- Governor Ned Lamont and Secretary of State Denise Merrill announce updates to Connecticut’s business registration system
- Entrepreneurs can now register a business directly through the state’s business portal at Business.CT.gov
- Processes such as business filings can also be handled online through the portal
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Entrepreneurs in Connecticut can now complete the business registration process, regular business filings, and several other tasks through the state’s business portal.
Governor Ned Lamont and Secretary of State Denise Merrill recently announced the changes, noting that Connecticut’s business registration process is now fully integrated with Business.CT.gov. This allows users on the portal to immediately register their business rather than logging in to a separate business registration system.
“Since I came into office, one of our top goals has been to make sure each entrepreneur can spend less time with the government and more time growing their business and doing good for our residents,” said Lamont. “This update is another incredible milestone in Connecticut’s modernization efforts to move toward an all-digital state government experience. Every business owner is required to register through the Secretary of the State, and this integration will take away one more burdensome extra step or login that they need to undertake to grow their business.”
“Small businesses are now better equipped to start, expand, and thrive in Connecticut,” said Merrill. “Starting a business comes with several risks and inherent challenges. Registering should not be one of them. I look forward to our state and our businesses growing together.”
Josh Geballe, commissioner and chief operating officer at the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, said Connecticut previously used Concord as a registry system and described it as “one of the most antiquated and frustrating systems for Connecticut businesses and residents.” He said the business portal development is part of the Lamont administration’s efforts to fully digitize government services and help integrate department operations.
The business registration process at Business.CT.gov requires users to sign up for a free account through CT.gov. The portal includes a new business checklist, with an estimated completion time of nine to 10 minutes. There is also a process for registering a business that requires the business’s name, street address, NAICS code, and e-mail address, as well as the name of the registrant’s business address.
Business owners can handle business filings and other processes through the portal, including records searches, filing annual reports, making business amendments, looking up licenses and permits, and filing and tracking every type of UCC lien. Registrants receive a personal dashboard to track their filings and payments, while also getting alerts and notifications that can help them keep compliant with state requirements. A chatbot is also available to address business owners’ questions.
Business.CT.gov was established in the summer of 2020. Lamont said 17,683 new business checklists have been completed through the site, 56 percent of which were done by women or minorities. A total of 19,174 new businesses have been registered with the state since the Secretary of State joined the portal.
