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Business Startup Guide

Our Business Startup Guide provides information designed to help entrepreneurs like you start a new business in Hinds County.

Local Requirements

Business License

An owner of a new business may need a county license from the county tax collector if the business is located outside of a city's corporate limits.

An owner of a new business may need a municipal license if the business is located within a municipal's corporate limits. 

County

Hinds County Tax Collector
Chancery Court Building
P. O. Box 1727
Jackson, MS 39215-1727

(601) 968-6587 Jackson Office
(601) 857-5574 Raymond Office 

Municipality

  • Town of Bolton - P.O. Box 7 Bolton, MS 39041 (601) 866-2222

  • City of Clinton - P. O. Box 156 Clinton, MS 39060 (601) 924-5462

  • Town of Edwards - P. O. Box 215 Edwards, MS 39066 (601) 852-5461

  • City of Jackson - P.O. Box 17 Jackson, MS 39205-0017 (601) 960-1148

  • Town of Learned - P.O. Box 5 Learned, MS 39154 (601) 885-2258

  • Town of Raymond - P.O. Box 10 Raymond, MS 39154 (601) 857-8041

  • Town of Terry - P O Box 327 Terry, MS 39170 (601) 878-5521

  • Town of Utica - P. O. Box 335 Utica, MS 39175 (601) 885-8718

Building Permits

If a business is to be located in a new or remodeled building outside the corporate limits of a municipality, the owner should verify whether or not a county building permit is required before any construction or remodeling begins. 

If a business is to be located in a new or remodeled building inside the corporate limits of a municipality, the owner may need a building permit before beginning construction or remodeling.

County

Hinds County Department of Permits and Zoning
Court House Annex
P. O. Box 640
Raymond, MS 39154

(601) 355-5425

Municipality

  • Town of Bolton - P.O. Box 7 Bolton, MS 39041 (601) 866-2222

  • City of Clinton - P. O. Box 156 Clinton, MS 39060 (601) 924-5462

  • Town of Edwards - P. O. Box 215 Edwards, MS 39066 (601) 852-5461

  • City of Jackson - P.O. Box 17 Jackson, MS 39205-0017 (601) 960-1148

  • Town of Learned - P.O. Box 5 Learned, MS 39154 (601) 885-2258

  • Town of Raymond - P.O. Box 10 Raymond, MS 39154 (601) 857-8041

  • Town of Terry - P O Box 327 Terry, MS 39170 (601) 878-5521

  • Town of Utica - P. O. Box 335 Utica, MS 39175 (601) 885-8718

Zoning Requirements

The owner of a new business should check with county officials to see if there are zoning requirements.

If a business is to be located within a municipal's limits, the business owner should verify that the property is zoned appropriately. 

County

Hinds County Department of Permits and Zoning
Court House Annex
P. O. Box 640
Raymond, MS 39154

(601)857-8869
(601) 355-5424 (Jackson number) 

Municipality

  • Town of Bolton - P.O. Box 7 Bolton, MS 39041 (601) 866-2222

  • City of Clinton - P. O. Box 156 Clinton, MS 39060 (601) 924-5462

  • Town of Edwards - P. O. Box 215 Edwards, MS 39066 (601) 852-5461

  • City of Jackson - P.O. Box 17 Jackson, MS 39205-0017 (601) 960-1148

  • Town of Learned - P.O. Box 5 Learned, MS 39154 (601) 885-2258

  • Town of Raymond - P.O. Box 10 Raymond, MS 39154 (601) 857-8041

  • Town of Terry - P O Box 327 Terry, MS 39170 (601) 878-5521

  • Town of Utica - P. O. Box 335 Utica, MS 39175 (601) 885-8718

State Requirements

Mississippi Secretary of State

Incorporation

If a business is to be a corporation, a certificate of incorporation must be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State.

Business Services Web Portal

Mississippi Department of Revenue

Registration Application

The Registration Application allows for several registrations to be made with the same form (i.e. state [business] privilege license, employer income tax withholding, and for several other special purpose applications).

Franchise Tax Registration

A newly formed corporation must register with the Franchise Tax Division of the Mississippi State Tax Commission within 60 days after it receives its charter of incorporation. 

Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate

Each employee must fill out and give to his employer, at the beginning of his employment, a withholding exemption certificate.

Sales Tax

Businesses that are required to pay sales tax should register to do so with the Mississippi State Tax Commission.

Department of Revenue Business Information

Special Licenses

Food Processing/Handling

A venture which entails the handling/processing of foods must meet sanitary standards of the Mississippi State Board of Health. An owner of this type of business should contact their local county health department. Stove 8 ventilation systems in restaurants must conform to local fire-prevention codes; a restaurant owner should contact the local fire department or town hall for guidance.

Hinds County Health Department
350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 978-7864

MS State Dept. of Health
570 E. Woodrow Wilson
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 576-7400 

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Ammunition

Businesses that sell alcoholic beverages, tobacco, firearms or ammunition should contact the following agencies that have control over the sale of these items: United States Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Mississippi State Tax Commission's Alcoholic Beverage Control Bureau (ABC). The ABC not only grants or denies licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages, but it is also the State's only wholesaler of wines and liquors.

Your local government (city/town) may have specific regulations that must be met also.

U.S. Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
Federal Bldg.
100 W. Capitol St., Ste.703
Jackson, MS 39269
(601) 965-4205

MS State Tax Commission
Alcoholic Beverage Control
P O Box 540
Madison, MS 39110-0540
(601) 856-1380 

Additional State Requirements

The workers' compensation program provides income to employees who are injured on the job and pays medical expenses resulting from work oriented injury.

Learn More

The state unemployment compensation program provides income to employees who lose their job through no fault of their own.

Web Portal

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Mississippi State Board of Health will help state businesses meet federal safety and health standards by providing on-site surveys and consultations. It will provide assistance only if requested to do so. This agency has no enforcement power. 

Contact

Office of Health Data and Research
Occupational Health Surveillance Program
Mississippi State Department of Health
570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive
Jackson, MS 39216-4538

Phone: 601-576-8165

Federal Requirements

Internal Revenue Service

A new business owner must obtain an employer identification number to use in all contacts with the Internal Revenue Service.

Apply Online

An employer must deduct Social Security Tax (FICA) from wages paid to employees. The employer remits the total amount to the United States Internal Revenue Service. Withheld federal income tax is deposited using Form 501. The total amount of FICA taxes paid is reported quarterly on Form 941. Employers should get a current IRS Tax Guide Circular E which has social security tax tables for employees.

Social Security and Medicare Withholding Information

The advance payment Earned Income Credit (EIC) Program provides a means for eligible employees to receive additional income at each period instead of waiting to file for refund when their annual Federal Income Tax returns are prepared. It is then the responsibility of eligible employees who wish to receive advance payments to give their employer a completed Form W-5 each year. The employer must then include these payments with wages paid to such eligible employees. Generally, the employer pays the amount of the advance EIC payments from withheld income and Social Security Taxes. 

Earned Income Credit Requirements

An employee must fill out and give Form W-4 to his employer when he begins his/her employment.

Download Form W-4

OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of Labor enforces federal safety and health standards in business and industry.

US Department of Labor

Most businesses must follow federal standards concerning minimum wage, maximum hours, overtime pay and child labor. A new business owner should check to see if his business meets these requirements. Wage and hour detailed booklets are available upon request.

Learn More

US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Equal treatment of all employees, as well as equal pay, is regulated and enforced by the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Additional support for entrepreneurs and potential business owners may be provided by the following Small Business Development Centers and government agencies.

Small Business Development Center
Hinds Community College
P.O. Box 1263
Raymond, MS 39154-9799
(601) 857-3581

Small Business Development Center
Jackson State University
931 Highway 80 West
Jackson, MS 39204
(601) 979-1100

Small Business Development Center
City of Jackson
200 South President Street
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 960-1638

The Entrepreneur Center
Mississippi Development Authority
501 N West Street, 1st Floor
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 359-2399

Innovate Mississippi
121 N State Street, Suite 500
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 960-3610

Other Resources