Steps to Start Your Business

Business Counseling

Our team of experienced Mason SBDC counselors are here to help you plan, start, manage and grow your business. Receive cost-free expert guidance on topics such as:

• Business Strategy
• Financing
• Government Contracting
• Marketing
• Sales

Register online at masonsbdc.org to schedule your first one-on-one business counseling session. If you are already registered, contact the counseling team at 703-261-4105 or help@masonSBDC.org to set up an appointment.

Educational Workshops

All are welcome to access the Mason SBDC workshops presented by subject matter experts on topics such as

• SEO & Social Selling
• Legal & Administration
• Value Proposition Design
• Government Contracting
• Preparing Your Pitch

Data and Research

MAGIC, the Management and Government Information Center has specialized staff and resources to assist businesses and nonprofits, to retrieve industry information, seek grant funding, and access laws and regulations.

Simply submit your request to MAGIC at magic2@pwcgov.org or call 703-792-4880.

Grants

If your small business is engaged in scientific research and development, you may qualify for federal grants under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs encourage small firms to undertake scientific research that helps meet federal research and development objectives and have high potential for commercialization if successful.

The Grants.gov program provides a common website for federal agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities and for grantees to find and apply to them. Go to the Grants Learning Center for an overview of grants and find federal grants that align with your work.

All businesses located in Prince William County, including home-based businesses, must comply with the County's Zoning Ordinance.

Home-Based Business – If you are planning to start a business in your home you must first apply through the Prince William County Zoning Office. Here are the most common permits for home-based businesses:

• Home Employment Certificate (HEC): A business activity conducted entirely within a single-family detached dwelling unit by residents of that unit which is clearly incidental and secondary to its principal use as a dwelling unit. Home employment is more intense than home occupation and allows customers to come to the house.
• Home Occupation Certificate (HOC): A business activity conducted entirely within a dwelling unit by residents of that unit. Employees of the business, other than the residents, are not allowed to work at the home where the business is conducted. Home occupation is less intense than home employment and does not have customers coming to the home.
• Home Occupation Certificate for Family Day Home (HOC2): A Family Day Home is the accessory use of a dwelling unit to provide care during only a part of the twenty-four (24) hour day for one (1) through twelve (12) children under the age of thirteen (13), when at least one child receives care for compensation, exclusive of the provider's own children and any children who reside in the home. The term “family day home” is not intended to include babysitting services of a casual, irregular nature in or outside of the child’s own home. It is also not intended to include cooperative, reciprocal childcare by a group of parents in their respective residences.

Contact Prince William County’s Department of Zoning at zoning@pwcva.gov or 703-792-7615 for more information and assistance.

Retail and Commercial Businesses – The County wants to assist you through the regulatory process to ensure your business has a positive impact on the community/neighborhood, is safe to occupy, and opens as quickly as possible.

If you do not have experience in the design and construction process, consider hiring a consultant, architect, engineer, or contractor to act as your project manager. A project manager is typically responsible for coordinating and tracking your project through the entire process: purchasing/leasing property, design, permitting, construction and inspections. Deficient project management will result in delays and additional costs to you as a business owner.

Contact Prince William County’s Department of Development Services at DDS@pwcgov.org to discuss with a project manager about the estimated project schedule and budget.

Don’t forget signage permits! Signs are subject to the Prince William County Zoning requirements and typically take up to 30 days for processing review. For questions regarding Signs or other zoning approval requirements please send an email to signs@pwcva.gov or call 703-792-6830.

Food Trucks and Peddler Solicitor Vendors – Any person desiring to act as a peddler, solicitor or itinerant vendor in Prince William County must comply with the Prince William County Police Department. For more information, please contact the Licensing Section at policedept@pwcgov.org or 703-792-4183.

Prince William County Business License – Only businesses with expected annual gross receipts (purchases in the case of wholesale merchants) of $500,000 or more, and building trade contractors, are required to file. However, any business located in the County may file and obtain a business license and is encouraged to do so since the process ensures that you are compliant with County requirements.

For businesses with expected annual gross receipts (purchases in the case of wholesale merchants) of less than $500,000, the license tax due is $0.00.

Business Tangible Property Tax – Each business must file annually a Business Tangible Personal Property Return declaring a summary of property cost values by purchase year. The business tangible personal property tax is levied on all general office furniture and equipment, machinery and tools, equipment used for research and development, heavy construction equipment, computer equipment and peripherals located in the County

Food and Beverage Tax – Effective July 1, 2022, any business where food and/or beverages are prepared and served to customers must remit a 4% food and beverage tax to the County. Filing is due on or before the 20th of each month for taxes collected the previous month.

Taxpayer Services Representatives are available by email at TaxpayerServices@pwcgov.org and by phone at 703-792-6710.

Connect with a Virginia Career Works representative to help you address your workforce needs. Post job listings, search qualified candidates and analyze labor market information.

The Virginia Employment Center (VEC) offers career assistance and employment opportunities for job seekers, employer services for businesses of all sizes, employment services for veterans, unemployment insurance benefits to eligible individuals, and other programs designed to assist with employment.

We know that your priority is to get open quickly and cost effectively, and sometimes the grand opening planning is neglected. Our team is here to help lift the load by offering cost-free ribbon cutting events. Prince William County’s Department of Economic Development and the Prince William Chamber will manage the event logistics for your big day. Simply check-in with the Department of Economic Development to let us know about your upcoming business opening or expansion project.

Doing Business with Prince William County – If you are interested in doing business with Prince William County, check out the Procurement Portal, which provides access to open solicitations, current County contracts and instructions for suppliers.

State and Federal Government Contracting – The Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Virginia PTAC), an APEX Accelerator, provides one-on-one advice to help businesses with government contracting at the Federal, State, and Local levels.

For State procurement and contracting opportunities, the Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) provides certifications for Small, Woman-owned, and Minority-owned Businesses (SWaM), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned businesses (SDV).

Prince William Office of Tourism – Visit PWC is the County's tourism initiative that provides a guide for places to eat, drink and explore here in the County. To get plugged in with local Tourism initiatives, simply check-in with the Department of Economic Development.

Prince William Chamber – Connect with business and community leaders from throughout the region, developing new customers and partnerships while sharing ideas and innovations at Chamber events and programs.

1 Million Cups Prince William – Weekly gathering for business owners to network and discuss entrepreneurial challenges. Join this peer-to-peer network for networking every Wednesday morning at Centerfuse in the City of Manassas (9071 Center St, Manassas)