TV Licence for Businesses: Hotels, Pubs, and Commercial Premises
Business TV licence rules differ by premises type. Hotels use a tiered room system, care homes get discounted ARC licences, and standard businesses pay £180/year.
Quick answer
A business or commercial TV licence costs £180 a year, the same standard fee a household pays for a colour licence. One licence covers a single premises and every screen on it, so there is no separate commercial tariff for an ordinary business. Only hotels pay per block of rooms, and qualifying care homes pay a discounted ARC fee.
Pub / bar / restaurant
£180/yr
One licence per site, all screens
Office / shop
£180/yr
Only if used for live TV
Hotel (per 15 rooms)
£180
+£180 per extra 5 rooms
Care home (ARC)
£7.50
Per resident, per year
Running a pub? See our dedicated pub TV licence cost guide for live-sport rules and how it compares with a Sky Business subscription. Fees verified against TV Licensing, June 2026.
Pricing by Business Type
| Business Type | Cost | Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard business | £180/year | One licence per premises | Covers all TVs on one site (office, shop, etc.) |
| Hotel (1-15 rooms) | £180/year | One licence for first 15 rooms | Covers communal areas and up to 15 guest rooms |
| Hotel (additional rooms) | +£180 per 5 rooms | Tiered pricing above 15 rooms | 16-20 rooms = 2 licences, 21-25 = 3, etc. |
| Pub / restaurant | £180/year | One licence per site | Covers all screens on the premises |
| Care home (ARC) | £7.50/resident/year | Per resident room | Communal areas need a separate standard licence |
| Holiday let / Airbnb | £180/year | One licence per property | Landlord's responsibility, not the guest's |
| Office | £180/year | If TVs are used for live broadcasts | Offices showing news channels, for example |
Hotels and Guest Houses
Hotels have a tiered licensing system based on the number of rooms with TVs:
1-15 rooms
£180
1 licence
16-20 rooms
£360
2 licences
21-25 rooms
£540
3 licences
50 rooms
£1,440
8 licences
The first licence covers up to 15 rooms plus communal areas. Each additional licence covers 5 more rooms. The formula is: 1 + ceil((rooms - 15) / 5) licences, each at £180.
Care Homes (ARC Licence)
Qualifying care homes can get ARC licences at £7.50/resident/year. This covers a TV in the resident's own room. Communal areas need a separate standard licence (£180). The accommodation manager applies on behalf of residents. This applies to residential care homes, nursing homes, and some sheltered accommodation.