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How To Withdraw Your Business Certificate

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Learn about the steps to take when withdrawing your business certificate in the City of Boston.

Step
1

Fill out the form

You need to give us the name and address of your business, along with the names and addresses of any people who have an interest in your business. We also need a copy of your lease agreement that includes signatures and start and end dates. If there is no lease, please provide a notarized letter from your landlord stating that your business is a tenant. You CANNOT use a post office box for a business address.

Complete and print out a withdrawal of business certificate form

The business owner’s signature needs to be notarized. We can also notarize your signature at the City Clerk's Office if you have a valid picture ID.

Is your business certificate associated with a legally established corporation? The signature on the certificate must be one of the listed officers or directors of the corporation, as filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office, or any other state jurisdiction.

The filing fee is $50. If you only want to remove a person’s name from a business certificate, complete and print out a withdrawal of names form. The filing fee is still $50.

Applying in person?
  • We accept cash, credit cards, pinless debit cards, and checks or money orders made payable to the City of Boston.
  • If you use a credit card or pinless debit card, there is a non-refundable service fee of 2.5% of the total payment, with a $1 minimum. This fee is paid to the card processor and not kept by the City.
  • Please note: if your debit card requires you to enter your pin to process a payment, you CANNOT use it to pay your fee.
Applying by mail?
  • If you send your payment by mail, please include a check or money order made payable to the City of Boston.
Step
2

Withdraw the certificate in person

Bring your payment and completed form to City Hall:

City Clerk’s Office, Room 601
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Step
3

Or mail us your info

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in your letter. Mail your payment and completed form to:

Office of the City Clerk
1 City Hall Square, Room 601
Boston, MA 02201

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