Resources for Starting a Business

We are excited for your interest in starting a business in Franklin Southampton. Below is a broad list of resources that serves to help you get your business up and running or begin the expansion process:  

To access a guideline for writing a business plan, click here.  

To access business plan writing assistance from the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, click here.

If you are a veteran owned business, please click here for additional veteran specific opportunities and assistance. 

Choose from one of the following business structures:  

GENERAL PARTNERSHIP: relationship between two or more persons who team up to operate a business. A general partnership is similar to a sole proprietorship in that it is registered at the local level and is directly tied to the individuals in it. 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC): Most popular registrations for business owners. With an LLC you have limited legal liability, however, for taxes they are more like sole proprietorships or partnerships. 

SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP: Usually owned by a single person or a couple. You’re personally liable for all business debts, can freely transfer all or part of the business, and for taxes, you can report profit or loss as personal income. 

CORPORATION: A corporation is a legal entity that is separate from the people who own it. Unlike General Partnerships or Sole Proprietorships, corporations cannot be dissolved easily. Small business typically choose to be S- corporations, which pass profits or losses directly to the shareholders, much like partnerships. Forming a corporation is somewhat complicated, and you may want to enlist the assistance of an attorney if you choose to organize your business this way.  

Call the SCC at 804-371-9733 to see if your business name is available. 

Register Your Business And Business Tax ID 

Register for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) here. 

Register your business and apply for a Tax ID here or call the VA department of Taxation at 804-367-8037 

Business License

City of Franklin:

Access 'Business License Checklist' here. 

Access Business License Application here.  

Questions? Contact the Commissioner of the Revenue:  

207 W. Second Ave. 757.562.8783 

Questions? Contact Stephanie Blacknall at sblacknall@franklinva.com 

Southampton County:

Access 'Business License Checklist' here 

Access Business License Application here. 

Questions? Contact Amy Carr at 757.653.3030 or acarr@southamptoncounty.org 

Is your business located within a town limit? Check specific Business License rules here:

Newsoms: Van Less | 757-654-6731 

Professional Permits and Lincensing   

Visit the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation to see if your business profession is on the required licensing list.  

Retail Business? Apply for a Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption which exempts retailers from paying sales tax on items resold to the public.   

Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control

Virginia Department of Health

Find Your Space

Property Database  

Franklin Business Center  

Local, Regional and State Business Resources

Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center  

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce  

Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce 

Paul D. Camp Community College Workforce Development Center  

Virginia’s Procurement Marketplace (eVA) 

Startwheel (Entrepreneur Network)  

Virginia Business Incentives Guide 

Virginia Employment Commission 

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority  

Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity  

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 

City of Franklin and Southampton County Local Business Incentives