Business License Renewal
Checklist for Business License Renewals
All Business Licenses expire on December 31st. Renewals can be made online, by mail or in-person.
Submit in Person and Pay in Person
- You will receive your renewal form in the mail.
- Complete your renewal with the following information:
- 2024 gross receipts.
- Number of employees (including self).
- Forms and payment may be turned in Monday through Friday 8AM – 5PM at Douglasville City Hall Finance Department, 6695 Church Street Douglasville, GA 30134.
- Accepted forms: Cash, money order, check and Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex.
- Check payable to City of Douglasville.
Submit via Mail and Pay by Mail
- You will receive your renewal form in the mail.
- Complete your renewal with the following information:
- 2024 gross receipts.
- Number of employees (including self).
- Mailed completed form to City of Douglasville, ATTN Finance Department, PO Box 219, Douglasville, GA 30133.
Pay by Mail
- Within 48 business hours of submitting your renewal form, you will receive an email notifying you that the Renewal Fee is now accessible.
- Mail your check or money order (payable to the City of Douglasville) to City of Douglasville ATTN Finance Department PO Box 219 Douglasville, GA 30133
Submit via Email and Pay Online
- You will receive your renewal form in the mail.
- Complete your renewal with the following information:
- 2024 gross receipts.
- Number of employees (including self).
- Scan your completed form to ask-occtax@douglasvillega.gov.
- Within 48 business hours, you will receive an email notifying you that the Renewal Fee is now accessible to pay online.
Online Payment
- Log onto www.bsaonline.com.
- Create an account.
- Check your email asking you to verify your account.
- When asked, your municipality is City of Douglasville.
- Click online payments (on the left hand side) and then select business licensing payments.
- Search for your Business by either License Number, Business Name, or Address.
- Select your business.
- Look for the amount due in the bottom right.
- Select pay this license and enter your credit/debit card information.
- Once completed, you will receive an auto-generated confirmation email from the City of Douglasville.
Renewal request for information forms will not be accepted by fax.
An incomplete "Renewal Request for Information" will be returned and will delay processing of your business license. If you have any questions concerning the business license renewal process, please contact us at ask-occtax@douglasvillega.gov.
FAQs
What is the difference between an LLC and a Corporation?
The owners of an LLC are called “members,” and instead of shares, each member owns a designated percentage of the company, sometimes called a “membership interest.” Memberships in an LLC may be more difficult to transfer than shares in a corporation. An LLC’s operating agreement will typically specify whether and how membership interests can be transferred. In some states, if a member leaves an LLC and the operating agreement does not specify otherwise, the LLC must be dissolved.
Why can’t I use my P.O. Box for the Business Location?
State law allows local governments to levy occupation tax only on businesses that have an office or location within that jurisdiction.
I don’t have any employees, do I still need to fill out the Private Employer Affidavit?
Business owners with 10 or fewer full-time employees will be exempt from E-Verify. However, before you receive your business license or occupational tax certificate, you will have to provide evidence to the City that you are exempt from the E-Verify requirements.
How do I register my business as a DBA?
A Trade Name/DBA can be registered at the Douglas County Clerk of Superior Court:
Douglas County Courthouse
2nd floor, Judicial side
8700 Hospital Drive
Douglasville 30134
770-920-7252
Do I need a state license for my business as well?
There is no standard Georgia state business license required for every business. However, Georgia does have state professional licensing requirements described in Sec. 26-8. - Professionals as classified in O.C.G.A. § 48-13-9(c) for selected professions. Also, some businesses require a special local license in addition to the City business license.
How much will my Business License cost?
The cost of license varies with each business. There is a $50 processing fee for the application. The amount for the license itself is calculated by multiplying the anticipated Gross Receipts (a guesstimate of how much the business might earn) with the tax rate. Some businesses must also pay a regulatory fee. The total from that calculation will then be added to the processing fee, giving the true cost.
Who is exempt from paying the Occupational Tax?
All state and local authorities and all nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from occupation tax, regulatory fees and administrative fees. Nonprofit organizations will need to provide their tax exempt certificate from the Internal Revenue Service. Also, the City grants partial exemptions for disabled persons.
How do I change the name, location, or ownership of my business?
Please complete a new application, as the paperwork on file will need to be updated. There is no fee for a name or ownership change, although a $10 fee is associated with a change in location.
When do I renew my license?
Licenses expire at the end of each calendar year. Renewal notices will be sent out starting in October.
My business has closed. What do I do?
Please send an email stating the business and owner name, address, and date of closure to ask-occtax@douglasvillega.gov.