Almost every business operating in the United States of America is required to maintain multiple business licenses, permits, and tax registrations with the government. That’s a tall order when you consider that there are 55 states and territories, over 3,000 counties and parishes, approximately 36,000 municipalities, and over 35,000 special purpose districts that overlay these governmental authorities. Every one of these entities has the authority to require a license, permit, or registration. They often do. Consequently, a comprehensive business license portfolio often includes 4 separate authorizations for the most basic business activity and a multiple of that for highly regulated activities. This is a substantial headache for any firm. To help you cut through the red tape inherent in business license compliance, we’ve gathered together the most frequently asked questions by tax, legal, and compliance departments.