You can find out if your business needs a license in California by searching the Secretary of State's website. If your business is registered as an LLC, corporation, or partnership, you can use the search tool to find out. However, California business licenses and permits are more complicated than that. Your company may need several different licenses and permits, and you may need to file an application at the local, state, or federal government level.
It's important to know what licenses and permits you need and where to get them. Generally, you'll need to pay a fee to get a local business license in California, but some cities exempt very small businesses from paying fees. You can find information about professional licensing on the CalGold website and on the California Business Portal.If your business purchases merchandise with the intent to resell it, you'll need to obtain a California resale certificate in order to avoid paying taxes to suppliers. CalGold is the best place to find information about the business licenses required for your type of business, as well as links to issuing agencies.
It also allows you to adjust how taxes are taxed on the money you make with your business and protects your personal assets from business liabilities.Before you can apply for licenses on behalf of your company, you must first create your company in the state of California. The state does not issue or require a commercial operating license, but it does regulate and require licenses or permits for some business activities. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a list of federally regulated businesses and contact details for government agencies where you should submit an application.Most businesses only need a general business license from their local county and perhaps their city. Every county in California has its own rules and regulations, so check with your local city or county government office to determine what state licenses your new business might need.
If you are a sole proprietor and do business under your own name, you can simply use your name as the name of the business entity.Your company in California may also need a state license that covers specific industries or professions. An LLC and a business license are not the same thing, although both are often part of creating a new business in a state.
