LEGAL & REGULATIONS 

Business Law and Regulations (from Small Business Administration) 

Guide to Legal Aspects of Doing Business in MD (MD Attorney General & Dept. of Business and Economic Development)

Maryland Entrepreneur’s Guide (Wikibook)

Official Small Business Website of the U.S. Government


INCORPORATION AND BUSINESS NAME 

    MD Dept. of Assessments & Taxation (legal entities only) 
    410-767-1184

    Washington County Office 
    240-313-2776  

    MD Dept. of Assessments and Taxation-Corporate Charter Division 
    Trade name application
    410-767-1184

LICENSES AND PERMITS 

Local 

    Washington County (Clerk of the Circuit Court)  
    301-733-8660

State 

    MD Department of Commerce
    1-888-246-6736 or 410-767-6300  

    Comptroller of Maryland
    1-866-239-9359 or 410-260-6240 

    MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation 
    Occupational and Professional Licensing
    410-230-6231 

    MD Dept of Health
    Health Related Professional Licensing
    1-877-463-3464 

Washington County 

    Permitting Department 
    Electrical, Entrance, Grading, Mechanical, Plumbing, Utility, Zoning Permits
    permsupport@washco-md.net 

    Health Department  
    240-313-3400 

    Board of Liquor License Commissioners
    301-797-4591


EMPLOYEE CONSIDERATIONS 

Federal 

    Employer Identification Number (EIN) 
    1-800-829-4933 

    Federal Withholding Tax  
    1-800-829-3676 

    Federal Self-Employment Tax 
    1-800-829-4933 

    Social Security Administration 
    1-800-772-1213 

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (I-9 form) 
    For Employees: 888-897-7781
    For Employers: 888-464-4218 

    Workplace Disabilities Programs
    800-514-0301

State 

    Unemployment or Workers Compensation Insurance  

        MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulations
        410-949-0033 
​
        Unemployment Insurance 
        Unemployment Insurance Benefits: General Information - 410-949-0022 or 1-800-827-4839
        Unemployment Insurance Tax: Employer Assistance - 410-767-2412 or 1-800-492-5524
        
        Workers’ Compensation Insurance 
        410-468-2000 or 800-492-6116

    Maryland Business Taxes 

        MD Comptroller of the Treasury
        410-260-7980 
        Hagerstown Branch - 301-791-7108 or 1-800-638-2937



ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS 

    MD Dept. of the Environment   
    410-537-3000 
    Hagerstown Field Office -Air and Radiation Administration - 410-537-3510 
    Hagerstown Field Office - Water and Science Administration - 410-537-3510
    
    Environmental Permits 
    Air, Land, Water Management permits
    Click Here for a List of Contacts 



SAFETY & HEALTH REGULATIONS 

    Federal 

        Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 
        1-800-321-OSHA(6742) 

    State 

        MD Occupational Safety & Health 
        410-527-4499 

        MD Dept. of the Environment  
        410-537-3000 



EMPLOYMENT REQUIRING A PERMIT/REGISTRATION AND/OR LICENSE 


    MD Dept. of the Environment 
    410-537-3000 
   
              Oil Transportation Licenses and Permits
              (410) 537-3442 or (800) 633-6101 ext. 3442
   
              Radiation Control 
              410-537-3193 or 410-537-3301

    MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation 
    Boilers - 410-767-2990
    Elevators - 410-767-2990
    Amusements - 410-767-2348

    MD State Highway Administration 
   
               Oversize/Overweight vehicles
​               1-800-846-6435 or 410-582-5727 
               General Conditions for Hauling Permits 
               Hauling Permit Manual
   
    MD Motor Vehicle Administration  
    410-768-7000 



POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC THAT MAY REQUIRE A LICENSE 

    MD Dept. of the Environment-Hazardous Waste Program 
    Asbestos handling, radioactive material handling, waste discharge into State waters, 
    operation/terminal facilities, transport of hazardous substances, sewage, sludge and refuse disposal. 
    410-537-3314
    For EPA IDs or Hazardous Waste Hauler Certifications: 410-537-3400

    MD Dept. of Agriculture-Pesticide Regulation 
    Use of pesticides 
    410-841-5710 



ALTERATIONS TO STATE HIGHWAYS REQUIRE A PERMIT 

    MD State Highway Administration
    Outdoor advertising signs along a highway, constructing an entrance to a State Highway; 
    Installing or altering a traffic signal. 
    410-545-0300 or 1-800-323-6742
    District 6 (Washington County):  800-535-8239 or 301-729-6968

​PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, COPYRIGHTS 

    Federal 

        U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
        1-800-786-9199 or Local 571-272-1000

        U.S. Copyright Office 
        1-877-476-0778 or 202-707-3000 

    State

        Trademark—MD Secretary of State 
        Trademark registration: 410-260-3854
        Office of the Secretary: 410-974-5521 




ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 

    EDUCATIONAL COURSES 

        SCORE
        (240) 215-4757
           
        Frostburg State University
        Admissions: 301.687.4201 
        General: 301.687.4000
​
        Hagerstown Community College 
        Admissions: 240-500-2238 
        General: 240-500-2000

        Purdue University Global     
        844-787-3834

        Mount St. Mary's University
        Admissions: 800-448-4347
        General: 301-447-6122 
  
        Shepherd University - Martinsburg
        Admissions:  304-876-5212
        General: 304-876-5000
        
        University of Maryland, Global Campus (formerly UMUC)
        855-655-8682 
   
        University System of Maryland at Hagerstown
        240-527-2060

        Univ. of MD Extension/Wash Co. 
        301-791-1304 

    COUNSELING & ASSISTANCE 

        Small Business Development Center—Western Maryland 
        1- 888-237-9007 ext. 4 

      
        SCORE  
        240-215-4757


    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 

        Washington County Bar Association
        
        Maryland State Bar Association 
        1-800-492-1964 or 410-685-7878 

        Maryland Assoc. of Certified Public Accountants  
        1-800-782-2036 or 410-296-6250 

    PERSONNEL 

        Maryland Workforce Exchange Washington County One Stop Job Center 
        301-393-8200 

    TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE 

        Maryland Technology Development Corporation 
        1-800-305-5556 or 410-740-9442 

        Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute  
        301-405-3906 

        Hagerstown Community College Technical Innovation Center 
        240-500-2399 



BUSINESS FINANCING & PROGRAMS 

    U.S. Small Business Administration Loans  
    General Answer Desk: 800-827-5722
    Hagerstown Branch: 888-237-9007 ext. 4
    
    MD Dept. of Commerce—Business Resources  
    410-767-6300 or 1-888-246-6736

    Tri-County Council Revolving Loan Fund 
    301-689-1300 

    U.S. Export Assistance Center (Baltimore) 
    410-962-4539 



CITY & COUNTY ASSISTANCE 

    City of Hagerstown 
    301-739-8577 ext. 141 

    Washington County Department of Business Development 
    240-313-2776



MINORITY/WOMEN/VETERANS ASSISTANCE 

    Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program 
     717-782-3840

    U.S. Dept. of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency  
    202-482-2332 

    Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs 
    1-877-558-0998 or 410-697-9600 

    Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 
    443-620-0165
   
    SCORE - Resources for Veteran Entrepreneurs    
    1-800-634-0245

    Veterans Fast Launch Initiative  
    800-634-0245 

    Office of Veterans Business Development  
    202-205-6773 



GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 

    Federal-Government Contract Registration 
    (833)336-3988

    eMaryland Marketplace Advantage 
    1-800-449-4347 or 410-767-1492

    Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Center 
    301-405-6550