Hazelford Funding, a small-business funding service in Lebanon, Tennessee, put together this checklist for Wilson County, TN owners who need to confirm business registration and licensing before a funding request. It covers the state, county and city layers, why a Lebanon, TN mailing address may not mean city limits, renewals, and the documents to keep on file. Requirements come from each office.
Why licensing comes up in a funding request
Partners reviewing a request often ask for proof that the business exists legally and is allowed to operate where it does. That usually means the entity filing, any local business license, and sometimes a state tax registration. A missing or lapsed license can stall a request that is otherwise ready, so it is worth checking before you call.
This guide does not state what the law requires. It lists the questions to put to each office and where to find them. Rules, fees and deadlines come only from the offices themselves.
Layer one: the state entity filing
Entity filings for LLCs, corporations and similar businesses go through the Tennessee Secretary of State. Its Business Services page, sos.tn.gov/businesses (verified 2026-10-18), is the starting point for filings and record lookups. Partners may ask for the entity's exact legal name and status, so pull a copy of the record.
Ask the same office about any other state-level filings your business type may need, and keep the confirmation with your records.
Layer two: Wilson County, TN business license
Owners searching for a Wilson County, TN business license, the application, a renewal or the business tax license often land on county pages. The county's official website is wilsoncountytn.com (verified 2026-10-18); start there to find the office that issues licenses.
Layer three: the City of Lebanon, TN
A city of Lebanon, TN business license question depends first on whether the business is inside city limits. The city's official website is lebanontn.org (verified 2026-10-18).
Your ZIP does not settle it
A Lebanon, TN mailing address is not proof that a business is inside the city. According to the 2020 Census ZIP-to-place relationship file, Lebanon covers only 14.3% of ZIP 37087's land, and part of the city lies in ZIP 37090. Many 37087 addresses are in unincorporated Wilson County, TN. Ask the city to confirm whether your property is within its limits before deciding which licenses apply.
Can you get a business license online in Tennessee?
Some registration steps can be started or completed online, and others require a form or a visit. It depends on the office and the type of business. The Secretary of State's filings are available online; for county and city licenses, check each office's page.
A checklist to work through
- Confirm the business's legal name and entity type with the Secretary of State record.
- Confirm whether the business address is inside Lebanon, TN city limits.
- Ask the county office which license, if any, applies to your business type.
- If inside the city, ask the city which license or registration applies.
- Ask the state's tax agency about sales tax or business tax registration for your activity.
- Note renewal dates for every license and set reminders.
- Keep copies of every certificate in one folder, ready to share.
Renewals and keeping records current
A Wilson County, TN business license renewal, or any city renewal, is easy to miss in a busy year. A partner that sees an expired license may pause the request until it is renewed. Keep a simple list: each license, the issuing office, the number and the renewal date.
If the business moves, changes its name or adds a new location, the licenses may need updating too. A move from unincorporated Wilson County, TN into Lebanon, TN, or the reverse, can change which office is involved.
When a license question shows up in a funding file
Partners do not usually ask for every license up front. They tend to ask when the business type is licensed by nature, such as contractors, health practices, food service or alcohol sales, or when the business address and the legal name do not match across documents. A mismatch between the Secretary of State record, the bank account name and the county license can pause a file, and it is easy to fix before you call.
A dated folder of business records
Partners rarely ask for every document at once, but they do ask for the ones that apply, and the date each was checked matters. A single folder, paper or digital, keeps the answers ready.
| Record | Issued or kept by | Date checked |
|---|---|---|
| Entity record and status | Tennessee Secretary of State (entity record) | Write the date |
| County business license, if held | Wilson County, TN | Write the date |
| City business license, if held | Lebanon, TN city government | Write the date |
| License from a trade or professional board | The licensing board | Write the date |
| Business bank account name | Your bank | Write the date |
Refresh the dates before any funding request. A record checked last week answers a partner's question; one checked two years ago starts a new one.
What to have ready for Hazelford
- The entity's legal name and Secretary of State record.
- Copies of any county or city license and its expiration date.
- State tax registration details, if the business has them.
- The business address and whether it is inside city limits.
Then call (615) 576-8011. The working capital page explains a working capital request, and how a Hazelford request works lays out the steps. Local figures and links for the city are on the Lebanon, TN page, and other checklists are on the guides page.