Start Your Business

Here are all of the resources you need to get your business up and running.

1. Lay The Foundation

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2. Register Your Business

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3. Find A Location

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4. Determine Your Permits

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5. Obtain Occupancy Certificate

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6. Cut The Ribbon 

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Lay The Foundation

1. Do Your Research

Reach out to people in the business community, research online, and ask people you trust about the idea. Feedback is a vital part of any successful business.


Consider area resources that can help you ensure that your business will be successful.



• SCORE: Free business planning advice from retired professionals, offered in downtown Haverhill through the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. 


• Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll): a free business accelerator based in Lowell in Lawrence and servicing the whole Merrimack Valley. You can participate in English or Spanish. Accelerators typically run in the winter and summer, with other pitch nights and contents in between.


​• Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) has a variety of resources for businesses expanding in or relocating to Massachusetts. Contact Tom Arsenault



2. Write a Business Plan

Writing a business plan gives you an objective view of your business idea so you can enhance its strengths and address any challenges. It’s usually a requirement for receiving any loans or working with financial institutions.


Your business plan will become the foundation for future planning as your business grows.


The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has resources to help you with your business plan.  Learn more by visiting the SBDC website

3. Find A Location

Starting a small businesses doesn’t have to require a lot of money, but it will involve some. There are a number of ways you can fund your small business including financing, small business loans, or crowdfunding.


In addition to talking to banks and investors about your business, here are some additional financing programs to consider. Some are broadly available and others are specific to Haverhill. 


• City Grants - the City has small grants available for downtown businesses that need to fix up their storefronts, signs or facades. Contact Andrew Herlihy in Haverhill’s Community Development Office for more information.


• Nectar Community Investments - a local resource for small businesses.  In addition to offering a range of funding vehicles, they can also offer personalized business advice.


• Mass Development - offers unique financing, real estate and community development solutions for businesses. 


•  Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Small Business Loan Fund - small business lending through the local planning commission. 


• Kiva - peer-to-peer microlending that many businesses have used



Register Your Business

1. Pick A Structure

First you must decide on the legal structure of your business.

​This decision can have significant consequences for your business, especially with respect to liability and taxation, and you may want to talk to a lawyer or financial professional in order to determine what structure works best for you.

2. Get Your EIN

You will need to apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) with the IRS.

3. Register With The State

Now it’s time to register your business here with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

4. Register With The Department of Revenue

Now, register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue .

5. Do You Need To Register 
With The City?

If you are a business entity registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and doing business in the same name as your corporation then you do not need to get a business certificate in the City. 

If you are not a state registered corporation or you are doing business under a different name, you need to obtain a business certificate in the Haverhill City Clerk’s office. 

6. Registering With The City

If you need a business certificate from the City of Haverhill, the first step is to complete and submit a Zoning Verification for Business Certificate (ZVBC) on the City's Zoning Permit page.  After the ZVBC is processed, the next step is to request your Business Certificate from the City Clerk office. 

Linda Koutoulas - City Clerk

Find A Location  

1. Lease or Own?

Consider whether you want to lease or own space. Most new businesses initially lease space, but consider how long you want to commit to a lease and what you might need from a landlord in terms improvements to the space.

Next you need to find a location for your business. Maybe you’re looking to rent a downtown retail space, or a warehouse in a business park, or maybe you are looking to buy. Identifying what kind of space you need is your first step.

2. Browse Available Spaces

Take a look at available space in the City of Haverhill.

3. Let The Pros Help

The best way to see what is available is by contacting us to get a customized list of options based on your business profile and needs.

4. Check The Zoning

Check to make sure the City Zoning allows for the kind of use you will be doing on site. Use the Zoning Map to identify what zone your potential location fits into and then consult the Table of Uses to find out whether the use you are proposing is allowed. 


• You can always ask for clarification by contacting the Haverhill Building Inspection Department (978-374-2338)


• You can request a zoning change or variance by contacting the City Planning Economic Development Department (978-374-2330)

Bill Pillsbury - Planning + Economic Development

Determine What Permits Are Needed

1. Site Plan

A site plan is required for most commercial or industrial projects, including renovation to an existing building. Contact the Inspections Department at 978-374-2338

Then request an Informal Preliminary Review with our department heads. These informal meetings are a good way to get feedback early on in the project, get everyone on the same page, and meet the department heads. These can usually be scheduled on fairly short notice by contacting City Planning and Economic Development Department at 978-374-2330.

2. Getting Approvals

After the cover sheet is stamped received and paid by the Building Department the owner / applicant / engineer will bring it to the Assessor’s Office (978-374-2316), where that office will add the official lot designation to the cover sheet. 


The owner/applicant/engineer will then bring copies of the completed cover sheet and a site plan to the following Departments 


 

 

3. Almost There!

The plan will be reviewed by the individual departments for compliance with their respective rules and regulations. Should any Department require plan revisions, a copy of the revised plan, with revisions date, shall be circulated to all aforementioned Departments by the owner / applicant / engineer. Department comments will be forwarded to the engineer/designer with copy to the Building Inspector. Foundation permits will not be issued without approvals from all the applicable Departments. Official address will be issued by the City Engineer’s Office upon his approval of the plans. A Mylar of the approved plan is required for all Commercial and Industrial projects and for all residential projects with new sewer or drain main. ​

Richard MacDonald - Inspectional Services

Obtain Occupancy Certificates

1. Get Occupancy Review Packet

The next step is to obtain you Occupancy Certificate (CO) from the City of Haverhill. The purpose of the Occupancy Certificate is to show what the structure is used for, that the structure is suitable for occupancy, and that the structure complies with all building codes.

To start on this process, please call the City Health and Inspections Department at 978-374-2338 or visit City Hall, Room 214.

2. Communicate with the Building Inspectors

Schedule a time to speak directly with one of the building inspectors. Because occupancy permit requirements are highly variable depending on the space and the work you are doing to it, it is best to have this discussion early in the process so you have a good idea of improvements you’re going to need to make. 

The building inspectors have office hours daily on weekdays from 

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

If you call during one of these times, you will be able to speak to somebody immediately. You can call their office at 978-374-2338.

3. Follow the Checklist 

The following steps must be taken (if applicable) to open a new business.


• Zoning Approval form must be filled out and then signed by the Zoning Officer.


• If the Zoning Approval is approved, the applicant must have sign offs from Electrical, Plumbing/Gas, Fire, Building, Health, and Water Departments at a minimum.


• Once signatures have been obtained the form and an application for payment must be submitted to our office to obtain a Certificate of Inspection


• If business is food oriented, please obtain the Food Service Plan Review Packet. Dumpsters are required for food operations. For any questions please contact Mark Tolman , Health Inspector.


• If tobacco products are to be sold you must obtain a tobacco sales permit from the Board of Health .


• Check with the License Commission to determine if any other permits or licenses are required.


• Signage; permits must be obtained from the Building Department for any outside signage relative to the proposed business.


Bob Ward - Water + Department of Public Works
William Laliberty - Fire Department

Still need help? Get in touch.

Note: The information presented on this page and website is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current and is subject to change without notice.
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