number for an individual if sole proprietor. The format is 9-digits with no spaces or dashes.

Gross Receipts

This amount shall mean the gross receipts or revenue earned from the receipt of cash, credits, and property of any kind for any act or service by a business or person in the preceding calendar or fiscal year consistent with the reporting used for federal taxation purposes. When making application you will project this amount. Businesses without an office in Independence should use gross receipts for Independence only. Businesses that use an Independence address for their physical location must report their total gross receipts. Residential builders shall use gross receipts based on sale price of homes. Fees for insurance sales agents or any business that is based on commissions, shall be based on annual commissions.

Home-Based Business

This license is for a telephone service/office only, which authorizes contact with customers by telephone, computer or mail from your residence. You may maintain an office in your residence and leave your residence to provide your services.

It does not allow any employees/clients/customers to come to the residence, the conduct of any other business activity, outside storage of any materials or inventory, signs or any commercial vehicles.

For all other business operations you will need to contact Zoning at (816) 325-7421 for requirements and processing. Once you have met those requirements, you then can apply for yor annual business license.

Missouri Retail Sales Tax Number

If your business activity requires a Missouri Retail Sales Tax Number you may obtain an application from Missouri Department of Revenue at the Missouri State Office Building, 615 E. 13th St., Kansas City, MO or by calling (573) 526-5102. Once that sales tax number has been issued to your business you may then apply for your City of Independence Business License. Please do not proceed with the application process without the sales tax number if one is required.

Number of Employees

Indicate the number of persons that you plan to employ at this location (All workers count, whether they are working part-time or full-time).

Owner/Corporation Information

Information of the individual(s) or corporation who actually owns the business.

Owner/Corporation Name

The owner is the individual (sole proprietor) operating the business.

Owner Information

Information of the individual(s) or corporation who actually owns the business.

Landlord Owner Name

The owner name is the individual(s), individual names if a partnership, name of LLC or LP or name of corporation as shown on the warranty deed.

Principal Contact

Name of individual to be contacted if ownership is other than sole proprietor. Renewals and licenses will be mailed to the attention of this individual if entered.

Projected Total Gross Receipts

If you have just acquired rental properties, you need to project total rents collected for the next 12 months. If you previously owned rental property, enter total gross rents for the previous 12 months. If you owned rental property for less than 12 months, project an average rents collected for a 12 month period.

Property Management Information

Name of individual or business who manages business affairs for rental property.

Representative Information

Information of individual located within 35 miles of Independence, Missouri to be contacted if ownership is not local.

Business Name Search

Enter in at least three characters of the business name you want to search for.

Business Address Search

Enter in the Street Number and as much of the Street Name as possible to locate a Business Address.

Landlord Name Search

Enter in at least three characters of the name of the landlord you want to search for. If the name is an individual, enter in the first name followed by the middle initial and last name. Do not use commas.

Landlord Address Search

Enter in the Street Number and as much of the Street Name as possible to locate a Landlord Address.

Temporary Business License

A temporary business is referred to as an Itinerant Merchant. This is any business or person engaged in selling and delivering merchandise or services or operating a commercial or promotional amusement activity within the City of Independence on a temporary basis. A temporary basis is determined to be any business operation with a lease or contract for two hundred and ten (210) days or less within any twelve (12) consecutive month period.

It shall be unlawful for any person or business to engage in business without first obtaining a license. This license is to be posted at the premises at all times during operation.

To operate as an Itinerant Merchant, all business activity must be conducted wholly within a building. No business shall be conducted or operated outside a building, except for the operation of an amusement activity/carnival.

Santa Cali Gon and other City sponsored festivals allow business activities to be conducted on private and public property outside of buildings during those periods of time when access to the property has been restricted by a lease of the property.

The owner or agent of a shopping center may obtain an annual Itinerant Merchants License for the activities of individual Itinerant Merchants they lease to at the Shopping Center. This license only covers individual activities no longer than fifteen (15) consecutive days in duration, and the total of all individual activities shall not exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days in any one calendar month.

All Itinerant Merchants shall be required to have a Missouri State Sales tax number for remittance of the required state and local sales taxes. You must obtain this number prior to making application for your license.