Licensing Requirements: General Requirements for All Business Entity Types

General Requirements of Business Entity Applicants:

All Business Entities must have their names approved by the Division prior to applying for a license through NIPR and prior to registering with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. To request Name Approval please submit an email to DOINameApproval@mass.gov.  Your request should include the entity’s name, entity type and domicile status. Name approval requests should not be mailed via postal mail for approval. When the name is approved, a letter will be issued via email.

The entity must then register with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. The registration process for the Secretary of State will require the Name Approval letter to be submitted with the registration. Once you have completed the registration process with the Massachusetts Secretary of State, you are required to obtain the certified documents checked off on your name approval letter. These documents will be required when applying online through NIPR. No application will be approved until these documents are received by the Division.

Instructions for ordering certified copies:

To order a certified copy of a domestic entity’s Articles of Organization [or Certificate of Organization if an LLC] or a foreign entities Certificate of Registration [or Application for Registration if an LLC] follow the instructions provided here: Certified Copy Information

To order a Certificate of Good Standing, search for the business entity on the MA Secretary of States Corporations Division page, here: MA Corporations Search and select “Request certificate” at the top of the entity’s summary page.

License terms:

All business entity licenses are for a 1-year term, from the date of issuance. There is no grace period for late renewal for business entity licensing. If the entity does not renew by the expiration date, they must reapply. If the entity is reapplying after previously holding an active entity license in Massachusetts, name approval is not necessary. 

Applications will not be reviewed until all required documents issued by the Secretary of State are received. For additional, specific requirements per license class, please visit the links below:

Licensing Requirements: Adviser - Corporate | Mass.gov

Licensing Requirements: Life Settlement Broker

Licensing Requirements: Business Entity Public Insurance Adjuster | Mass.gov

Licensing Requirements: Corporate Reinsurance Intermediary Broker | Mass.gov

Licensing Requirements: Corporate Reinsurance Intermediary Manager | Mass.gov

Licensing Requirements: Surplus Lines Broker - Corporate | Mass.gov