In the United States, license-free choices include FRS, MURS, CB, compliant 900 MHz digital business radios, and cellular push-to-talk devices. GMRS requires an individual license, while Part 90 business radios require a license for the organization. Choose the service around your site, users, and coverage needs.
What radios can you use without a license?
Without an FCC license, a business can use FRS radios, MURS radios, CB radios and 900 MHz digital radios such as the Motorola Curve DLR110 and DTR700. Cellular push-to-talk radios also need no radio license. GMRS radios and UHF or VHF business band radios, including the Motorola CLS, CLP and RMU series, do need one.
| Service | Band | Max power | Channels | Typical business use | Radios we sell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRS (Part 95) | 462-467 MHz UHF | 2 W, or 0.5 W on channels 8-14 | 22, shared with GMRS | Small teams on one floor or a compact site | Motorola Talkabout, e.g. T475 two-pack |
| MURS (Part 95) | 151-154 MHz VHF | 2 W | 5, shared | Outdoor crews, yards, customer call boxes | Motorola RMM2050, CB200-M call box |
| 900 MHz ISM (Part 15) | 902-928 MHz | 1 W, frequency hopping | Set by the radio: 10 on Curve, 50 on DTR700 | Retail, hospitality, multi-floor buildings | Motorola Curve DLR110, DTR700 |
| CB (Part 95) | 26.965-27.405 MHz | 4 W AM or FM, 12 W SSB | 40, shared | Mostly vehicle use | Not stocked |
These services use shared spectrum. Part 15 radios must accept interference and do not give you an exclusive frequency assignment. Cellular push-to-talk radios such as the Motorola TLK 110 are the other license-free route: they run over a carrier network with a per-user service subscription, covered in the fourth option below.
When you do need a license. GMRS uses the same 462 and 467 MHz channels as FRS with more power and repeaters, but the FCC issues it only to an individual aged 18 or over, and only that person and their immediate family may operate under it. The individual license has a ten year term and requires no exam. It does not cover unrelated employees under one owner's license. Staff radios on UHF or VHF business frequencies, such as the Motorola CLS, CLP and RMU series, need a Part 90 license issued to the business, usually arranged through a frequency coordinator, for a term of up to ten years. Our guide to whether you need an FCC license walks through the process, and our business two-way radios cover the licensed hardware.
900 MHz digital radios for business
The Motorola Curve DLR110 and DTR700 are built for business teams that want on-site digital push-to-talk without an individual FCC license. Both use 900 MHz frequency-hopping operation. They do not communicate with FRS, GMRS, CLS or CLP radios just because those products are also sold by Motorola.
Curve is an option for retail and hospitality teams; DTR700 adds a display and more channel capacity. The DTR700 product page currently requests an availability check because it is on backorder. Ask about current stock and confirm the exact model and programming compatibility before adding units to an existing DLR or DTR fleet. Use current Curve and DTR700 options when planning a new system rather than recommending discontinued DLR1020, DLR1060 or DTR600 models as new purchases.
Cellular options cover a different need. TLK 110 is a portable WAVE PTX option and TLK 150 is a vehicle-oriented option; select TLK models use different combinations of cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity. Verify the network and service requirements for the exact device. These devices need a compatible service plan, and nationwide coverage depends on the available network. See the nationwide radio collection for the current lineup.
The short version
| FRS | GMRS | Part 90 business | |
|---|---|---|---|
| License required | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | None | FCC application fee; ten-year term | FCC fee plus frequency coordination |
| Exam | None | None | None |
| Power | 2 W on channels 1 to 7 and 15 to 22, 0.5 W on 8 to 14 | Up to 50 W on the main 462 MHz channels | Set by your license |
| Antenna | Fixed to the radio | Removable permitted | Removable permitted |
| Repeaters | Not permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Channels | 22 shared | 30 | Assigned to you |
| Business use | Permitted | Structured for family use | Designed for it |
| Interference risk | High, shared with everyone | Moderate | Low, coordinated |
FRS: license free, shared, immediate
FRS operates on 22 channels in the 462 and 467 MHz range. It is licensed by rule, meaning that if you follow the operating rules you are authorized, with no application and no fee. Effective radiated power is capped at 2 watts on channels 1 to 7 and 15 to 22, and 0.5 watts on channels 8 to 14, and antennas must be fixed to the radio.
Since the FCC's rule changes, FRS may be used for business as well as personal purposes. That matters, because a large number of small businesses run legitimately on FRS radios and do not need to go further.
What you give up: exclusivity. Those 22 channels are shared with every other FRS and GMRS user in range. In a quiet industrial estate that is a non issue. In a shopping center, a dense retail park or a busy hospital campus, you will hear other businesses on your channel and they will hear you, including anything your staff say. You also cannot use a repeater, so your coverage ceiling is whatever handheld to handheld reaches.
Buy FRS when: your site is compact, your comms are routine coordination rather than sensitive, and you want radios working the day they arrive. Motorola Talkabout radios run on FRS. For retail and hospitality floors that want a license-free radio built for business, look at the 900 MHz Motorola Curve DLR110 or DTR700 in our license-free two-way radios range. The Motorola CLS series and Motorola CLP series are licensed business radios, covered under Part 90 below.
GMRS: licensed, more power, family oriented
GMRS shares frequencies with FRS but permits substantially more: up to 50 watts on the main 462 MHz channels for mobile, base and repeater stations, removable antennas, and repeater operation. The license has an FCC application fee, runs ten years, and requires no exam. Check current fees and apply through the FCC's Universal Licensing System.
The catch for businesses: a GMRS license is issued to an individual and covers that person's immediate family under one call sign. It is not structured for a company issuing radios to employees. A business that needs licensed operation should be looking at Part 90, not GMRS.
Choose GMRS when: the use is genuinely personal or family, such as an owner operator, a family run property, or recreational use alongside the business.
Part 90: the commercial answer
Part 90 covers private land mobile radio, which is what professional two-way radio systems run on. The license is issued to your business and authorizes specific frequencies, at a specified power, across a defined area. Terms run ten years.
The value is coordination. Applications go through a frequency coordinator who checks what is already in use in your area and assigns you frequencies that are not saturated. You are not sharing 22 channels with the whole neighbourhood, which means your system still works during your busiest hour, when shared channels are at their worst.
You also unlock the full commercial hardware range: higher power handhelds, repeaters, mobile and base stations, and the digital feature set that makes larger deployments manageable.
Choose Part 90 when: communications are operationally important, your site is large or multi building, you need a repeater, you handle anything sensitive over the air, or you have already tried FRS and been beaten by congestion. Our business two-way radios and MOTOTRBO digital two-way radios ranges cover the Part 90 capable hardware, and we can arrange the coordination and filing with you.
The fourth option people forget
Nationwide LTE radios sidestep the entire question. Devices such as the WAVE PTX line push to talk over cellular networks rather than over frequencies you must be licensed to use, so no FCC license is required and coverage is wherever the carrier reaches, not wherever your antenna reaches.
They carry an ongoing subscription rather than a license, and they depend on cellular coverage, so they are the wrong answer deep inside a steel warehouse and the right answer for teams spread across a city or a region. See our nationwide LTE radios.
Curve uses 900 MHz for radio-to-radio communication. Its Wi-Fi features support additional workflows and should not be treated as a guarantee of wider radio-to-radio coverage.
How to decide
- Is your site one compact building or floor? If yes, and the airwaves in your area are not congested, FRS is likely sufficient. Start there.
- Do you need a repeater to cover the site? If yes, FRS is out. Repeaters are not permitted on FRS.
- Is anything said over the radio sensitive? Security incidents, medical information, cash movements. If yes, shared channels are a poor fit and you want licensed frequencies.
- Are your teams beyond one site? If they are spread across a region, LTE radios beat any licensed RF system on cost and simplicity.
- Is this personal or family use? Only then is GMRS the right fit.
If you are still unsure whether you need a license at all, our guide on whether you need an FCC license covers the question directly. Or tell us your building type and headcount and we will scope it with you.
Frequently asked questions
Which two-way radios can I use without an FCC license?
FRS, MURS and CB radios can operate without an individual FCC license under their service rules. Compliant 900 MHz digital radios such as Motorola Curve DLR110 and DTR700 operate under Part 15. Cellular push-to-talk devices also need no individual radio license, but may need a service subscription. GMRS and Part 90 business radios require the appropriate license.
Are 900 MHz radios like the Motorola DTR700 and Curve license free?
Yes. Motorola DTR700 and Curve DLR110 use the 902 to 928 MHz band under Part 15. They need no individual FCC license and are a different system from FRS or GMRS. They must accept interference, and exact model compatibility should be checked before expanding a fleet.
Do Motorola CLS and CLP radios need a license?
Yes. Motorola CLS and CLP radios use UHF business frequencies and require a Part 90 FCC license. For a compact license-free business radio, compare Motorola Curve DLR110 or DTR700.
What is the best license-free two-way radio for a business?
Choose around the site and the existing fleet. Curve DLR110 and DTR700 are options for 900 MHz digital business communication. RMM2050 is an option for MURS users. FRS Talkabout models suit simpler deployments. Test coverage, check accessories and availability, and use a licensed business system when a repeater is required.
Can I use FRS radios for my business?
Yes. Following the FCC's rule changes, FRS radios may be used for business purposes as well as personal ones, with no license required.
Is GMRS better than FRS?
GMRS permits far more power, removable antennas and repeaters, so it is more capable. It also requires a license, and that license is structured around personal and family use rather than business deployment.
What is the difference between GMRS and a business radio license?
GMRS is licensed to an individual and covers their immediate family on shared channels. A Part 90 business license is issued to a company and authorizes specific operating parameters, often including coordinated frequencies. Coordination does not guarantee an exclusive channel.
Do FRS radios interfere with GMRS radios?
They share the same frequencies, so yes, FRS and GMRS users hear each other. This is the main practical limitation of staying license free in a busy area.
Can I use a repeater with FRS radios?
No. Repeater operation is not permitted on FRS. If your site needs a repeater to achieve coverage, you need GMRS or a Part 90 business license.
How long does it take to get a business radio license?
Part 90 timing depends on coordination, the application and FCC processing. Ask your dealer or coordinator for current timing before planning deployment. Do not transmit on business frequencies while waiting for the required authorization.
Which service do most businesses end up on?
Small single site operations frequently run well on FRS. Larger sites, multi building operations and anyone needing a repeater or handling sensitive traffic move to Part 90. Teams spread across a region increasingly go to nationwide LTE radios instead.
Sources and operating rules
Check the current FCC license-by-rule provisions, GMRS eligibility and family coverage rules, and FRS antenna requirements. Use equipment certified for its intended service.