Doing Business
The City of Suwanee is committed to providing our business and residential customers with high-quality services. City staff members strive to live up to the employee motto: S.E.E. - Suwanee Exceeds Expectations.Every business in the City of Suwanee must apply each year for an occupational tax certificate, formerly referred to as a business license. The fee for the certificate is based on gross receipts and the tax rate for your business class:
Fee = gross receipts from previous year x the tax rate (0.0004-0.0009) + $50
The maximum fee/tax for any single company is $12,500.
Certain licensed professionals (including architects, doctors, and engineers, among others) may pay a flat fee of $400, rather than a fee based on gross receipts.
As regulated by the State of Georgia, banks should use form PT440 to obtain their occupational tax certificate.
For additional information about occupational tax certificates, see documents below or contact Trinity Hsu at thsu@suwanee.com or 770-904-3383.
Occupational tax certificates for new businesses are available at Suwanee City Hall, 330 Town Center Avenue.
You many download these forms to help expedite the process for obtaining your occupational tax certificate:
Process for Obtaining an Occupational Tax Certificate
Application for Obtaining an Occupational Tax Certificate
Application for Home Occupational Tax Certificate
Occupational Tax Certificate Contact Information
Emergency Business Contact Form
New businesses as well as those that are changing names, changing ownership, or moving to a new location must obtain a certificate of occupancy. This certificate is required before you may legally occupy your building, obtain your tax certificate, and conduct business operations.
To obtain a certificate of occupancy, contact the Gwinnett County Fire Marshal, 678-518-6100. A copy must be presented to the City of Suwanee in order to complete City inspections.
The process for obtaining a certificate of occupancy usually requires about about a week. It takes about five business days to process a new occupational tax certificate.
Renewing your business license
If you already have a City of Suwanee occupational tax certificate, the City will contact you in early December to renew for the following year. Paperwork is due back to the City in mid-February and payment is due March 31.
Alcohol license
Businesses that sell and serve beer, wine, distilled spirits and/or alcoholic beverages are required to obtain a City of Suwanee alcohol license.
The requirements, process, and fees are outlined in the Alcohol License Application Guide. For more information, contact Accounting Analyst Kathy Jones at kathy@suwanee.com or 770-904-2791.
