Dorchester County Circuit
206 High Street
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
The license year runs from May 1st through the following April 30th.
Business License Requirements
The License Department at the Circuit Court for Dorchester County issues State of Maryland Traders Licenses for businesses located in Dorchester County. Licenses can be obtained during our regular hours of operation from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except Court Holidays. Please visit www.mdcourts.gov/administration/holidays.html for a full listing of Holidays.
Applicants who will buy and sell merchandise in Maryland, should register to obtain a Sales and Use Tax account number at the Comptroller of Maryland website link at www.marylandtaxes.com. This link includes convenient online services and information for Starting a New Business in Maryland.
Applicants may use a REGISTERED Trade Name for their business. To register a Trade Name with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation visit www.dat.state.md.us/ or call 410-767-1340.
To obtain a business license, applicants will need to provide the following information: (1) full name of corporation or sole proprietor; (2) full location address and mailing address, if different; (3) EIN # (Federal Identification number if corporation) or Social Security number; (4) telephone number; and (5) workers' compensation number for those who are employers.
Type of Payment
The Clerk’s Office can only accept cash, checks or money orders.
Licenses Available Are
- Traders
- Chain Store
- Construction
- Restaurant
- Billiard
- Vending Machines
- Cigarette and Special Retail Cigarette
- Cleaning, Dying, Pressing & Laundry
- Music Box
- Peddler
- Pinball
- Storage Warehouse
If you have more than one business location, you are considered a chain store.
Traders license fee is based on the wholesale value of your retail inventory. Please refer to the following chart for the fees. All licenses include a $2.00 issuing fee for each type of license.
| Trader's License Fees - All Counties Excluding Baltimore City |
|||
| INVENTORY AMOUNT | FEE | ||
| 0 | to | 1,000 | 15 |
| 1,001 | to | 1,500 | 18 |
| 1,501 | to | 2,500 | 20 |
| 2,501 | to | 4,000 | 25 |
| 4,001 | to | 6,000 | 30 |
| 6,001 | to | 8,000 | 40 |
| 8,001 | to | 10,000 | 50 |
| 10,001 | to | 15,000 | 65 |
| 15,001 | to | 20,000 | 80 |
| 20,001 | to | 30,000 | 100 |
| 30,001 | to | 40,000 | 125 |
| 40,001 | to | 50,000 | 150 |
| 50,001 | to | 75,000 | 200 |
| 75,001 | to | 100,000 | 250 |
| 100,001 | to | 150,000 | 300 |
| 150,001 | to | 200,000 | 350 |
| 200,001 | to | 300,000 | 400 |
| 300,001 | to | 400,000 | 500 |
| 400,001 | to | 500,000 | 600 |
| 500,001 | to | 750,000 | 750 |
| 750,001 and over | 800 | ||
A contractor or subcontractor who holds a license under the Maryland Home Improvement Law may still be required to hold a construction license issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
The following websites offer additional information on business licenses and opening a Maryland business:
- Business License Information System (BLIS) - includes startup information and an alphabetized list of all State licenses and permits.
- Comptroller of Maryland - Business Information Services - Starting a New Business in Maryland, for convenient online services for tax information, business license information, and a Business Owner's Toolkit