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New Mexico · 8 jurisdictions covered

Business licenses and permits in New Mexico

New Mexico's LLCs file no annual report of any kind — the whole statute was read and contains no such requirement — while its corporations file one every two years. Its food handler card is a genuine mandate, not an option.

What applies everywhere in New Mexico

12 requirements are set by New Mexico itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by New Mexico that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Articles of IncorporationNew Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services Division$1 for each 1,000 authorised shares, not less than $100 and not more than $1,000Only in some cases2026-10-09
Articles of Organization (LLC)New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services Division$50 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-10-09
Automotive Repair Shop — MVD Dealer Licensing Covers Vehicle Sales Only (New Mexico)New Mexico Taxation and Revenue DepartmentNo feeOnly in some cases2026-10-09
Barber or Cosmetology Establishment LicenseNew Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists$200 to open; renewal is $50 a yearTo every business2026-10-09
Child Care LicenseNew Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, Child Care Services Bureau8.16.2 NMAC states these fees: $20 to change the director or the licensed capacity; a $25 late fee when a renewal application is postmarked less than 30 days before expiry. The rule requires a non-refundable application fee and a renewal fee without stating their amount.To every business2026-10-09
Contractor LicenseNew Mexico Construction Industries Division, Regulation and Licensing Department$30 non-refundable application fee, plus $100 a year for the GA-98, GB-2, GB-98, GF-98, EE-98 and MM-98 classifications or $50 a year for othersOnly in some cases2026-10-09
Corporate Biennial ReportNew Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services Division$25 every two years; filing late adds a $200 penaltyOnly in some cases2026-10-09
Food Establishment PermitNew Mexico Environment Department, Food Program$200 a year; a temporary food establishment is $25 per eventTo every business2026-10-09
Food Handler CardNew Mexico Environment Department, Food ProgramNo feeTo every business2026-10-09
General Business License — State of New Mexico positionNew Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-10-09
Gross Receipts Tax RegistrationNew Mexico Taxation and Revenue DepartmentNo feeTo every business2026-10-09
Veterinary Facility LicenseNew Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine$155 to open; renewal is $155 a yearTo every business2026-10-09

Sources

Every statewide figure above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. NMSA 1978 Chapter 53 (Corporations) — § 53-2-1 Secretary of State corporate fees, §§ 53-5-2 and 53-5-7 corporate reports and late penalty, § 53-19-63 LLC filing fees, § 53-19-66.1 LLC administrative revocationNew Mexico Compilation Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  2. New Mexico Secretary of State — business services, LLC and corporation formationNew Mexico Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  3. New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division — dealer licensing chapterNew Mexico Motor Vehicle Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  4. New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists — fee scheduleNew Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  5. New Mexico Administrative Code 8.16.2 — child care licensing, term and ancillary feesNew Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  6. New Mexico Administrative Code 8.16.2 (compiled, as amended 1 January 2022) — child care centers, family and group child care homesNew Mexico State Records Center and Archives · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  7. New Mexico Administrative Code 14.5.5.8 — contractor license fee scheduleNew Mexico Construction Industries Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  8. New Mexico Administrative Code 14.6.6 — contractor classifications (compiled)New Mexico State Records Center and Archives · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  9. New Mexico Administrative Code 12.3.2.12 — the $25 corporate biennial report and $200 late filing penaltyNew Mexico Public Regulation Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  10. New Mexico Register Vol. XXXVII, Issue 12 (23 June 2026) — amendment to 7.6.2 NMAC sections 8, 11 and 15, effective 1 October 2026, including 8-303.15 feesNew Mexico Commission of Public Records, Administrative Law Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  11. New Mexico Environment Department — food program, excluding Bernalillo County and AlbuquerqueNew Mexico Environment Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  12. New Mexico Administrative Code 7.6.2, section 8-303.15 — food establishment permit feesNew Mexico Environmental Improvement Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  13. New Mexico Environment Department — food handler and food manager training requirementsNew Mexico Environment Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  14. New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department — who must register a business, and the free tax IDNew Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
  15. New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department — gross receipts tax overviewNew Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  16. New Mexico Administrative Code 16.25.7 (effective 14 January 2025) — veterinary facility license, $155 a year, expiring 30 SeptemberNew Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  17. New Mexico Administrative Code 16.25.7 — the veterinary facility license, $125 a year, expiring 30 SeptemberNew Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04

Which New Mexico city are you opening in?

Is there a single New Mexico business license?

No. New Mexico has no single license that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licenses — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in New Mexico?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.