| Local officials provide a potential business owner with a city checklist packet designed to help entrepreneurs acquire a business license. |
During the June 27 council meeting, Price officials reviewed the city’s business licensing procedures and fee schedule.
At the meeting, representatives of Bonneville Research presented the company’s findings to the council.
According to Bonneville’s findings Price city licenses approximately 579 businesses annually, including approximately 123 home-based occupations.
The city’s base fee is currently set at $100 for commercial locations and home occupations.
The fee increases depending on the size of any miscellaneous retail or commercial business.
The Utah code places limitation on business license fees.
State statute mandates that all licenses and fees be reflective of the actual cost of providing services to the business.
Bonneville Research representatives detailed the direct and indirect regulatory costs associated with providing a business license.
According to the researchers, the cost to Price government for proper business licensing not only comes from the man hours provided by the city, but also from various public departments such as police, fire and planning and zoning.
According to the company’s research results, disproportionate and enhanced costs to the city associated with licensing stems from the following circumstances:
•All business license applications are reviewed or inspected by the police chief, building inspector and the fire chief.
•Some business license applications require police department background checks, provided at the city’s expense.
•Businesses requiring special county or state permits or licenses.
•Building inspection reviews.
•City attorney reviews.
•Indirect department overhead and indirect city overhead costs.
Bonneville Research representatives reported that the costs are tabulated in order to calculate the appropriate fee charged for a business license.
The group not only provided cost analysis for basic business licenses but also for more complex establishments, sites that would require a disproportionate service fee include:
•Apartments with four or more units.
•Sexually oriented businesses.
•Massage therapists.
•Peddlers or solicitors.
•Street vendors – carts or motorized vehicles.
•Pawnbrokers.
•Establishments serving or selling liquor.
•Gas stations.
•Employment agencies.
•Auto body and auto dealers.
•Seasonal, including fireworks, Christmas tree lots.
•Temporary.
One of Bonneville’s key stipulations contained within the research report was that Price’s current pricing for business licensing is near to what it should be in relationship to the cost of providing the related services.
To make obtaining a business license more conducive within the city of Price, local officials have developed a checklist packet.
For commercial and home occupied permits, interested parties must first clear planning and zoning before moving onto register their business.
The final step in the process is the actual business license application.
A full checklist packet is available at Price City’s Business Licensing Office at 185 East Main or online at www.priceutah.com.