If you’ve recently become self-employed and have set up a business, you can apply for a startup rate of Class 2 contributions. Visit our Startup Plan page for more information.
Apply for a business licence: sole trader or partnership
If you’re registering your business as a sole trader or partnership, you'll need to apply for a business licence.
You can fill in the 
new business application form online, but you'll need to print off and sign the form before you submit your application.
You can submit your signed application by:
- email
- post
- bringing it into the Customer and Local Services building in La Motte Street
We’ll review your application and we may need to contact you to check or update your residential status.
For more information, read our sole trader and partnership application guidance notes.
Registering a new business name
If you’ve indicated on your form that you’re registering a new business name as part of your application, we’ll pass your application onto the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).
The JFSC will contact you to take a £50 registration fee before your business name can be registered.
You’ll either receive a certificate confirming that you’ve registered your business name, or the JFSC will contact you if there is a reason why your requested business name has been refused.
You should check that your preferred business name is not already registered, and that it complies with any guidance issued by the JFSC. You can do this by looking at the company search on the JFSC website.
Registering to trade as a limited company
For information on how to set up a limited company, contact Jersey Business or the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).
Your company must be approved and registered with the JFSC before you can apply for a business licence.
Once your company is set up, complete an application form for a business licence and return it to us by email, post, or by dropping it into the Customer and Local Services building.
Business licence guidance notes
If you're registering to trade as a limited liability company, use our:business licensing guidance notes
to help you or visit the pages listed below.
Registering as an employer for contributions
Paying Class 2 contributions (if you’re self-employed or don’t pay Class 1 contributions)
Paying employers’ ITIS
Employing staff
Find information about this on our employing staff page.
You can also find out how to use Back to Work Recruitment to help you find staff.
Setting up a business if you're on Income Support
If you’re receiving Income Support and you have started up a business, you need to let us know what your profit and loss accounts are. This is so your Income Support payments can be changed if necessary.
Let us know using the form below.
Profit and loss accounts form for self-employed people on Income Support
Processing your new business registration data
Where an application for a business licence is successful, information provided to the Population Office will be securely shared with other States of Jersey departments and the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).
This is in order to:
- process the application for a business name with the JFSC
- register the business with Social Security (as an employer and to assess your personal contribution liability) and the Taxes Office (for Income Tax and ITIS purposes)
- improve the services we provide to our business customers
As we improve our processes, the departments that we notify may change. If you have any questions regarding how your information may be used, contact us.
Tell Us Once Data Sharing Agreement
gov.je