Do you need a business license if you are an independent contractor?

This depends on your state's, city's, county's regulations on this. You will need to check your local office for this information and also if you are working under another name (vanity name/ dba) instead of your own. For example, Jumping Jacks Pancake House versus Jack Jackson's Pancake House. Typically if you are just working as a 1099 Independent Contractor you generally don't need a business license.