- Government
- Departments
- Economic Development
- Doing Business in Northampton
Doing Business in Northampton
- Starting a Business in Northampton
- Site Selection
- Tax & Financial Incentives
- Opportunity Zones
- Local & Regional Business Resources
Starting a Business
Starting a new business is a significant commitment. Learn about what you need to do and who can help!
Business Certificates
The city clerk issues business certificates for registering a business in Northampton. A business certificate is commonly referred to as a D/B/A form or a "Doing Business As" form. A business certificate must be filed when conducting business in Northampton under any title (business name) other than the real name of the individual, partnership, or corporation.
Corporations
New for profit and non-profit corporations must register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of MA. This can be done online at the Secretary of State's Office. Existing corporations and trademarks in Massachusetts can be searched online at the Secretary's corporate divisions section of its website.
Employer Identification Number
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) also known as a federal Tax Identification Number, is used to identify a business entity. This number is used for both federal and state tax purposes. To obtain a federal EIN, you must file an application for Employer Identification Number (Form SS-4) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Applications can be made online or by phone at 1-800-829-4933.
Zoning & Land Use Permitting
It is important to confirm that your business will be located in the proper zoning district. The Office of Planning & Sustainability can help identify appropriate zoning districts for your business. Some businesses are also allowed as home occupations. Please contact the Office of Planning & Sustainability for more information.
Building Permits
The Building Department issues commercial, residential, mechanical and zoning permits. Please reach out to the Building Department to let them know of your plans so that they can guide you in the direction to obtain all applicable building permits.
Additional Permits (if applicable)
- Health Department Permits (Food Establishment, Tobacco Permits, Body Art Permits, etc.)
- License Commission Licenses (Liquor, Entertainment, Common Victualler Licenses)
- Department of Public Works (Utilities/Trench, Curb Cuts, Stormwater and other Public Works Permits)
- Fire/Rescue Department (Fire Safety, Hazardous Materials)
State & Federal Taxes
Most businesses or their owners are required to pay income tax on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Other taxes that might be required are: unemployment tax, worker's compensation, payroll tax, sales tax. It is your responsibility to inform yourself and to comply with the state and federal tax filing requirements.
Site Selection Resources & Services
Real Estate Websites
The websites below offer listings for light industrial, warehouse, retail and office properties. Access is primarily free although some levels of data access is fee based.
Real Estate Brokers
| Real Estate Brokers & Address | Contact Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Goggins Real Estate 79 King Street, Northampton MA 01062 | Pat Goggins, (413) 531-1659 pat@gogginsrealestate.com | |
| Murphy's Realtors 44 Conz Street, Northampton MA 01060 | David Murphy, (413) 584-5700 david.murphy8@comcast.net | |
| Coldwell Banker Community Realtors 112 Main Street, Northampton MA 01060 | (413) 586-8355 | |
| Wiiliamson Commercial Properties 59 North St. #2, Northampton, MA 01060 | John Williamson, (413) 374-4372 john@williamsoncp.com | |
| Jennings Real Estate 73 Chestnut Street, Springfield MA 01103 | Jonathan Little, (413) 731-7770 Jonathan@jennings-re.com | |
| Jones Realtors 351 Pleasant Street, Suite A, Northampton MA 01060 | (413) 585-0400 | |
| Colebrook Realty 1441 Main Street, Springfield MA 01103 | (413) 781-0066 | |
| Samuel D. Plotkin Associates 1350 Main Street, Springfield MA 01103 | Samuel Plotkin (413) 732-2158 | |
| Delap Real Estate 158 North King Street, Northampton MA 01060 | (413) 586-9111 |
Property Ownership/Management Firms
| Firm Name & Address | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| Suher Properties 47 Jackson Street, Holyoke MA 01041 | Eric Suher (413) 552-0776 |
| Abuza Brothers Management, Inc 181 Main Street, Northampton MA 01060 | Robert Abuza (413) 586-8681 |
| Dimension Realty, LLC 174 Florence Road, Florence MA 01062 | John Fortier (413) 587-9609 |
| Hampshire Property Management Group 150 Main Street, Northampton MA 01060 | Rich Madowitz (413) 582-9970 |
| Pine Street Enterprises, Inc. 221 Pine Street, Florence MA 01062 | Terry Minnick (413) 586-7939 |
Single City Tax Rate with No Commercial Rate
Northampton is one of the few larger communities in Western Massachusetts that offers a single tax rate for commercial and residential real estate. This keeps our commercial tax rate lower than many communities our size or larger. In many municipalities, their commercial tax rate may be as much as 35% to 40% above the residential rate.
Municipal Vacant Storefront Program (MVSP)
Businesses or individuals looking to lease and occupy a vacant storefront (in the approved Northampton Vacant Storefront District as having been vacant for at least twelve months) may apply to the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council with the support of the city for refundable Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) tax credits. The EACC will award refundable EDIP tax credits (up to $10,000) that match the level of municipal support (up to $10,000) businesses or individuals receive for moving into a vacant storefront. To learn more, click here.
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Massachusetts Incentives
Information and links on business development financial incentives are available from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and MassDevelopment. These include tax incentives, training funds, brownfields financing, job creation, job training grants and/or assistance, business development financing, and more.
| Contact | Contact |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Office of Business Development | VACANT, Western Mass Regional Director |
| Mass Development | Richard Griffin, Community Investment, rgriffin@massdevelopment.com Frank Canning, Investment Banking, fcanning@massdevelopment.com Emmanuel Innocent, Lending, einnocent@massdevelopment.com Claire O'Neill, Real Estate, coneill@massdevelopment.com Business Development, VACANT |
Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP)
Obtaining state level incentives through the EDIP process can, in some cases, require securing a local property tax incentive, often termed a TIF, or Tax Increment Financing from the City. The state's Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) and Northampton's Tax Increment Financing program work in tandem to deliver the incentives to help a business grow.
Brownfields Cleanup & Redevelopment Assistance
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is committed to the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield properties as a way to stimulate the economy and promote environmental protection goals. In 1998, Massachusetts passed a law creating financial incentives and liability relief for parties that take on brownfields clean up projects. This law is known as the Brownfields Act. The Act provides funding to administer programs targeted towards the clean up and reuse of contaminated property.
For direct assistance, please contact:
Brownfields and Enforcement
MassDEP/Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup
436 Dwight Street, Springfield MA 01103
Phone: (413) 755-2247
Economic Opportunity Zones
Opportunity Zone Program
The U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 created the Opportunity Zone Program to provide incentives for investment in low income communities throughout the country. An Opportunity Zone is a designated geographic area, in which individuals can gain favorable tax treatment on their capital gains, by investing those funds (through a privately-created Opportunity Fund) into economic activities in the area. The Governor of each state is able to nominate up to 25 percent of its low income census tracts (LICs) to be designated as Opportunity Zones.
Map
Use the following link to view a map to identify Designated Opportunity Zones in Massachusetts.
(2010 Census Tracts)
| Organization | Services |
|---|---|
| Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce | The Northampton Chamber of Commerce can help you market your business, connect you to business resources and networks, and advocate for your business needs. The Chamber publishes a monthly newsletter and an annual business directory of its members. |
| Downtown Northampton Association (DNA) | The DNA strives to improve the business and cultural strength of Downtown Northampton through investments in programming, beautification, and advocacy. The DNA is affiliated with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. |
| Valley Community Development Corporation (CDC) | Valley CDC's Small Business Development Program provides a range of free services to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals engaged in start-ups and existing small businesses. Their program is designed to help you start, stabilize, and grow your business and is customized to meet your needs. They offer one-on-one business assistance, from access to capital to sales and marketing, from record keeping to staffing, everything you need for your business to thrive. They also offer educational workshops to polish your skills and keep you ahead of the business curve. |
| Florence Civic & Business Association | The Florence Civic & Business Association works to enrich Florence by bringing businesses and people together. |
| MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center | The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center offers both job seeker and employer services to workers and businesses in Hampshire and Franklin Counties of Western Massachusetts. |
| Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC) | The EDC's purpose is to increase the region's standard of living by attracting and retaining quality jobs, increasing investment, assisting firms in locating commercial real estate, and attracting visitors. |
| CLICK Workspace | CLICK Workspace offers a comfortable environment in which creative professionals can work, create, collaborate and share resources in an atmosphere that values diversity and growth. CLICK engages with the broader Northampton community providing meeting and event spaces, professional development and is also home to programs serving the Pioneer Valley. |
| Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) | PVPC is the regional planning agency for Hampshire and Hampden Counties fulfilling many services and offering resources in terms of future planning, public advocacy to advance regional issues and providing a large database of demographic information. |
| Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development | The Office of Housing and Economic Development offers an array of business resources including business development and location assistance, financing, and financial incentives. The Office of Business Development can help find the right state program for your needs. |
| The Construction Institute | The Construction Institute is a leading network and a neutral forum for exchanging new ideas, knowledge, and opportunities while creating stronger collaborative relationships among architects, engineers, constructors, owners and other industry stakeholders. |
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
| Procurement Technical Assistance Center is part of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center. PTAC helps businesses identify and capture federal and state contractual opportunities. |
| Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield | The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield is a concentrated effort on business and career development and networking; social and cultural involvement; and community activism through nonprofit organizations and volunteerism. |