Shelby County, Tennessee
What permits do you need to open a contractor or trade in Memphis?
In short
A contractor or trade in Memphis, TN needs 5 permits to open, including a contractor licence ($250, renewed every 2 years) issued by TN Board for Licensing Contractors. Filing fees total $395, and a typical opening runs 3–6 weeks from first application to trading.
Pre-launch build. The permit records on this page are sample data used to build the site structure. None has yet been verified against a primary source, so nothing here should be relied on.
The permits at a glance
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor Licence | TN Board for Licensing Contractors | $250 | every 2 years | 09 Aug 2026 |
| Contractor Surety Bond | TN Board for Licensing Contractors | Varies by limit | annually | Re-check due · 94 days |
| Home Improvement Registration | TN Board for Licensing Contractors | $130 | every 2 years | 09 Aug 2026 |
| Standard Business Licence | Metro County Clerk | $15 | annually | 12 Aug 2026 |
| Sales & Use Tax Certificate | TN Dept. of Revenue | No fee | no expiry | 12 Aug 2026 |
Verified 12 August 2026 against TN Board for Licensing Contractors published fee schedule
Every requirement in detail
Contractor Licence
09 Aug 2026- Fee
- $250
- Renews
- every 2 years
- Issued by
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
Note: financial statement and exam required above threshold.
Contractor Surety Bond
Re-check due · 94 days- Fee
- Varies by limit
- Renews
- annually
- Issued by
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
Note: premium set by the surety, not the board.
Home Improvement Registration
09 Aug 2026- Fee
- $130
- Renews
- every 2 years
- Issued by
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
Note: residential work only.
Standard Business Licence
12 Aug 2026- Fee
- $15
- Renews
- annually
- Issued by
- Metro County Clerk
Note: gross receipts filing.
Sales & Use Tax Certificate
12 Aug 2026- Fee
- No fee
- Renews
- no expiry
- Issued by
- TN Dept. of Revenue
Note: file before first sale.
What order do you have to file these in?
Some permits cannot be applied for until another has been granted. In Memphis the dependency chain sets the floor on your timeline more than any single agency’s processing time.
- 01Obtain surety bond and insurance
- 02Contractor licence application
- 03Business licence
- 04Register for sales and use tax
How much does it cost to permit a contractor or trade in Memphis?
Filing fees for a contractor or trade in Memphis total $395 across 5 permits. That figure covers published permit fees only — plan review, re-inspection and per-face signage charges are billed separately and are the usual reason an outturn exceeds a forecast.
How long does it take to open a contractor or trade in Memphis?
A typical contractor or trade opening in Memphis runs 3–6 weeks. The constraint is sequencing rather than any individual agency: occupancy must be certified before the health permit can be issued, and the health permit must be in hand before trading.
Contractors and trades in nearby cities
Sources
No sources are published for this page yet. Each requirement will cite the agency page, fee schedule or code section it was verified against, with the date it was retrieved — see how the data is verified.
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.