New Businesses

Planning to open a new business? Our village officials are dedicated to providing you with all the help and information necessary for long-term success. Pictured above (from left to right), River Grove Village President Dave Guerin, Laredo Hospitality Senior Director of Operations Brian Wilson and Grand Corridor Chamber of Commerce President Ricardo Braglia perform the ribbon cutting ceremony for Stella’s Place on March 22nd.

Business Licenses

In order to operate a business in River Grove, you will need a business license. Home-based businesses do not require a license but must be registered in the Village.

How to Apply for a Business License

A Business License Application must be completed in full and submitted with a non-refundable $100 application fee. There will also be a $35 fingerprint fee for each owner and manager of the business. The amount of time needed to process an application varies by the application and depends on many factors, including the number of inspections required, so an exact time frame for completion of this process is impossible to specify. If your application is ultimately approved you will receive an invoice for the cost of your business license. 

Once you have submitted your Business License Application, you need to schedule a Fire and Life Safety Survey with the River Grove Fire Prevention Bureau.

Review & Approval Process

All applications are first reviewed for compliance with zoning requirements. If a hearing is necessary you will receive specific instructions. The application will be forwarded to the Fire Department and the Building Division to ensure that your proposed business meets all code requirements. Access to the property may be necessary to allow for proper inspections. To determine if there are any outstanding fees owed to the Village, the application will also be reviewed by the Finance Department.

If all the above-noted approvals are received, the completed application is then forwarded to the Administration Office for final review and processing. If everything is in order you will be notified with a request for final payment of the balance owing on your business license. This review includes calculating the total license fee, including any fees for vending machines and/or tobacco sales. Stickers for these will be included with your license when you receive it. Once your final payment is received an official Business License Certificate will be prepared.

A business is not allowed to operate prior to receipt of the Business License Certificate. Once received the Business License Certificate must be prominently posted in your business. If you are planning any modifications to the building, including new signage, please check with the Building Division prior to the commencement of any work or the ordering or installation of new signage.

Renewal

Business Licenses need to be renewed each year by April 30th. A renewal letter will be sent to you by the Village when it is time to renew. Please comply with your renewal in a timely fashion to avoid late penalties.

We are happy that you have chosen River Grove as the home for your business and wish you many years of success. Please contact the Village at 708-453-8000 if you have any questions about the business license process.