What is a telemarketing license?  And what is a state telemarketing registration?

 

 

Individuals and call centers who are new to the telemarketing industry may not be familiar with the various licensing requirements which apply to telemarketing businesses.  No national telemarketing license is required, but many states require call centers to obtain a state-specific license before calling into (or from) those states.  Also, some states require the individual telemarketing agents themselves to obtain a state telemarketing license.  Telemarketing license requirements vary by state.  The forms and fees for these telemarketing registrations also vary and change over time.

Many established call centers and sellers do not realize that they not only need their home-state telemarketer license, but they also need licenses for the states they call into, except where they are exempt.  A special effort to find every possible telemarketer exemption should be conducted in order to reduce the expense of such licenses and telemarketing surety bonds.  A telemarketing attorney can often quickly help you determine where you are (and are not) exempt, and why.

 

Approximately 33 states have a local telemarketing license requirement.  In order to obtain a state's telemarketing license, call centers must go through a telemarketing registration process and obtain approval.  Forms must be completed and signed, all required exhibits must be attached, and in some cases an application fee and surety bond must be submitted.  Some states now allow businesses to apply online. These telemarketing license requirements are completely separate from state DNC lists and state autodialer permits.  State telemarketing licenses are also separate from the national DNC list.  As you can see, many layers of regulation apply to telemarketing activities.  Always consult your legal counsel before making compliance decisions. 

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This website provides some introductory information about state telemarketing registrations and telemarketing licenses.  This information is cursory only, and is not a substitute for the advice of an experienced telemarketing attorney.  As useful as it may be, this information is not guaranteed to be accurate or up-to-date.  Without a doubt, some errors or omissions exist.