Columbia Standard

Richland County company owners will no longer be required to renew their business licenses at the start of the new year thanks to recent changes in state legislation.

All South Carolina cities, municipalities and counties are now obligated to standardize their business licensing policies following the passage of Act 176 (the South Carolina Business License Tax Standardization Act), according to a Richland County press release.

“We are excited to implement the changes required by S.C. Act 176 to make doing business in South Carolina easier by streamlining the business license process," Zachary Cavanaugh, director of business services for Richland County, said in the release.

As a result of the legislation, all 2021 business licenses in Richland County have been extended effective immediately, and owners will have until April 30 to renew, as opposed to the end of each calendar year.

"The business license renewal process will begin in April instead of January, which will be one of the major differences businesses will notice," Cavanaugh said. "However, with every licensing jurisdiction in South Carolina, changing to the standard license year date, May 1-April 30, we hope the transition will go smoothly.”

Renewal applications will be issued to company owners in April and must be returned by May 1; any licenses renewals after the new cutoff date will be subject to a fee.

All businesses, even those conducted from a residence, are required to obtain a business license in order to operate legally, the release said, and renewals for business licenses will continue to be based on revenue from the prior calendar year or fiscal year in 2021.

For more information, including an online calculator, go to richlandcountysc.gov/bsc, or call the Business Service Center, 803-576-2287, or email bsc@richlandcountysc.gov.