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Alaska splits this work inside one division. The Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, usually called CBPL, has a Corporations Section for LLCs and a Business Licensing Section for licenses. Forming the LLC does not give you the license. You do both.
Is a license required in Alaska?
Yes. The Business Licensing FAQ page cites AS 43.70.020(a): a business license is required for the privilege of engaging in a business in the State of Alaska. The requirement turns on business activity. It does not turn on whether you have a physical office.
One license can cover several lines of business. The FAQ says there are few exemptions, and professional licensing and procurement rules may still apply even where one exists. Some trades also need a professional license, and its status can affect the business license.
What does it cost?
The forms and fees page lists these amounts.
- New business license. $50 per year.
- Renewal. $50 per year.
- Endorsement on an existing license. $100 per endorsement, and $100 to renew one.
- Telemedicine business registration. $100.
Paid fees are not refundable after the license is issued, according to that page. Online filing needs a myAlaska account for payment.
When does it expire and how do you renew?
You buy one or two years. The expiration dates page says the license expires on December 31 of the last year you bought. The renewal period starts October 1 of the year it expires.
The forms page warns that October to February is the busy season for business licensing, so processing can be slow. Renew early. You can renew online through the Business License Search, and licenses renewed online post right away.
How does the license relate to your LLC and your name?
The LLC is created by Articles of Organization with the Corporations Section for $250, and the biennial report is due January 2 every other year. Neither one replaces the license. Read our Alaska LLC guide for the entity steps.
The name works the other way around from most states. Under AS 43.70 the business license is what issues a Business Name or DBA. It does not protect the name. For exclusive rights you register a business name with the Corporations Section for $25, and that registration lasts five years. You must hold a license in the same name first, and the name must match it exactly. Check the name with LLC name search.
What about sales tax?
We did not read a state sales tax source. The Business Licensing FAQ does say that, following South Dakota v. Wayfair, you may need to register with the Alaska Remote Seller Sales Tax Commission. We did not read that body's pages, so confirm with it. EIN steps are in how to get an EIN, and tax numbers in state tax ID lookup.
Where do you check a license?
CBPL provides a Business License Search that lists license records and status. Use it to confirm a license and its expiry. For other states and general tips, see business license lookup.
How do you avoid paying the wrong party?
The division's Business Licensing page carries a scam alert. It warns about deceptive solicitations that ask businesses for money or information. Real state correspondence clearly shows State of Alaska origin. The page says not to email hard copy forms or payments, and to submit paper filings by U.S. mail. If a letter asks for a fee that does not match the amounts above, check it against the division's own site before you pay.
What this page does not cover
Municipal licenses, professional license fees and tax rates are not covered. We did not read those sources. This is not legal advice.