California · 3 jurisdictions covered
Business licences and permits in California
California has no statewide general business licence — that comes from your city, or your county if you are outside one. What the state does charge is the Franchise Tax Board's $800 a year, due whether or not the business trades.
What applies everywhere in California
13 requirements are set by California itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.
| Requirement | Issued by | Fee | Applies | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Tax | California Franchise Tax Board | $800 a year for every LLC and every corporation. An LLC with California total income of $250,000 or more pays a further gross receipts fee on top: $900 from $250,000, $2,500 from $500,000, $6,000 from $1,000,000 and $11,790 from $5,000,000 | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporation | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $100 one-time filing | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $70 one-time filing | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Child Care Centre Licence | California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division | $484–$2,420 original application, banded by licensed capacity | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Contractor Licence | Contractors State License Board | $450 original application for one classification, then an initial licence fee of $200 for a sole owner or $350 otherwise. Renewal every two years is $450 sole owner or $700 otherwise, with C-10 electrical contractors paying $20 more at each tier | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Cosmetology or Barbering Establishment Licence | California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | $50 application and initial licence | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Food Facility Permit | California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch | No fee | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Food Handler Card | California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch | $15 statutory maximum for at least one accredited course | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business Licence (city or county, not state) | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | No fee | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Seller's Permit | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration | No fee — no fee to apply | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Statement of Information (Corporation) | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $25 per filing, annual | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Statement of Information (LLC) | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $20 per filing, biennial | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Veterinary Premises Registration | California Veterinary Medical Board | $500 initial registration | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
Which California city are you opening in?
- Los Angeles, CAThe City registers and taxes the business; Los Angeles County permits the food. A restaurant inside city limits therefore deals with two governments on two different renewal clocks.12 published records
- San Diego, CASan Diego County, not the city, permits food establishments and runs its own local food handler card program exempt from California's statewide card law — a card from elsewhere in the state is not accepted here.7 published records
- San Jose, CABoth sanjoseca.gov and santaclaracounty.gov blocked automated research entirely throughout — every dollar figure here was confirmed directly against the primary source, supplied by the requester once that block was established as durable. San Jose runs no food permitting program of its own; Santa Clara County DEH prices a food-prep operation on both employee count and risk category at once.4 published records
Is there a single California business licence?
No. California has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.
The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.
Who issues permits in California?
- California Secretary of State, Business Programs DivisionArticles of Organization and Articles of Incorporation · Statements of Information · Foreign entity registration5 permits
- California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug BranchCalifornia Retail Food Code standards · Oversight of local enforcement agencies · Food handler card framework2 permits
- California Board of Barbering and CosmetologyEstablishment licences for salons and barbershops · Mobile unit licences1 permit
- California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing DivisionChild care centre licensing · Family child care home licensing1 permit
- California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationSeller's permits · Sales and use tax registration1 permit
- California Franchise Tax BoardAnnual LLC tax · Minimum franchise tax · LLC gross receipts fee1 permit
- California Veterinary Medical BoardVeterinary premises registration · Veterinarian licensing1 permit
- Contractors State License BoardContractor licensing · Contractor bonds · Classification examinations1 permit
By industry
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.