Price develops packet to simplify city’s licensing application, approval process

By Sun Advocate

For people looking to start a business in Price, the city has developed a form packet to make the process easier.
At a council meeting on Aug. 23, Price officials discussed and approved the use of a new form packet aimed at streamlining applications for new businesses and the city. The forms are available at Price City Hall.
The licensing process starts with the Price planning and zoning commission. Any new business is required to meet with the city recorder or community director at city hall in order to be added to the commission agenda.
The business license applicant must attend the scheduled commission meeting in order to obtain approval.
Nick Tatton, community director for the city, and other members of the planning and zoning commission are working toward streamlining this process as well.
Next, a business is required to register with the state, obtain a federal identification number, and get a Utah state sales tax identification number where applicable. This is not the daunting process that it appears to be according to Lisa Richens, deputy finance director for Price city.
“The one stop online business registration at www.business.utah.gov/registration is very user friendly and will save you a lot of legwork,” she said. “It is by far the easiest way to register with the state.”
At this point a business can fill out the city’s license application and turn in all professional licenses that may be required along with the information obtained from the state. Completed forms are to be turned into the business licensing officer and all applicable fees should be remitted to the Price city utilities department. The city requires a criminal background check for all businesses looking to start ventures dealing with alcoholic beverages, anything dealing with children, taxi services, pawnbrokers, sexually oriented businesses and door-to-door soliciting.
At Wednesday’s council meeting city police chief Aleck Shilaos and the council members discussed ways to make the process fair while doing the utmost to protect the public.
The consent form for the background check is included in every licensing packet.
The license will be mailed to business owners when approvals have been received from the business licensing officer, planning and zoning commission, building inspection, public safety and any other required departments or agencies.
The city has been telling business owners to allow 10 days for completion of the licensing. With changes ahead for planning and zoning concerning the approval process and the city code itself being re-written business owners can look forward to an increasingly user-friendly process.