1. FOR TOWN OF
BUSINESS GUIDE
PRINCESS ANNE
Printed Guide for Doing Business
in Princess Anne.
Town of Princess Anne
Getting Started
30489 Broad Street
Princess Anne, MD 21853
TownAdministrationBuilding
2. The goal is to provide
a user friendly print
guide that enables
small business appli-
cants to better under-
stand the existing pro-
cess in Princess Anne.
As you move forward,
always remember that
the town staff is avail-
able and more than
happy to assist you.
Doing it right from the
start, saves everyone’s
time.
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3. The target audience for this guide is Princess Anne’s small business
community, which is the heart of “The Avenue” and neighbour-
hood business districts. Unlike major chains, malls and lifestyle
centers, your businesses are typically run by an individual and
have 1 to 3 employees on average. Often, you do not retain legal
counsel, and instead, you have to navigate the sometimes confus-
ing process of permitting and licensing your own.
This guide is a tool for this small business community, which has
been the traditional economic engine of “The Avenue.” It is part
of an overall effort to continue to attract new businesses to “The
Avenue” and neighbourhood business districts while also seeking
to diversify the existing retail mix.
Licenses and permits are required in Princess Anne because the
Town must complete technical and regulatory reviews to ensure
the health and safety of its citizens. However, as a small busi-
ness, you will receive assistance and guidance as you go through
the permitting processes, which will help ensure that the out-
comes are clear and finalized as quickly as possible so you may
open your business. Your success becomes the town’s success.
The Town of Princess Anne has created a printed
guide for doing business in Princess Anne that can
be distributed to small businesses to help them
navigate the municipal process- including permit-
ting, licensing and zoning-in an easy to read format.
GETTING STARTED
INTRODUCTION
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5. 5
As the county seat, Princess Anne is
the ideal starting point for day trips to
the Lower Eastern Shore. History buffs
and antique lovers will want to explore
the town, and take advantage of the
many unique shopping and dining
experiences available.
Princess Anne offers the perfect place
for your business in its current growing
community of businesses. Princess Anne
cares about your business, and offers
support, guidance, and resources un-
like any other town. Your success is our
priority.
WELCOME TO
PRINCESS ANNE
6. Established in:
1733, the town’s architectural
heritage remains preserved.
Location: Somerset County, MD
Population: 3290
Home to:
The University of Maryland Eastern
Shore and the Teackle Mansion.
Town Statistics
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7. If you’re looking to establish meaningful relationships
with loyal customers while yielding higher profits and
undeniable growth, Princess Anne is the perfect place
for your business. Our community supports local
businesses and allows your organization to thrive
and live up to its full potential. Our town is a historic
attraction, that offers an intimate collaborative na-
ture ensuring more for the typical business owner.
Perfect Place for a Perfect
Business
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8. 1
1
KEY CONTACTS
As you prepare to open your business, there are three places you should visit in Town Hall:
Department. These offices will assist you as you embark on your new journey into the
Town Office Hours are
Monday thru Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Except on Holidays
The Chief Administrative
building, functions as the
base of the town.
Chamber of Commerce:
410-651-2961
County Office Complex,
11916 Somerset Ave.,
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Building Department’s
primary responsibility is to
assist people in the Town
of Princess Anne in
complying with the busi-
ness laws as they pertain
to zoning and the state’s
Uniform Building Code.
County Office Complex,
Suite 211
11916 Somerset Ave.,
Princess Anne, MD 21853
The Planning Commission
makes and approves plans
they recommend to the
Board of County Commis-
sioners for adoption.
Town Clerk/ Mainstreet Committee
410-651-1818
President of Board of County Commissioners
(410) 651-0320
Planning & Zoning Office
410-651-1818
Building Department Building CommissionerTown Administration Building
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9. The Economic Development Department, Planning and Zoning Office, and the Building
wonderful Princess Anne business community. Here are the key contacts:
The Princess Anne
Volunteer Fire Department
provides 24-hour fire-
fighting and emergency
medical services through-
out the community. Forty-
five volunteers respond
to approximately 250 fire
calls per year, while emer-
gency medical personnel
respond to appoximately
1,500.
The Princess Anne Police
Department provides
police services on a seven
day, twenty-four hour
basis.
County Office Complex, Suite 202
11916 Somerset Ave.
Princess Anne, MD 21853
The Somerset County Economic
Development Commission’s goal
is to increase the economic vi-
ability and vitality of the County’s
business community by creating a
positive vision for
economic growth.
Princess Anne Vol. Fire Co.
410-651-2144
Princess Anne Police Department
410-651-1822
Somerset County Economic Development/Suite 202
410-651-0500
Fire Department Police Department Economic Development Dept
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10. Alexander House
Somerset House
American Best Travel Inn
Washington Hotel
Hayman House
Peakys Restaurant and Bar
Petite Fleur
Get’n Grounded Café
Ceasar’s Pizza Palace
Beach to Bay Seafood
Hardees
Mc Donald’s
Pizza Hut
Allegro Gift and Coffee Shop
Bailey-White Jewelers
Priceless Flowers
Print & Ship
Barefoot Baby Boutique
Historical Society Antique and Gift
Shop
Olney Market
Places to Eat Places to Stay Places to Shop
support given by the town of Princess Anne.
The town of Princess Anne wants you to be
successful, and is here to help, assist and
direct you as you work towards your business
goals. There are countless places to eat, stay,
and shop that are visited daily by the com-
munity, residents from all over Maryland, and
even tourists. The Town of Princess Anne is
also a historic area that offers many places
to visit, see, and shoot with your camera. It’s
a gorgeous, business friendly, welcoming
community, that will make a great fit for your
business.
Whatever arena your business decides to
venture into, Princess Anne welcomes and
invites you to its developing business commu-
nity. Whether a citizen of Princess Anne think-
ing about starting your first business or from
another area and thinking about relocating all
or part of your business, Princess Anne can
help make the move more profitable. We have
a responsive government committed to your
success. Business professionals from all over
have located their operation to Princess Anne
and have been pleased in not only their profit
earnings, but in the relationships they have
established with the community and the
Businesses in Area
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11. features 68 stories and 40 sites
about the people and historic
places throughout the town.
From the Victorian and Colo-
nial Revival design hotels, to
the Federal style architectural
landmarks like that of Teackle
Mansion, Princess Anne offers
pristine historical beauty like
no other. When you bring your
business to Princess Anne you
become apart of its legacy,
something much bigger, much
more valuable.
The Town also offers a unique
cell phone tour. The tour high-
lights over 300 years of Princess
Anne history from the Colonial
era, Revolutionary, Civil and
World Wars, the heyday of
steamboat travel, the arrival of
the railroad and the first“talk-
ing”picture show. The tour
The town of Princess
Anne offers more than
just a dining, resting,
shopping experience-it’s
a historic community with
tons of places to visit-rich
in history, architecture
and artistic beauty.
The Washington Hotel (restau-
rant, bar, and hotel) is a place
of divine beauty and history.
Structural renovations and
refurbishments are underway
to improve and update the his-
toric structure. The Washington
Inn & Tavern is a 1744 iconic
historic building. The Hotel is
anticipating opening in May of
2015-giving visitors a fresh new
invigorating experience.
BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED
HISTORIC SITES
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12. Contact:
Director
Main Street Princess Anne
Partnership
pamainstreet@gmail.com
410-651-1818
Princess Anne Main Street serves
existing Village enterprises. Our
programs help local businesses
expand into new markets, maxi-
mize the productivity of their
property, and sharpen their com-
petitive edge.
The Princess Anne Partnership is charged with enhancing, promoting and preserving
the vitality of Princess Anne, its businesses and residents. The Princess Anne Partner-
ship offers many ways to get involved, from volunteer opportunities at special events
to seats on committees and boards. Merchants can get involved by sponsoring main
street events. Through our combined efforts the Partnership, the town, and the citi-
zens will be more united, more efficient, with a better place to work, play and stay.
COMMUNITY GROWTH
Princess Anne Main Street
markets the district’s unique char-
acteristics to shoppers, investors,
potential businesses and visitors.
Our promotion strategy forges
a positive image through adver-
tising, retail incentives, special
events and marketing campaigns
carried out by local volunteers.
1 2 3
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14. Whether a citizen of Princess Anne
thinking about starting your first
business or from another area and
thinking about relocating all or part
of your business, Princess Anne can
help make the move more profitable.
BUSINESS
NEW WAY
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15. Oppertunities
Economic Viability
Low Taxes
Market Accessibility
Superb Quality of
Life
Avaliable, Trainable
Workforce
QUANTITYPRICE
For retail business, County and State employees
working in Town along with citizens seeking County
services mean a steady stream of customers past
your storefront. Princess Anne is also fortunate to
have two campuses nearby, the University of Mary-
land Eastern Shore, and Salisbury University.
Princess Anne and Somerset County taxes are rea-
sonable and stable. At the County level industry can
request an exemption from all county taxes for one
year at a time, for a period of up to ten years. As an
enterprise zone, Princess Anne is an attractive loca-
tion for industrial and commercial business. Enter-
prise zone advantages include property tax credits.
The market is more accessible. Princess Anne offers
a transportation and telecommunications infrastruc-
ture that will connect you to national and interna-
tional markets. Washington, DC is only a three-hour
drive or thirty minutes by air, making Princess Anne
an excellent location for companies doing business
with the Federal Government.
Princess Anne offers an endless amount of opportu-
nities to businesses in the area. Some of the eco-
nomic benefits include available, trainable, low-cost
labor, low taxes, easy market access, safe streets
affordable housing and easy commutes.
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES
16. Hawk Card Spending
10%
2009
00%
00%
20%
2010
30%
2011
40%
2012
50%
2013
60%
2014
Great Source of Profitability
Hawk Card System
The Hawk Card is a card used by the students at the University of
Maryland Eastern Shore. Students are able to transfer funds from
their financial aid and use the money for various expenses including
food, gas, housing, essential shopping etc. The Hawk Card has con-
tributed greatly to the success of local businesses and has enabled
businesses to grow, remodel and expand. McDonalds, hesitant to
take the card initially, had to close down their entire restaurant on
the first day due to lack of products. There are more than 35 busi-
nesses that currently take the Hawk Card and it’s a growing force
that boosts sales and drives profitability.
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17. +$3000-
$12,000
63%
Currently over 3200 active
participants who use the Hawk
Card daily.
Increase in business sales as a
result of the Hawk Card. Over
$500,000 has been transferred a
semester from Student Accounts,
averaging about $206 a transac-
tion. Students transfer as little as
$1 to $8000.
A typical restaurant like
McDonalds can make
between $3000-$12,000 a
month off the Hawk Card
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18. Every Monday and
Thursday (Except for
Holidays*) The pick-up
will occur on the day
after the holiday.
Placement of Trash: By
the curbside NO EAR-
LIER THAN 6:00 P.M. the
day before and no later
than 7:00 A.M. of the
scheduled collection.
secured lid. Exclude
hazardous materials.
Bulk Pick-Up Items
Must Be Paid in Advance.
Televisions $10.00
Tires $15.00
Large Appliances $10.00
Refrigerators, Hot Water Heat-
ers, Stove, Air Conditioners
Large Furniture Items $10.00
Mattress, Sofa, carpet, etc.
Small Appliances $5.00
Yard Waste (yard debris)
First ten bags of yard debris are
free… Thereafter, $2.00 per bag
Water and sewer
services are provided to
the Town by the Som-
erset County Sanitary
Commission,
11916 Somerset Ave-
nue, Room 212,
410.651.3831
During the Spring,
Summer, and Fall, the
street sweeper cleans
streets and curbs
every Wednesday. It
is requested that resi-
dents remove all vehi-
cles from the street on
these days.
The government of Princess Anne offers several public services to the business
community. These services are to assist with trash, bulk materials, water and sew-
age, and street cleanings. All organizations are a part of the local community and
have access to these services and can take full advantage of the benefits they
entail. Should you have any questions regarding any of the items listed, please
call the Town Office at 410-651-1818.
PUBLIC SERVICES
TRASH COLLECTION BULK PICK-UP WATER & SEWAGE STREET SWEEP
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19. All residents and businesses owning real estate
within the Town limits are required to maintain
their lanes, lawns, sidewalks, and vacant lots,
keeping them free of weeds and unsightly vegeta-
tion, and preventing the accumulation of refuse
or vegetation. It is also requested that lawn
cuttings not be blown into the street, to prevent
storm drains from becoming clogged, and to keep
from adversely affecting the street sweeper.
House numbers are important for identification,
especially during an emergency. It is essential
that fire and ambulance crews, or the police are
able to quickly locate every residence. Please
post easy to read numbers, and regularly main-
tain all bushes and trees that might obscure
them from plain view.
Property Maintenance
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20. The following steps will help to assist one wishing to start business in
the town of Princess Anne.
1. Pick a location for the business
2. Contact the Town Hall for zoning
3. Apply for a business license with Somerset
County Circuit Court 410-845-4840
4. Contact the Fire Marshall’s office
5. Depending on the kind of business, other agen-
cies will need to be contacted such as DLLR and
Health Dept.
6. Apply for permits at the Town Hall if there are
any modifications to the building
STEPS TO OPEN
BUSINESS
21. Returned Checks
All checks returned to the Town for any rea-
son will generate a $25.00 service charge to
the person/property that issued the check.
Should any taxpayer fail to pay property
taxes rightfully due to the Town of Princess
Anne by the first day of January after billing
pursuant to Section 812 of Article VIII of
the Town Charter, the taxpayer shall pay
a tax penalty of 2% per month of the total
tax liability on the property for each month
or fraction of a month from the first day of
January.
• Building Permit Fees: Contact Com-
misioner.
• Rental Residentual Property
• Special Exception and Variance Fees:
Tipping Fee (Garbage/Trash Removal)
• Tax Bill Reminder All Princess Anne
property owners will receive tax bills
from the Town and the County. If
you have a change of address, please
notify the Tax Assessment Office at
410.651.0868 promptly.
Fiscal Year Tax Rates:
• Property Taxes: The current tax rate is
$.954 per $100.00 of assessed value.
• Personal Property Taxes: The current
tax rate is $2.25 per $100.00 of as-
sessed value.
GOVERNMENT
TAXES
22. Designed by Bret Sears, student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Informa-
tion provided by the Town of Princess Anne, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
and Somerset County. This guide reflects the culture, government and business struc-
ture of the Town of Princess Anne and is intended for individuals seeking to start up
business in the town.
Credits
for Business Guide
23. Let Princess Anne be the starting point for your business. Our growing business com-
munity will help your business flourish, and experience all the rewarding benefits of a
successful organization. When you do business in Princess Anne, you can ensure your
business will achieve the success you envision.
24. Town of Princess Anne
TownofPrincessAnne.com
410-651-1818
Town of Princess Anne
Business Guide
