How to Get a Business License in California
The state of California has several web portals to assist entrepreneurs establish their businesses and get appropriate business licenses in California. Starting at the state's web pages, business owners are directed to the local agencies with which they'll need to obtain the specific licenses required for their type of business.
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Instructions
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Incorporate. If the business is not yet incorporated, the first step is to visit the business portal at the Secretary of State's web page (see resources below). Here, prospective business owners can find all the filing requirements for various corporate structures (Inc, LLC, etc), check the availability of fictitious names, verify the status of their corporation, and request copies of incorporation documents or certificates.
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Visit CalGOLD. Any incorporated business, or one that's in the process of incorporating, or anyone else needing a business license, can view the requirements through a web portal called CalGold. Through a series of checkable boxes and dropdown menus, the system will ask the type of business and the location within the state by county. In response to the information provided, the system will output the types of licenses required for the business and the appropriate agencies to contact.
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Follow up with local agencies. The name, address, and, if possible, the website for the local licensing agencies are listed as results of CalGOLD. It is the license seekers responsibility to follow-up with these individual agencies and provide the paperwork to obtain the licenses.
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Get professional license. Some businesses might also require professional licensure. Barbers, cosmetologists, dentists, registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, psychologists, security guards, insurance resident agents, real estate agents, and teachers require professional licenses through the state. The professional licensing portal (see resources below) provides links with information and fees required for these licenses.
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Tips & Warnings
While it might be easier to hire a business license service to identify which licenses you need and fill out the paperwork, this is by no means necessary. With a reasonable amount of time and effort it should be possible to obtain a business license on one's own.
The process of obtaining a license usually takes weeks and can be longer, particularly for the professional licenses. Be sure to start the process early so as not to be left operating without a license.
Resources
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