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Collection Agency
Collection agency licensing combines federal compliance (FDCPA, CFPB Regulation F) with state-specific licensing, bonding, and trust account requirements. Compare requirements across all 50 states.
51
Total States
46
States Requiring License
46
States Requiring Bond
$1183
Avg Initial Fees
Collection agency regulation operates at both the federal and state level. Here are the three key areas you need to address.
All third-party debt collectors must comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and CFPB Regulation F. These federal laws prohibit abusive practices, limit call frequency to 7 calls per debt per 7-day period, and require specific debt validation notices.
Most states (~45) require collection agencies to obtain a license or registration. Surety bond requirements range from $5,000 to $300,000 depending on the state. Some states also require individual collector registration and minimum net worth.
Most licensed states require separate trust accounts for funds collected on behalf of creditors. Agencies must maintain detailed records (3-7 years), provide required disclosures to debtors, and submit to state regulatory examinations.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | License Required | License Type | Surety Bond | Total Fees | Renewal | Trust Account | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $700 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | No | — | — | — | N/A | N/A | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $2,500 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $1,950 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $1,775 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | Registration | $5,000 | $400 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $2,050 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $1,050 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $750 | Biennial | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | Registration | $50,000 | $2,900 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | No | — | — | — | N/A | N/A | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | Registration | $5,000 | $400 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $450 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $1,450 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | Registration | $20,000 | $1,350 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | Registration | $15,000 | $900 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | Registration | $5,000 | $400 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | — | — | — | N/A | N/A | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $1,000 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $1,700 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $850 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $2,250 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $950 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | License | $20,000 | $1,200 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | License | $15,000 | $1,100 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | — | — | — | N/A | N/A | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $750 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $700 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $900 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | Registration | $25,000 | $1,550 | Biennial | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $700 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $550 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $2,000 | Biennial | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | Permit | $15,000 | $1,250 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $550 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $850 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $1,050 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $1,150 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $900 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $450 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | License | $15,000 | $1,550 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | License | $15,000 | $950 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | License | $25,000 | $2,750 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $900 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Registration | $10,000 | $650 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | License | $10,000 | $800 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | No | — | — | — | N/A | N/A | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | License | $30,000 | $2,350 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $600 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | License | $20,000 | $1,800 | Biennial | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | License | $5,000 | $650 | Annual | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
Collection agencies often work alongside other financial service professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
Training materials for FDCPA compliance and collection agency licensing.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.