Starting a Business in Fairfax County?

Start Here.

When you are first starting a business, there are a number of tasks to complete. Follow the step-by-step guide to get you started launching, expanding or re-locating a business in Fairfax County.

About Us

The Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI) leverages county resources and develops policy recommendations to foster economic development and position Fairfax to be an economically competitive and prosperous community. It also works closely with small, local businesses to advise and guide them as they grow.

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A Note About This Information

The purpose of BizEX is to assist entrepreneurs in learning about the permits and processes, specific to Fairfax County, that are necessary to open a business in Fairfax County. Please note that since each piece of property, every building and every business is unique, the guidance provided on these webpages is general process guidance. As you proceed through the permitting process you may receive site-specific of business-specific guidance, which will supersede this information.

There are federal and state regulations, processes and permits that are also necessary prerequisites to opening a business. Listed below are some of the most common. Please consult business advisors including legal and tax professionals who can help you make the best decisions to set your business on a path to success. We have linked to federal, state and Fairfax County-supported resources to help you. Please check out the links within the five-step Starting a Business guide and ask everyone you talk with where else you may find information.

Pay attention to your sources. Non-County information provided on these pages is shared for general education purposes. Just as you will get some overlapping information about starting a business from an attorney and an accountant, some but not all of the information from each of the resources linked on these pages may overlap. To be sure you have the most current, correct information, your best bet is to go directly to the original host source.

Permit and process guidance is specific to Fairfax County. If you are seeking guidance regarding a potential location in the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church, or the towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna, please contact those jurisdictions directly. Not sure if your location falls within Fairfax County? Check it on our Zoning District Map.

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