Where your business activities are overseen by the government, you need to register for a business licence. In many cases, you will be required to comply with government law and council regulations. You can search the UK government’s licence finder to find out if your business activities require a licence or permit.
These include detailed guidance on licences and permits required for businesses and a breakdown of specific activities that require separate licences.
As an example, let’s assume you’re launching a catering business. Firstly, you must register as a food business. The licence finder now allows you to add any of the following activities to check for licences pertaining to “catering services”:
- Handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging in 12 months
- Organising ad hoc events
- Indoor and outdoor events with entrance fees
- Parking of vehicles in restricted zones
- Processing information from individuals
- Selling alcohol
- Using CCTV
- Use live entertainment venues
- Utilise the Olympic Brand
- Cater for air industry
Let’s assume you select to organise ad hoc events, want to serve alcohol and use an entertainment venue, the licences and permits you would need to register for include a premises licence, a temporary event notice, a live music licence and a personal licence to sell alcohol.
Select business activities that require a licence or permit, and corresponding authorities to obtain them from are shown in the table below.