FAQ
Q. Business Licenses - Do I need a license to start and run my business in Idaho and if so, how do I get it?
A. There is no general license requirement for Idaho businesses. However, there ARE professional licensing requirements for specific occupations. The official state website (www.state.id.us) provides a list of these professions and links for licensing information.
Depending on the location, there may be local licensing requirements. Contact your city and county office to find out if there are any licensing requirements at the county and community level for your business.
The Idaho Small Business Solutions website also provides information on licensing. Use the Business Wizard to identify any license requirements for your organization.
Q. Small Business Grants - Are there grants available from the state for small businesses?
A. In most cases, there typically are not any federal or state grant opportunities available for regular, for-profit businesses in Idaho. (There are a few exceptions for businesses developing innovations that are in the national interest such as those associated with the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs - click here for more details.) Grants.gov is one source to use in searching for federal grants. It is possible that grants are available through organizations such as local banks or foundations, but the state does not track this. However, small business owners do have a wealth of business assistance services available:
Resources for Small Businesses
Idaho Small Business Development Center - The Idaho Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) provides free consulting services to individuals looking to start a business or expand an existing one. View its services and resources online at www.idahosbdc.org or call toll-free at 1-800-225-3815. (You can locate each regional office on the ISBDC website, which will also provide local contact information.) View the answers to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link listed on the homepage of the ISBDC website. These cover such areas as grants, loans, and starting a business. An ISBDC consultant can also provide direction on these questions.
Idaho Small Business Solutions - Another resource on the Internet is the Idaho Small Business Solutions website (http://www.idahobizhelp.org/default.htm). Under the Hot Topics link located on the homepage, find answers to many questions regarding grants, loans, etc. There are two great assistance tools found on the homepage of the Idaho Small Business Solutions website, as well. The Resource Wizard allows you to identify which type of business you own and to find different resources for funding it.
Small Business Administration - The Small Business Administration assists small businesses with development and other services. The website is found at www.sba.gov. There is an Idaho office of the SBA in Boise:
Boise District Office - Small Business Administration
380 East Parkcenter Blvd., Suite 330
Boise, Idaho 83706
Phone: (208) 334-1696
Fax: (208) 334-9353
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M- F
Q. Women/Minority Small Business Owners – Are there any special small business grants for a woman/disadvantaged/veteran business owner?
Q. Business Registration - How do I register my business in Idaho?
Q. Tax Credits - How do I know what qualifies for the Idaho Investment Tax Credit?
A. Qualifying property is new or used depreciable property. Idaho adopted the definition of qualifying property found in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Sections 46(c) and 48 in effect prior to 1986 for this credit.
The depreciable life must be three years or more. Property not used in Idaho and vehicles under 8,000 pounds gross weight do not qualify.
Property used in a trade or business that does qualify includes:
- Tangible personal property - machinery and equipment.
- Other tangible property - property used as an integral part of manufacturing, production, extraction, or furnishing transportation, communications, or utility services, or research facilities and bulk storage facilities used in connection with those businesses.
- Elevators and escalators.
- Single purpose agricultural or horticultural structures, such as a commercial greenhouse or a milking barn.
- Certain qualified timber property.
- Petroleum storage facilities.
Property that does not qualify includes the following:
- Buildings and their structural components.
- Property used primarily for lodging. This is an apartment house or other facility where sleeping accommodations are provided and rented. The rental period is normally more than 30 days. (Tangible personal property used in a facility that rents rooms for a period of less than 30 days does qualify.)
- Property expensed under Section 179, IRC.
- Property subject to 60-month amortization.
- Used property:
- not acquired by purchase; or
- in excess of $150,000; or
- acquired from a related person. This includes a person acquiring property they used prior to the acquisition.
- Property that is either nondepreciable or has a useful life of fewer than three years.
- The portion of property that is for personal use.
- Horses.
Questions? Contact the Idaho Tax Commission www.tax.idaho.gov (208) 334-7660
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Q. Is Idaho a right to work state?
A. Yes, Idaho is a right to work state.
Q: What is the average winter temperature in the Boise Valley?
A. The Boise Valley has fairly mild winters. We have an average temp of 29.1
Q: Does Boise Valley have a foreign trade zone?
A. No, we do not have a foreign trade zone.
Q: What is Idaho's Tax Structure?
Q: What is the Idaho Business Advantage Incentive Package consisting of?
Q: What is the Idaho regulatory agency in charge of air, water permits?
A. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). As a regulatory agency, DEQ enforces various state environmental regulations and administers a number of federal environmental protection laws including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. DEQ manages a broad range of activities. More information on air, water and waste permitting information can be found at www.deq.idaho.gov