When a Business Certificate is Required
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 110 §5 states that any person conducting business in the Commonwealth under any title other than the real name of the person conducting the business, whether individually or as a partnership, shall file (a certificate) in the office of the clerk of every city or town where an office of any such person or partnership may be situated.
Under Chapter 110, §6, a business certificate is not required if a corporation is doing business in its true corporate name, or if a partnership is doing business under any title which includes the true surname of any partner.
Certain other associations and partnerships may also be exempt (refer to above citation for details).
Filing & Renewing Business Certificates
Forms are available in the Town Clerk’s Office. Each person named on the certificate must either sign the form in person at the Town Clerk’s Office, or have their signatures on the form notarized by a notary public. Proper identification will be required. The filing fee is $40.00.