Most small businesses will not need to obtain any federal licenses or permits but, depending on the size or activities that your business conducts, you may need to get a federal license. If you’re not sure, you should conduct additional research using the CalGold permitting website. If your business sells, manufactures, imports or distributes alcoholic beverages, you must apply for the appropriate license(s) with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and register to pay an Alcoholic Beverage Tax with the Department of Tax and Fee Administration.Ī number of other California state licenses may be required for operating your business. Businesses selling or leasing any tangible property must obtain a seller’s permit before the first sale is completed. The most common one is a sales and use permit, often called a seller’s permit. In California, some business licenses are regulated on a statewide level instead of on a localized level. While these permits are not the same as business licenses, you should research to see if you must obtain one before starting your business. These are required if your business uses flammable materials and is public-facing, as with restaurants, gyms, daycares, hotels or retirement homes. If you’re building a new building or renovating an existing one, you’ll likely need a building permit. These are necessary if the land you build your business on is not properly zoned for the type of business you’re conducting Additional Local PermitsĪdditional permits you may be required to obtain on a city or county level when starting your business in California include:
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These permits often require some form of training and/or testing.Ī pesticide applicator’s license will more than likely be required for any agricultural operation using any type of pesticide and may require some study and passage of a test to obtain. Chefs, cooks, baristas and servers will also be required to obtain a food handlers certification to work in the food industry. These are the most common licenses and will apply to essentially all types of businesses and will be nearly identical in all cities and counties across California.Ī Fictitious Business Name (FBN) or Doing Business As (DBA) statement may be required, or desired, for your business if the name you are doing business as does not match the name you registered the business with the Secretary of State.Ī public health operating license is required of businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, fitness facilities or any other businesses that are related to people’s health. The most basic type of business license you will need is a business operating license, which is often simply called a “business license” or “general license” and usually also includes a business tax certificate. Luckily, California makes this a bit easier through the CalGold website, a tool that enables you to search by city or county and business type to see which permits you will need and which regulatory agencies administer them. Depending on the kind of business you operate, you might need to obtain local, county, state or federal business licenses. Unfortunately, knowing exactly which license you may need to operate in your region and your specific industry can be a headache. Virtually all businesses will need at least one type of license or permit to legally operate in the state of California.
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In addition to the local business operating license, you may also need other licenses or permits depending on the type of activity your business is conducting or the location where you are operating.įor example, if your business is based in multiple cities or counties, you will need to establish a business license at your primary location and then obtain any additional business licenses in the other cities and counties you do business in. Exceptions to this rule are most commonly found in some unincorporated areas of rural counties.
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In most California counties and cities, businesses must obtain a business license for tax purposes. When Do You Need a Business License in California? Instead, most business licensing is controlled at the county or city level, while the only statewide licensing is the “seller’s permit.” While there may be a few exceptions, as a general rule you will need a business license to operate in California. While California does not require or issue a statewide business operating license, this doesn’t mean you do not need to have a business license to operate your business in the state of California.