How to Register a Business in Bakersfield, California
Every business operating within the city limits of Bakersfield, California must register for a Business Tax Certificate. This certificate, also called a Bakersfield Business License, allows the city government to manage which businesses are operating in its jurisdiction and to regulate the taxes for each business. If you plan to do business under an assumed business name, you must first register your fictitious business name with the county of Kern before you can receive a Bakersfield Tax Certificate.
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Instructions
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Print or type your business information into the Fictitious Business Name Statement at the Kern County Clerk website if your business uses any name other than your last name with a recognizable form of your first name (see Resources). Sign and date the form.
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Return the Fictitious Business Name Statement form to the Kern County Clerk's office address at the top by mail or in person with the current filing fee in the form of a check or money order payable to Kern County Clerk.
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Print or type your business information into the Application for Business Tax Certificate form. Sign and date the form at the bottom
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Mail the form back the City of Bakersfield at the address at the top left corner of the form with a check or money order payable to the City of Bakersfield for the current business tax license fees.
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Tips & Warnings
Bakersfield businesses structured as corporations and LLCs do not file a DBA with Kern County. Their assumed name filings are part of their business structure documentation with the state of California.
These are the instructions to register a business to operate with the city of Bakersfield. Depending on the type and/or structure of your business, you may also have other obligations to the state and federal governments (see Resources).
