Beaufort websites for Lowcountry service pros

Tax, fees and the office

Beaufort is the Beaufort County seat, and both resident businesses and nonresident businesses working in the city need a license. The Business License Office, part of the Finance Department, is at 1911 Boundary Street, 843-525-7025, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It also handles event licenses and food truck permits.

State law §5-7-30 and city ordinance set the license tax, an excise tax on gross income. The city sorts each business by NAICS code, and the tax applies even to businesses based outside city limits. A flow chart on the city site walks through each step of getting a license.

Prepared food and lodging carry extra duties. Restaurants add a 2% local hospitality fee to each customer's food and drink purchase, and hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts add a 3% accommodations fee per night. Both are reported and paid to the office monthly.

Payments can be made by e-check or card through the city's online self-service site after you register and ask the office to link your account. For 2026-2027, Class 1 started at $25 for the first $2,000 plus $1.00 per $1,000 above that, doubled for businesses outside the city. Renewals were due April 30, 2026, with 5% added May 1 and 5% more each month.

Beaufort trades we build for

• Home watch Checks for seasonal homes.
• Pest control Termite and mosquito service.
• Remodeling Porch and trim repair on older homes.
• HVAC A/C tune-ups and replacements.

Beaufort design picks

Templates for home watch pros, pest techs, carpenters and HVAC crews.

Steward Home WatchSeasonal home checksTrust & ReviewsPest reviewsForm & Finish RemodelingPorch repairsAir & ComfortCooling calls

Made-up businesses; yours uses your Beaufort details.

See all 30 designs

Beaufort and Beaufort County

Name the Beaufort neighborhoods and Beaufort County islands you serve; we only show those.

Beaufort hurricane season

Hurricanes and king tides keep Beaufort crews busy with home checks and repairs. We'll post your storm plan.

Beaufort business license

From the City of Beaufort Business License Office page and the state renewal center.

License tax

NAICS class and gross income; double outside the city. City of Beaufort · Local Business License Renewal Center

Local fees

2% hospitality and 3% accommodations, paid monthly. City of Beaufort

Beaufort questions

Nearby South Carolina pages

• Port Royal
• Bluffton
• Hilton Head Island

See all South Carolina areas