How U.S. Cities Are Modernizing Business Licensing
April 23rd 2025
Cities across the U.S. are starting to re-evaluate how they handle business licensing—and for good reason. Traditional, paper-heavy systems can be clunky, slow, and frustrating for everyone involved.
Staff get bogged down. Businesses get confused. And renewals? They take way longer than they should.
The good news? Cities that have made the shift to digital licensing are seeing some pretty real results—faster renewals, better compliance, and a smoother experience for staff and business owners alike.
What’s Working in the Real World
Let’s talk about Lacombe.
This Canadian city isn’t massive—but that’s exactly what makes its story so relatable to other municipalities. Lacombe transitioned from a mostly manual, paper-based licensing process to Cocoflo’s digital platform—and the impact was immediate.
Within just the first few weeks of the calendar year, the city had already collected over 80% of its expected business license renewal revenue. What normally would have taken months of chasing, reminders, and administrative follow-up was nearly wrapped up by mid-January.
That kind of early revenue collection isn’t just good for budgeting—it’s a sign of something bigger: better compliance. More business owners renewed on time, more revenue came in without staff intervention, and more time was freed up to focus on higher-value work.
By simplifying the process and removing friction on both sides, Lacombe created a win-win:
✔️ Staff spent less time on admin.
✔️ Businesses found it easier to renew.
✔️ The city got paid—on time.
This is what digital licensing should look like: easy, fast, and built for real municipal challenges.
Why It Matters
Smoother Renewals
Online renewals mean fewer phone calls, fewer in-person visits, and fewer mistakes. Automated reminders and easy online payments take the pressure off staff and business owners.
Affordability & Flexibility
You don’t need to be a big city with a big budget to go digital. There are platforms out there built for small- and mid-sized municipalities—scalable, affordable, and quick to implement.
Easy Integration
Migrating off an old system can feel daunting, but modern licensing platforms come with solid integration models to make the transition smooth. No lost data. No disruption.
Let’s Talk About the Bigger Picture
When local businesses thrive, communities thrive. Whether it’s a family-run restaurant, a contractor, or a startup, each business plays a part in building a strong local economy. And when licensing is easy, those businesses can focus on what they do best—serving the community.
But there’s still work to do:
With thousands of local governments across the U.S., many still rely on paper-based processes. That’s a missed opportunity—for better efficiency, better service, and better support for local business.
Who Benefits Most?
City Staff: Less manual work, fewer errors, and more time for the big-picture stuff.
Business Owners: A faster, clearer process that gets them licensed and back to work, hassle-free.
Residents: More open businesses mean more jobs, more services, and more vibrant neighborhoods.
Wrapping It Up
Modernizing business licensing isn’t just about going digital—it’s about making things work better for everyone. From small towns to growing metros, cities are proving that with the right tools and partners, it’s absolutely possible.
Want to learn more?
If you’re looking at ways to simplify your business licensing process, let’s chat. We’re here to share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) so you can build something that truly fits your city.
Contact us to explore what digital licensing could look like for your community.