How to Start a Business in California (2026)
You start a California business by choosing a structure and, for an LLC, filing Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Secretary of State for a $70 fee. You must appoint a registered agent, get a free EIN, pay the $800 annual franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board, and obtain a CDTFA seller's permit if you sell taxable goods.
Quick Answer
- Form the LLC
- Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), $70, to the Secretary of State
- Agency
- California Secretary of State via bizfile Online
- Registered agent
- Required - agent for service of process with a California address
- State tax
- $800 minimum annual franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board
- Sales tax
- Seller's permit from CDTFA (free) if selling taxable goods
- EIN
- Free from the IRS
Step 1: Choose Your California Business Structure
Before you register anything, decide how the business will be legally organized, because the structure drives your paperwork, taxes, and liability. In California the common choices are a sole proprietorship, a general partnership, a limited liability company (LLC), and a corporation. A sole proprietorship needs no state formation filing, but it gives you no liability shield.
Most new California small businesses choose the LLC because it separates personal assets from business debts while keeping pass-through taxation. If you want the liability protection of a separate legal entity, you form an LLC or corporation with the California Secretary of State. Compare the trade-offs on our S-corp vs LLC and how to form an LLC pages before you file, and review key terms in the glossary.
Step 2: Register the Entity With the California Secretary of State
If you form an LLC, you create it by filing the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State, generally through the state's bizfile Online online system. The state filing fee is $70. The filing lists the company name, its registered agent and office, and the management structure.
Your name must be distinguishable from existing entities on the state register; run a California business entity search first. A corporation instead files articles of incorporation. Adopt an operating agreement for an LLC (or bylaws for a corporation) - California does not file it, but it governs ownership, voting, and profit splits. See our California formation document guide for the exact contents.
Step 3: Appoint a California Registered Agent
Every California LLC and corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in California - a P.O. box alone will not satisfy the registered-office requirement. The agent receives service of process, tax notices, and official state mail on the company's behalf.
You may act as your own agent if you live in California and keep regular business hours, appoint a manager, or hire a commercial registered agent service. The agent must consent to the role. If you later change agents, you file a change-of-agent form with the California Secretary of State. Failing to maintain an agent can lead to administrative dissolution, so keep the designation current.
Step 4: Get an EIN and Register for Taxes
Apply for a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS - it is free and takes minutes online. You need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file most tax returns; a multi-member LLC or any entity with employees is required to have one.
By default the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership, and either may elect S-corporation treatment on Form 2553. For California taxes, register with the Franchise Tax Board (and CDTFA for sales tax): California imposes an $800 minimum annual franchise tax on LLCs and taxes pass-through income on the owners' returns. If you sell taxable goods or services, obtain a seller's permit (free). Learn more on our business tax page.
Step 5: Get California Business Licenses and Permits
California regulates many activities through licenses and permits rather than a single universal license. Check for a general California business license requirement, then layer on local city or county licenses for your physical location, plus professional or occupational licenses for regulated trades such as contractors, cosmetologists, health services, and food handling.
The federal SBA licensing guide and our business license overview explain the layers. If you operate under a name different from the legal entity name, file a California DBA (fictitious name). Confirm zoning and home-occupation rules with your municipality before you open.
Step 6: Meet Ongoing California Requirements
Registration is not one-and-done. California LLCs must file an initial Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) within 90 days and then every two years for $20, and pay the $800 minimum annual franchise tax plus, above $250,000 in gross receipts, an additional LLC fee. Keep your registered agent current, renew local licenses, and file your federal and state tax returns each year. Missing an annual filing is the most common way small businesses fall out of good standing and risk administrative dissolution.
Maintain a separate business bank account and clean books so your liability shield holds up. If ownership, address, or management changes, update the record with the California Secretary of State. When you are ready to wind down, follow our how to dissolve an LLC in California guide rather than simply abandoning the entity.
California Startup Costs at a Glance
The table summarizes the core state costs for a typical California LLC. Amounts are set by the state and effective for 2026; confirm current figures on the California Secretary of State and Franchise Tax Board (and CDTFA for sales tax) fee schedules before filing.
| Item | Agency | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) (form the LLC) | California Secretary of State | $70 |
| seller's permit | Franchise Tax Board (and CDTFA for sales tax) | free |
| Federal EIN | IRS | $0 (free) |
| Ongoing report / renewal | California Secretary of State | $20 Statement of Information + $800 annual franchise tax |
Beyond state fees, budget for any professional or local licenses and, if you hire a service, registered agent costs. The EIN is always free directly from the IRS.
Verify Current Details and Avoid Common Pitfalls in California
State fees, tax rates, forms, and deadlines change from year to year, so before you file or pay anything, confirm the current figures directly on the official California agency websites cited below. The amounts on this page are effective for 2026 and are set by the government, not by any filing service. Public records and most state forms are free or low-cost, and a federal EIN is always free from the IRS - be cautious of third-party websites that charge inflated fees to file routine state paperwork or to obtain a number the government issues at no cost. Reading the primary source yourself is the surest way to avoid outdated or misleading second-hand information, which is exactly why every figure here links to a California agency, statute, or the IRS.
A second common pitfall is blurring the line between you and your business. If you operate through an LLC or corporation, the liability protection depends on treating the entity as genuinely separate: keep a dedicated business bank account, sign contracts in the company name, keep clean records, and adopt an operating agreement even if California does not require you to file one. Commingling personal and business money is the fastest way to weaken the shield if the company is ever sued. Owners should also plan for taxes early - set aside money for income and self-employment tax, and review whether an S-corp election fits once profits grow. See our business tax overview for how the pieces connect.
Finally, do not confuse a state business registration with trademark ownership. Clearing a name in the California business entity search means no other registered entity has that exact name - it does not grant nationwide rights or clear a federal trademark, so search the USPTO database before you invest in branding. Likewise, if you use a name different from your legal entity name, file a California DBA. When your business changes or winds down, follow the proper California dissolution steps rather than simply abandoning the entity, which leaves fees and filings running. For definitions of the terms used throughout this guide, see the glossary, and use the related California guides below to complete each step in the right order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start a business in California?
The main state cost is the $70 fee to file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the California Secretary of State. A federal EIN is free, and a seller's permit costs free. Local and professional licenses may add more.
Do I need an LLC to start a business in California?
No. You can operate as a sole proprietor with no state formation filing, but you get no liability protection. Forming an LLC with the California Secretary of State separates your personal assets from business debts.
What licenses do I need to start a business in California?
California has no single universal license. You may need a general or local license, a seller's permit for sales, and professional licenses for regulated trades. Check state and city requirements for your activity.
Do I need an EIN for a California business?
You need a federal EIN if your business has employees, is a multi-member LLC, or is taxed as a corporation. A single-member LLC with no employees may use the owner's SSN but usually gets an EIN anyway. It is free from the IRS.
How long does it take to register a business in California?
Online filings through bizfile Online are typically processed within a few business days, while mailed filings take longer. Getting an EIN online is immediate.
Related
- How to start a business in Indiana (sibling)
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in California
- How to get an EIN
- Registered agent requirements
- Business tax overview
- S-corp vs LLC
- How to dissolve an LLC
More California business guides
Business License In Dissolve An Llc In Annual Report Articles Of Organization Business Entity Search Certificate Of Formation Dba Filing Llc Tax Filing Operating Agreement Registered Agent
Sources
- California Secretary of State - Business entity forms (Form LLC-1 Articles of Organization).
- California Secretary of State - bizfile Online business search and filing.
- California Secretary of State - Statement of Information (Form LLC-12).
- California Franchise Tax Board - Limited liability company ($800 annual tax).
- California Franchise Tax Board - Business estimated tax and payments.
- California Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration - Permits and licenses (seller's permit).
- California Legislative Information - Corporations Code Title 2.6 (Revised Uniform LLC Act).
- California Secretary of State - Business entity name availability and reservation.
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) - federal classification.
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- IRS - Single Member Limited Liability Companies.
- IRS - About Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number.
- Cornell LII - Limited liability company (LLC).
- Cornell LII - 26 U.S. Code Sec. 7701 - Definitions (entity classification).
- U.S. Small Business Administration - Apply for licenses and permits.
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the California Secretary of State, Franchise Tax Board, and CDTFA before acting.