How we spot DC openings
The public records behind DC New Openings, how we decide what's new, and what we can't see.
What we read
- DC Basic Business License file (DLCP)
To operate in the District, a business needs a Basic Business License. DC publishes each one with its first-issue date and ward.
How we decide what's new
We read the file every day and keep licenses first issued recently. We leave out premises outside DC, rentals, salespeople, parking attendants, charities and other non-storefront types.
What can go wrong
A license is issued close to the start of operating, so it isn't a months-ahead signal. Some are offices or home businesses, and a street address with a unit number often is.
A record is a signal, not a promise. Some businesses open late, rename or never open. If a listing about your business is wrong, tell us and we'll fix it.
What this doesn't cover
What this covers. New licenses at DC addresses, from all trades. We filter out rentals, salespeople and other non-storefronts, but some offices and home businesses remain. DC gives no forward date, so a license can arrive close to the first day of business.
Sources: DC basic business license records. Written from the public records themselves; check with the agency for anything legal or binding.
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