Pet Sitting Business Permit Requirements in Charleston, WV

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source for EIN (Employer Identification Number) (opens in a new tab)

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. West Virginia State Tax Department — Business Registration

   Before engaging in business activity in West Virginia every individual or business entity must obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the WV Tax Division (WV Code §11-12-1 et seq.), applied for through the Business for West Virginia portal at business4.wv.gov or on form BUS-APP. A separate certificate is needed for each business name and each location. The certificate is permanent — it does not expire — until the legal name, location or ownership changes, and it must be surrendered when the business stops operating in West Virginia. It also authorises you to collect the 6% state sales tax plus any municipal sales tax of up to 1%.

   Official government source for West Virginia State Tax Department — Business Registration (opens in a new tab)

   $30 one-time Business Registration Certificate fee, per business name and location·1–5 business days when filed online through the Business for West Virginia portal (business4.wv.gov); longer by paper BUS-APP

   $30 one-time Business Registration Certificate fee, per business name and location

   1–5 business days when filed online through the Business for West Virginia portal (business4.wv.gov); longer by paper BUS-APP

1. City of Charleston Office of the City Collector — Business Registration / General Business License

   Charleston requires businesses within city limits to register with the Office of the City Collector and obtain a General Business License (flat $20 fee), plus pay the city's Business & Occupation (B&O) privilege tax on gross receipts (rate varies by classification) and a City Service Fee of $3/week per employee working within city limits. Renewed annually and displayed at the place of business.

   Official government source for City of Charleston Office of the City Collector — Business Registration / General Business License (opens in a new tab)

   $20 flat General Business License fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $3/week per employee City Service Fee·1–3 weeks

   $20 flat General Business License fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $3/week per employee City Service Fee

   1–3 weeks

2. City of Charleston General Business License (pet boarding)

   No 'Kanawha County Animal Services' department exists — Kanawha County animal control is contracted to the private Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, which issues no business permits, and the County Commission's Planning and Development application list has no kennel or boarding permit. A pet boarding business in Charleston completes the Business Registration Application with the Office of the City Collector (915 Quarrier St, Suite 4; 304-348-8024) under the General Business License classification, after occupancy sign-off by Planning/Zoning, Building and Fire. Boarding animals at a residence should be cleared with the Charleston Planning Department (304-348-8105) for zoning; home-based status is a checkbox on the same registration form, not a separate permit.

   Official government source for City of Charleston General Business License (pet boarding) (opens in a new tab)

   $20 General Business License, plus Charleston B&O gross-receipts tax and the $3.00/week per employee (and per self-employed owner) City Service Fee. No county kennel permit fee.·1–3 weeks

   $20 General Business License, plus Charleston B&O gross-receipts tax and the $3.00/week per employee (and per self-employed owner) City Service Fee. No county kennel permit fee.

   1–3 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Charleston Business License Division
• Kanawha County Animal Services

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