- 1). Know specifically what your business intends to service, deal or sell. If you haven't already, register your business with the state of Michigan, if required. Sole proprietors using their own name as their business name are not required to register a "dba" name for their business.
- 2). Search the alphabetical listing of professions at the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s website to find what your requirements are to get your small-business license in Michigan (see Resources). The Business.gov website lists links to all the occupational licensing requirements by state. This is useful if your Michigan small business will also be open in another state. Some professions will need both a license to operate their small business and secondary permits as well. Some professions will need none of these.
- 3). Call or visit your local city or county clerk for any generalized local business licenses required for your specific occupation or industry. These licenses differ from the state licensing requirements, as they adhere to local ordinances and statutes.
Source...