Business Certificates

We will process, seal and certify your copy and return to you. The Form is available below in  a fillable form or you can come into Town Hall.

Filing Fee is $30.00 and the Business Certificate is good for 4 years.

Who needs to file?

• Any person, whether individually or as a partnership, conducting business under any title other than the complete real name of the owner(s).
• Any corporation doing business in a name other than its corporate name. The certificate must be completed and filed by a corporate officer.

Does the Certificate have to be displayed?

• No. However, you must provide a copy upon request.

Where does one file?

• File with the Town Clerk, either in person or by mail, in every city or town where an office of said business may be situated. If you are filing by mail, notarize it before mailing .

Does a Business Certificate expire?

• A business certificate is in full force and effect for four (4) years from the date of issue. A new filing must be made every four years as long as the business is being conducted.

Additional Information

• Filing of a business certificate at the local Town Clerk's office does NOT protect your name as it does a corporation filing, or a trademark registration (which is done through the State). It also does not give you permission to operate a business in the town.  It only registers your mimic (some states refer to these as fictitious name documents).  In order to locally operate a business in the town you must get the appropriate permits, permissions, variances, etc. that are required by the issuing departments of the town through the Licensing Agent.

A business certificate primarily allows consumers and/or creditors to identify the names of the actual owners of a business and in some cases helps in opening up a bank account for the business. Therefore, a city or town clerk may even accept more than one certificate with an identical business name in order to provide this public record.