How to start and grow a business in the Bay Area.

This is the order that works for most new businesses. Because the region spans counties, a few steps depend on where you are, so use the city, county and state sources below to confirm what applies to yours.

1. 1

   Pick a structure and register the business

   Decide between sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation. LLCs and corporations register with the California Secretary of State through bizfile Online. If you operate under a name that is not your own legal name, file a fictitious business name (DBA) statement with the clerk of the county where the business is based, within 40 days of starting business: $69 in San Francisco, $40 in Santa Clara County (one name, one or two owners) and $40 in Alameda County (one name, one owner). Then publish it, starting within 45 days of filing, once a week for four weeks.

   CA Secretary of State: bizfile OnlineSan Francisco County Clerk: Fictitious Business NameSanta Clara County Clerk-Recorder: Fictitious Business NameAlameda County Clerk-Recorder: Fictitious Business Name
2. 2

   Get your free EIN and any seller's permit

   The IRS says you generally need an EIN to hire employees or to operate a partnership or corporation. It issues the number online, immediately if approved, and never charges for it. If you sell or lease goods that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax, you also need a seller's permit from the CDTFA, which does not charge for it but may ask for a security deposit.

   IRS: Get an EINCDTFA: Seller's permit
3. 3

   Get your city business tax or license

   This changes by city, and the Bay Area uses different names for it. San Francisco requires Business Registration with the Treasurer & Tax Collector within 30 days of starting. San José and Oakland issue a Business Tax Certificate: San José's tax is due within 90 days of starting, and Oakland's registration fee within 30 days, with a Zoning Clearance first for an Oakland location. Palo Alto requires a Business Registry Certificate within 30 days of opening, and Berkeley licenses every business located or working in the city. In unincorporated Alameda County, the county's business license tax applies instead: $20 plus the $4 state fee, renewed every January 1. Find your city in the guides below for the exact steps.

   San Francisco Treasurer & Tax Collector: Register a BusinessAlameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Business License Tax
4. 4

   Confirm zoning and pull any industry permits

   Confirm your location is zoned for your use with the city's planning or zoning office before you sign a lease. Any food business needs a health permit before it opens, and state law requires plans approved before you build or remodel. The agency depends on your city: the San Francisco Department of Public Health (apply at least 1 month before opening), the County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health (plans by email only since April 1, 2026) or Alameda County Environmental Health, except in Berkeley, which runs its own program. For other permits, GO-Biz offers permitting and regulatory help for any size company.

   San Francisco Department of Public Health: Food Health PermitCounty of Santa Clara Environmental Health: Plan ReviewAlameda County Environmental Health: Food SafetyCity of Berkeley: Food Safety and Inspection ProgramGO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance
5. 5

   Report business equipment to the Assessor

   If your business personal property cost $100,000 or more in total on January 1, or the Assessor asks, file a business property statement with your county Assessor by April 1. Not filed by May 7, a 10% penalty applies. San Francisco also expects a statement from every new business.

   San Francisco Assessor-Recorder: Business Property StatementAlameda County Assessor: Business Personal PropertyRevenue and Taxation Code 441
6. 6

   Check the $800 California tax rules for your entity

   Every California LLC owes the $800 annual tax, even in a year it does no business, until it is cancelled. Corporations owe an $800 minimum franchise tax, but newly incorporated or qualified corporations do not pay it in their first taxable year.

   Franchise Tax Board: LLC $800 annual taxFranchise Tax Board: Corporation minimum tax
7. 7

   Use the free help that already exists

   The Norcal SBDC network offers no-fee business advising through its San Francisco, Silicon Valley and East Bay centers. Use it before you pay a consultant.

   Norcal SBDC: Find Your SBDC (free advising)

• San Francisco

  Business Registration steps and the city's tech, finance, and tourism economy.

• San Jose

  Business Tax Certificate steps and the heart of Silicon Valley.

• Oakland

  Business Tax Certificate steps and the diverse East Bay market.

• Palo Alto

  Business Registry Certificate steps and the venture and university economy.

• Berkeley

  Business license steps and the university town with its own food program.

Every link here goes straight to a government or nonprofit source. These are the agencies that actually issue your registrations and permits, so go to them directly rather than a paid middleman.

• San Francisco Treasurer & Tax Collector: Register a Business

  Every business engaging in business in San Francisco registers within 30 days of starting and renews by the last day of February.

• San Francisco County Clerk: Fictitious Business Name

  $69 to file, in person or by mail, with your Business Registration Certificate. City Hall, Room 160, (415) 554-4950.

• San Francisco Department of Public Health: Food Health Permit

  Apply at least 1 month before you open a restaurant, bar, market or other food business. (415) 252-3800.

• Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder: Fictitious Business Name

  $40 for one name with one or two owners, plus $7 each extra. Online, in person, by mail or by email; up to 5 workdays.

• County of Santa Clara Environmental Health: Plan Review

  Food facility plans by email only since April 1, 2026, reviewed in up to 20 business days. (408) 918-3400.

• Alameda County Clerk-Recorder: Fictitious Business Name

  $40 for one name and one owner, plus $7 each extra. In person with ID or by mail, 1106 Madison Street, Oakland.

• Alameda County Environmental Health: Food Safety

  Permits, plan review and inspections for every retail food facility in the county except in Berkeley.

• City of Berkeley: Food Safety and Inspection Program

  Berkeley permits and inspects its own food facilities, separate from Alameda County. (510) 981-5310.

• Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Business License Tax

  For business in unincorporated Alameda County: $20 plus the $4 state fee, renewed every January 1. (510) 670-6400.

• Norcal SBDC: Find Your SBDC (free advising)

  No-fee advising through the San Francisco, Silicon Valley and East Bay centers, with each center's address and phone.

• CA Secretary of State: bizfile Online

  Where LLCs and corporations file with the California Secretary of State.

• IRS: Get an EIN

  Your federal tax ID. Apply online and, if approved, the number is issued immediately. The IRS never charges a fee for an EIN.

• CDTFA: Seller's permit

  Required if you sell or lease goods that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax. The CDTFA does not charge for it, though it may ask for a security deposit.

• Franchise Tax Board: LLC $800 annual tax

  Every LLC doing business or organized in California owes the $800 annual tax, even in a year it does no business, until the LLC is cancelled.

• Franchise Tax Board: Corporation minimum tax

  Corporations owe an $800 minimum franchise tax, but newly incorporated or qualified corporations do not pay it in their first taxable year.

• GO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance

  The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development says it will assist any size company with permitting and regulatory questions.