Business Entity Licensing

More Information About Specific License Types

A business entity may include:

• A corporation
• A limited liability company (LLC)
• A limited liability partnership (LLP)

Before You Begin: Two Different Agencies

Getting a Business Entity License involves working with both the Massachusetts Division of Insurance and the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Each agency has a different role:

Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI)

• Approves your business name
• Issues Business Entity Licenses
• Determines licensing requirements

Massachusetts Secretary of State

• Registers your business entity in Massachusetts
• Issues the certified business documents required for your license application

Important Note: 

Registering your business with the Secretary of State does not authorize you to conduct insurance business in Massachusetts. A separate Business Entity License issued by the Division of Insurance is required.

Steps to Apply for a Business Entity License

All Business Entity applicants must complete the following steps before submitting a license application through NIPR.

Step 1: Submit application through NIPR

Go to the NIPR Online Application and follow the instructions to submit your application.

The entity name submitted on the application will be the name approved for the entity license. Do not include a DBA name on the application. A request to add a DBA name may be submitted to the Division after the entity is fully licensed.

After reviewing your application, the Division will email you Name Approval with instructions for obtaining the documentation needed to complete the licensing process.

Your business entity name must be approved by the Division of Insurance before you register with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Step 2: Register with the Massachusetts Secretary of State

Use your Name Approval Email to register your business entity with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Contact the Secretary of State’s Office at (617) 727-9640 for questions about the registration process. 

Step 3: Obtain Required Certified Documents

After your business entity has been registered with the Massachusetts Secretary of State, you must obtain the certified documents required for your license application. Certified documents are issued by the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Contact the Secretary of State’s Office at (617) 727-9640 for questions.

The required documents include:

• Massachusetts Letter of Good Standing: To order, search for the business entity on the MA Secretary of States Corporations Division page and select "Request Certificate" at the top of the entity's summary page.
• Certified Copy of the Application for Registration with the Massachusetts Secretary of State: To order, follow the instructions provided on: Certified copy Information. The certified copy must include the "A True Copy Attest" stamp by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Email certified documents to DOIRegistrationDocs@mass.gov.

Applications will not be reviewed until all required documents have been received.