Start a Business in Connecticut
Costs, permits, taxes, and requirements for CT.
- Cost rank
- 43rd of 50
- 112% of the national average · tied with 1 other state
- State income tax
- 3-6.99%
- Charged on top of federal income tax
- Sales tax
- 6.35%
- You collect it on taxable sales and remit it to the state
- LLC filing fee
- $120
- One-off, paid to the Secretary of State · 21st most expensive of 50 (median $100)
Where Connecticut sits on cost
Cheapest third to most expensive third, by startup cost index. Hover a state for its index and rank.
What's different in Connecticut
Connecticut is a small, mature, expensive market sitting between two much larger ones, which sets the strategy before anything else does: there is rarely an untapped customer base here, so a new business grows by taking work from an incumbent rather than by finding an empty niche. Towns tax business equipment and furnishings as personal property, so the fit-out and the van are recurring tax items rather than one-off purchases. The state's geography is commuter-shaped, and a service area drawn around a town often misses that its residents spend their working days, and much of their money, in another state entirely.
- A share-taking market
- Mature and well served, so the offer needs a reason to switch rather than a gap to fill.
- Equipment is taxed annually
- Towns assess business personal property, so tools, fit-out and vehicles keep costing after purchase.
- Commuter geography
- Residents earn and often spend elsewhere; draw the catchment from behaviour, not from the map.
Business Guides for Connecticut
All 53, cheapest first. Ranges are what that business actually costs in CT.
Under $10K 17
- Notary Services $360 – $2,400
- Social Media Management $550 – $3,350
- Pet Sitting $560 – $3,360
- Web Design $550 – $5,600
- Dog Walking $560 – $5,600
- Tutoring $550 – $11,200
- E-Commerce $560 – $11,200
- Cleaning Business $2,000 – $10,000
- Window Cleaning $1,120 – $11,200
- Graphic Design $1,125 – $11,200
- Personal Training $2,500 – $10,000
- Bookkeeping $2,250 – $11,200
- Handyman $3,000 – $12,000
- Pressure Washing $3,500 – $15,000
- House Painting $2,240 – $16,800
- Pool Cleaning $2,240 – $16,800
- Tax Preparation $2,250 – $16,800
$10K – $50K 19
- Vending Machine $3,600 – $18,000
- Lawn Care $4,000 – $18,000
- Consulting $1,125 – $22,400
- Event Planning $2,250 – $22,400
- Auto Detailing $3,500 – $22,000
- DJ Service $3,350 – $22,400
- Photography $5,000 – $22,000
- Interior Design $2,240 – $28,000
- Carpet Cleaning $5,600 – $28,000
- Massage Therapy $5,600 – $28,000
- Mobile Spa $9,600 – $30,000
- Wedding Photography $11,200 – $44,800
- Junk Removal $5,600 – $56,000
- Landscaping $12,000 – $55,000
- Pest Control $11,200 – $56,000
- Pet Grooming $5,600 – $84,000
- Catering $11,200 – $84,000
- Florist $11,200 – $84,000
- Tree Service $11,200 – $84,000
$50K and up 17
- Electrician $16,800 – $84,000
- Plumbing $16,800 – $84,000
- Yoga Studio $16,800 – $112,000
- Bakery $20,000 – $110,000
- HVAC $22,400 – $112,000
- Moving Company $24,000 – $120,000
- Barber Shop $29,500 – $141,600
- Nail Salon $35,400 – $177,000
- Hair Salon $41,300 – $177,000
- Food Truck $55,000 – $170,000
- Gym $59,000 – $177,000
- Ice Cream Shop $56,000 – $336,000
- Coffee Shop $100,000 – $375,000
- Daycare $5,600 – $560,000
- Car Wash $56,000 – $560,000
- Laundromat $112,000 – $560,000
- Restaurant $206,500 – $590,000
Get a personalized cost estimate for Connecticut
Calculate CostsBusiness Requirements in Connecticut
Register Your Business
File with Connecticut Secretary of State. LLC fee: $120
Get Business License
Most cities require a general business license ($50-$300).
Get EIN
Free from IRS. Required for bank accounts and taxes.
Register for Sales Tax
State rate: 6.35%. Local taxes may apply.
Get Business Insurance
General liability protects from lawsuits. Often required by landlords.