Beaufort County Business Services has updated the business license process to standardize it and make it consistent with all other state taxing jurisdictions.

The model business license ordinance was developed by the Municipal Association of South Carolina to comply with the Business License Standardization Act, passed by the South Carolina General Assembly in September 2020. The new law was in response to business owners, who were frequently frustrated by language and rate classes that differed from one municipality to another.

A business license tax is based on a business’s gross income from the prior calendar year regardless of the due date or license period. Businesses will only pay once on their full calendar year's gross income no matter the length of the transitional license year. This includes all rental properties.

It also includes the creation of the Local Business License Renewal Center, an online payment portal where businesses can renew all their local licenses at one time.