I found this website through Small Business Trends today, and it seemed the kind of thing worth passing along.
www.License123.com is a website dedicated to helping small businesses find the government licenses they need to be in compliance. Basically, why spend hours on the phone with the stereotypical grumpy clerk when you can spend a few minutes on their website and find all the licensing requirements (plus associated fees!) you need to not get fined out the wazoo.
There is a price attached ("The full report for a single business is only $9.95"). It sounds like - based on their FAQs - you receive a full list of the required applications, plus the applications themselves... including instructions, which may or may not be helpful. C'mon, when was the last time you actually found your tax instructions helpful.
It's a pretty easy process: plug in your location, industry, and business type, and it gives you the list. Once you pay you can download all the forms.
It's not comprehensive, but they do plan on growing quickly. Currently they have information for CA, CO, D.C., FL, IL, NV, NY, PA, TX, and WA, and as far as field service "business types", they list Alarm Company, General Contractor, IT Services, Plumbing Services, Security Services, and Specialty Contractor.
If you use it, or have used it, let us know what you think!