Section 78. Renewal of licenses

A license granted under the provisions of
  this article may be renewed by the department of state upon  application
  therefor  by  the  holder  thereof,  in such form as such department may
  prescribe, accompanied by the non-refundable fee and surety bond each in
  amounts equivalent to those specified in section  seventy-four  of  this
  article  as  pertaining  to original licenses.  The application shall be
  filed six weeks before the expiration date of  the  license  unless  the
  application  is  accompanied  by a non-refundable late filing fee of one
  hundred dollars. In no event will  renewal  be  granted  more  than  six
  months  after  the  date  of  expiration  of a license. No person, firm,
  limited liability company, partnership or corporation shall carry on any
  business subject to this article  during  any  period  which  may  exist
  between the date of expiration of a license and the renewal thereof.