In the absence of provision to the contrary all fees and charges for licenses and permits shall be paid in advance to the clerk at the time the application is made, and when an applicant has not engaged in a business for which a license is sought until after the expiration of a part of the current fiscal year the license fees shall be prorated by quarters and the fee paid for each quarter or fraction thereof during which the business has been or will be conducted. Except as otherwise provided all license fees shall become a part of the general corporate fund. No licensee shall be entitled to a refund of any portion of any license fee paid to the city by reason of the fact that he ceases to conduct the business for which the license was granted prior to the end of the term of the license. (1950 Code)