How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Vermont?
Last updated: May 2026
Vermont Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$125
Sales Tax Rate
6.0%
Minimum Wage
$14.01/hr
Cost of Living Index
112.2
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$45
Starting a Business in Vermont
Vermont businesses register with the Secretary of State. Local permits and licensing requirements vary by municipality.
Vermont has a graduated income tax with rates from 3.35% to 8.75%. Corporate income tax rates range from 6% to 8.5%.
Vermont's small market size requires businesses to adopt regional or online distribution models. Tourism, specialty food, and artisan products are strong sectors.
For official formation documents, visit the Vermont Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Vermont
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Vermont’s cost of living index of 112.2. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $7,630 | $21,800 | $50,140 |
| Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business | Real Estate | $11,990 | $32,700 | $98,100 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $87,200 | $218,000 | $545,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $10,900 | $32,700 | $87,200 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $21,800 | $59,950 | $141,700 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $5,450 | $32,700 | $109,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $81,750 | $218,000 | $545,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $21,800 | $103,550 | $327,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $109,000 | $381,500 | $926,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,350 | $70,850 | $190,750 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $32,700 | $109,000 | $327,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $27,250 | $109,000 | $327,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $272,500 | $436,000 | $1,635,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $135,705 | $361,880 | $1,357,050 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $135,705 | $592,960 | $1,693,860 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $11,445 | $30,520 | $76,300 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $13,080 | $57,770 | $141,700 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $109,000 | $130,800 | $327,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,635 | $11,990 | $40,330 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $32,700 | $109,000 | $327,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $65,400 | $130,800 | $381,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $27,250 | $70,850 | $163,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $2,180 | $9,810 | $28,340 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $54,500 | $305,200 | $817,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $8,720 | $23,980 | $59,950 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $21,800 | $59,950 | $163,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $21,800 | $87,200 | $272,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $65,400 | $196,200 | $545,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $32,700 | $87,200 | $218,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $381,500 | $545,000 | $1,090,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $4,360 | $13,080 | $34,880 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $5,450 | $16,350 | $54,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $16,350 | $59,950 | $174,400 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $8,720 | $43,600 | $130,800 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $54,500 | $141,700 | $381,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $21,800 | $59,950 | $141,700 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $21,800 | $81,750 | $218,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $10,900 | $56,680 | $141,700 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $218,000 | $272,500 | $817,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $49,050 | $130,800 | $218,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $17,440 | $39,240 | $87,200 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $54,500 | $218,000 | $654,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $21,800 | $59,950 | $141,700 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $21,800 | $65,400 | $163,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $21,800 | $76,300 | $218,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $54,500 | $272,500 | $1,090,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,350 | $81,750 | $272,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $2,180 | $10,900 | $35,970 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $43,600 | $141,700 | $327,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $21,800 | $76,300 | $218,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $21,800 | $81,750 | $218,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $16,350 | $43,600 | $98,100 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $16,350 | $43,600 | $109,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $27,250 | $98,100 | $272,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $10,900 | $43,600 | $130,800 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $109,000 | $272,500 | $654,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $13,080 | $37,060 | $88,290 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $43,600 | $98,100 | $239,800 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $54,500 | $196,200 | $545,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $5,450 | $19,620 | $54,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $21,800 | $76,300 | $218,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $21,800 | $70,850 | $218,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $109,000 | $381,500 | $1,090,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $163,500 | $436,000 | $1,090,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $16,350 | $54,500 | $163,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $32,700 | $109,000 | $327,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $10,900 | $54,500 | $163,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $21,800 | $98,100 | $272,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $5,450 | $27,250 | $87,200 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $5,450 | $27,250 | $109,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $10,900 | $43,600 | $130,800 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $32,700 | $109,000 | $327,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $272,500 | $436,000 | $1,090,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $65,400 | $196,200 | $490,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $81,750 | $190,750 | $436,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $16,350 | $54,500 | $163,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $2,180 | $6,540 | $19,620 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $54,500 | $163,500 | $436,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $11,445 | $26,160 | $59,950 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $10,900 | $30,520 | $76,300 |
| Real Estate Investing & Rental Business | Real Estate | $27,250 | $81,750 | $272,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $190,750 | $408,750 | $817,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $16,350 | $65,400 | $196,200 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $21,800 | $65,400 | $218,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $10,900 | $76,300 | $272,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $21,800 | $59,950 | $163,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $218,000 | $654,000 | $2,180,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $21,800 | $64,310 | $218,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,815 | $10,900 | $29,430 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $21,800 | $81,750 | $218,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $54,500 | $163,500 | $436,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $54,500 | $163,500 | $436,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $32,700 | $87,200 | $218,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $2,180 | $26,160 | $109,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $54,500 | $218,000 | $654,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $27,250 | $81,750 | $218,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,815 | $13,080 | $35,970 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $16,350 | $43,600 | $109,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $545,000 | $830,580 | $3,270,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $16,350 | $87,200 | $218,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Vermont
Licenses & Permits in Vermont
General Business License
Vermont does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Vermont Secretary of State and register with the Vermont Department of Taxes for sales and use tax and withholding tax purposes. Vermont has relatively few municipalities that require local business licenses. Vermont's regulatory environment, while progressive, is generally streamlined for small businesses. The Vermont Small Business Development Center helps businesses navigate registration requirements.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food and Lodging License — Vermont Department of Health — Food and Lodging ProgramCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Master Electrician License — Vermont Office of Professional RegulationCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Cosmetology Shop License — Vermont Office of Professional RegulationCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Vermont Office of Professional Regulation — Real EstateCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Regulated Child Development Facility License — Vermont Department for Children and Families — Child Development DivisionCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Farmer's Market Permit — Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and MarketsCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- First and Third Class Licenses — Vermont Liquor and Lottery Control BoardCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Bed and Breakfast Registration — Vermont Department of Health — Food and LodgingCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Vermont towns regulate home-based businesses through local zoning bylaws. Vermont's many small towns are generally permissive of home-based businesses, reflecting the state's strong entrepreneurial and agricultural tradition. Burlington and Montpelier allow home occupations in residential zones with standard restrictions on commercial signage and customer traffic. Vermont's very high cottage food sales cap strongly supports home-based food businesses.
Vermont Business Resources
SBA District Office
Vermont SBA District Office — Montpelier
Secretary of State
https://sos.vermont.gov/corporationsZoning Information
Vermont municipalities control zoning under Act 250, the state's land use and development law. This adds an additional review layer for significant development.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments require a license from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Vermont has a robust cottage food law.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Vermont operates a competitive insurance market but also has the Vermont League of Cities and Towns as an option.