1. Obtaining a “DBA” – Contact the Wexford
County Clerk’s office at (231) 779-9450 to obtain
a “Doing Business As” (DBA) application form.
A DBA registers your business name for exclusive use in
Wexford County. The form is only one page in length, but
requires all applicants’ signatures to be notarized.
The cost of the DBA is $10 and will register your business
name for five years. It must be renewed thereafter as required
by the County Clerk’s office.
2. Obtaining a City of Cadillac Business Permit or Business
License – Contact the City Clerk’s office at
(231) 775-0181, ext. 117 for a Business Permit or Business
License application form. Whether or not your business requires
a permit or license depends on the type and nature of that
business. Please refer to the attached sheet from the City
Clerk’s office for more information.
3. Obtaining a City of Cadillac Sign or Building Permit
– If you are planning to add exterior signage to your
downtown storefront, or make structural modifications (either
interior or exterior in nature), you must first obtain the
required permit from the City Building Department. Contact
Building Official John Saari at (231) 775-0181, ext. 102
for additional information.
4. Parking – Please refer to the attached map for
information on short-term (customer) and long-term (employee)
parking. Note that the short-term, two-hour customer parking
spaces, which include essentially all on-street parking
spaces are strictly enforced for customer use by the Cadillac
Police Department. Employees and owners must park in the
long-term areas to avoid the $15 time-zone citation. Downtown
property owners pay an annual special assessment as part
of their regular tax bill to maintain the off-street parking
areas. As a result, if overnight parking is necessary during
the winter months, they should contact Downtown Development
Authority Director Precia Emmons at (231) 775-0181, ext.
120 to receive a complimentary overnight parking permit.
Residents of downtown apartments are required to purchase
the permits, which are $5 per week, $15 per month, or $60
annually.
5. Economic Incentive Programs – The DDA currently
offers three financial incentive programs, which include
the Retail Bounty Program, the Low-Interest Loan Façade
Improvement Program, and the Elevator Grant Program. A retail
bounty is paid under defined conditions to the individual
primarily responsible for the recruitment of a new retail
business to the DDA District. The Low-Interest Loan Façade
Improvement Program offers funds at very low rate of interest
(a maximum of $30,000 per building) for exterior façade
improvements. The Elevator Grant offers grant funding to
accomplish necessary barrier free access as part of an overall
downtown redevelopment project. Please contact the DDA office
at (231) 775-0181, ext. 120 for more detailed information
and/or application forms regarding any of the above-noted
programs.
This list is only designed to address the local considerations
one should make before starting a business in downtown Cadillac,
Michigan. It does not address any state or federal requirements,
nor does it address any other considerations that are common
to starting a new business (i.e., obtaining insurances,
etc.). Along with the required licenses and permits, the
City of Cadillac may impose other conditions, which may
be necessary to ensure compliance with applicable ordinances
and regulations. Such considerations shall be consistent
with applicable ordinances and regulations and shall be
considered an integral part of the permit process.
Business Licenses
and Permits Information
