Permits and Ship Repair license information

Starting a(n) Ship Repair Business Licenses & Tax IDs

Hi, I'm Armando Get A VA Business License Ship Repair Ship Repair fabricate and overhaul piping systems for various types of ships including US Navy vessels. Working at different shipyards and bases in Virginia for prime government contractors🔧🛳️⚓ Core Business and Professional Credentials ✅ Business Entity Registration (e.g., LLC, Corporation) ✅ Emp..., Armando.

Ship Repair

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✅ Licenses and Registrations You'll Need

✅ LLC (Limited Liability Company) or S Corp registration – shields your personal assets and gives your business a professional edge when dealing with prime government contractors.
✅ EIN (Employer Identification Number) – like a Social Security number but for your business. It's used to open bank accounts, hire employees, and file business taxes.
✅ Business License – the golden ticket to legally operate your ship repair and fabrication services.
✅ Seller’s Permit – required if you’ll be selling or charging tax on parts, materials, or fabricated items. If you’re only providing repair labor, you might skate by without it, but most shipyard work involves both parts and labor, so better to have it.
✅ Trade/Specialty License – since you’re handling ship systems (including Navy vessels), certain specialized work such as welding or pipefitting may need proof of trade certification.
✅ Contractor Registration – needed because you’re contracting with shipyards and bases, not just doing side repairs at the marina.

⚙️ Do You Need to Run it as LLC or S Corp?

Yes. Running this business as an LLC or S Corp is smart because it limits your liability. Example: if a pipe bursts in the middle of a ship overhaul and damages expensive equipment, your personal car and house won’t be on the hook—only the business assets. That’s the protection you want when working with million-dollar ships. 🚢

💡 Do You Need a Seller’s Permit?

If you’re selling ship parts, piping, valves, or other fabricated goods in addition to providing services, then yes, you’ll need that seller’s permit. If you’re purely service-based, maybe not, but in this industry, material sales almost always go hand-in-hand with labor.

🏗️ Capital and Equipment

✅ Starting Capital: Anywhere between $50,000 to $200,000 depending on scale. Welding equipment, industrial cutting machines, and skilled labor are not exactly budget-friendly.
✅ Equipment: Welding rigs, pipe benders, plasma cutters, safety gear, and a reliable work vehicle (preferably not a rusty pickup held together by duct tape).

📊 Industry Numbers

✅ Average hourly rate for ship repair contractors: $75–$150/hour.
✅ U.S. ship repair industry revenue: over $30 billion annually.
✅ Growth rate: steady, with Navy and commercial vessels requiring ongoing overhauls.

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Final Answer

Yes, you need to register your business name as an LLC or S Corp, and yes, you likely need a seller’s permit because ship repair almost always involves parts and materials in addition to services. EIN is essential for banking, payroll, and tax filings. You can obtain all documents and licenses you need on this site, online.

✔ Biz Structure

You can choose to be a(n) Ship Repair :

Sole Proprietor,
LLC,
Corporation or
Partnership.
After you decide and select your business entity, you need licensing.

✔ Biz License

Smithfield Business Tax Registration ( Business License)
All businesses including home, online or mobile BUSINESS need a BUSINESS license because they are BUSINESSES.

✔ DBA Biz Name

A(n) Ship Repair business doing business under an assumed business name in Isle Of Wight County i.e. you are a business that uses a DBA doing business as trade name to trade that is other than the full legal (first and last -- full name) name of a sole proprietor or a name other than the LLC or Corporation business name need a(n) assumed business name certificate. E.g. you venture into a(n) Ship Repair business and you give it a trade name such as "Excellence Ship Repair & Associates". You will need to register an assumed business name certificate.

✔ Seller Permit

In VA you need a resale ID ( AKA seller's permit) if you selling touchable items. (A.K.A state id, wholesale, resale, reseller certificate, about $39 for most states).
Seller's Permit

✔ Federal EIN

Note: All businesses need a federal tax ID number except sole proprietors that are not employers and are not independent contractors.
An independent contractor is a self employed business person that receives more than $600 per year from anyone of his or her clients.
IRS rule: The client must issue a 1099 form to the independent contractor and the independent contractor must have a federal tax ID. However, even sole owners may obtain a federal ID and use it as a business tax ID instead of using their own social security number as a business tax ID number.
However, all other licenses that apply to sole proprietors as discussed here are requited regardless of getting a federal tax ID number.

✔ State EIN

Also keep in mind that employers will need to obtain a federal EIN and a State EIN tax identificattion number. I.e., a VA Federal Tax Id Number ($29) and a(n) VA State Employer Tax Number

✔ L L C

Instead of filing a fictitious business name DBA Filing (about $49 plus state and legal newspaper publication fees) in Smithfield, Incorporate in VA or form a(n) VA LLC .

Filing a DBA is not required if you will set up an LLC or form a Corporation. If you will do business under your first and last legal name you will not need to get a fictitious business name.
Using any language that connotes additional owners in the name of the business makes filing a fictitious business name mandatory.

✔ Incorporation

If you do form an Other llc or incorporate (about $49 plus state fees for most states) your Ship Repair business instead of just filing a fictitious business name (dba), that insurs that you don't have personal liability for debts and civile liabililty arising from your business dealings and you will not have to record the Smithfield business name. In lieu of recording a Isle Of Wight County trade company name (our filing service fee includes trade name registration and newspaper legal publication for 4 weeks) you can also form a corporation in VA or form an VA LLC (starts @ $49 plus state fee for most states & includes bylaws for the corporation and Limited Liability operating agreement for the LLC that is required to open a business bank account). .