How to start and grow a business in Kern County.

This is the order that works for most new businesses. Requirements vary by entity, location and industry, so use the city, county and state sources below to confirm what applies to yours.

1. 1

   Find out who licenses your address

   Each of Kern County's 11 cities (Arvin, Bakersfield, California City, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco) sets its own business license rules. In unincorporated areas, the county requires a license only for listed trades, such as street vendors, itinerant peddlers, swap meets, locksmiths, taxicabs, weapons dealers, massage establishments and temporary businesses. The Sheriff's Licensing Unit issues those by appointment, cash or money order only: (661) 391-7690.

   Kern Council of Governments: Member citiesKern County: Starting a BusinessKern County Sheriff's Office: Licensing Unit
2. 2

   Pick a structure and register the business

   Form an LLC or corporation with the California Secretary of State through bizfile Online, or stay a sole proprietor. If you use a name that is not your legal name, file a fictitious business name (DBA) statement with the Kern County Clerk within 40 days of starting business: $43, plus $6 for each additional name or owner, with a government photo ID and an Affidavit of Identity (notarized if you file by mail). Publish it in an adjudicated Kern County newspaper once a week for four weeks, starting within 30 days of filing: the Clerk's instructions say 30 days, and state law allows 45. The newspaper sends the proof of publication to the Clerk.

   CA Secretary of State: bizfile OnlineKern County Clerk: Fictitious Business Names
3. 3

   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
4. 4

   Get your city business license

   This is the step that changes most by city. Bakersfield's Business Tax Certificate expires every June 30 and is renewed by July 31; Delano's license runs on the calendar year, with a $100 background check for some businesses; Wasco wants Planning sign-off and utility service set up before it issues one; and Taft has separate licenses for businesses located in town, run from home, based elsewhere and selling at festivals. The free checklist lists all 11 city offices, and the city guides below walk through two of them.

   Kern Council of Governments: Member cities
5. 5

   Confirm zoning and pull any industry permits

   Before you sign a lease, confirm the use is allowed at the address with your city's planning office. In unincorporated areas, ask Kern County Planning and Natural Resources with your parcel number or site address ready: (661) 862-5263. Some uses need a conditional use permit. If you sell or serve food: Talk to Kern County Public Health's Environmental Health Division first: plans and specifications must be approved before you build or remodel, and the health permit is issued after an inspection once the fee is paid. It does not transfer to a new owner: (661) 862-8700. For other permits, GO-Biz offers permitting and regulatory help for any size company.

   Kern County Planning and Natural Resources: Zoning questionsKern County Public Health: How do I Start a Food Facility?GO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance
6. 6

   Report business equipment to the Assessor

   If your business personal property cost $100,000 or more in total, or the Assessor asks, file a business property statement by April 1; a statement received after May 7 gets a 10% penalty. Business inventory is exempt. Questions: (661) 868-3310.

   Kern County Assessor-Recorder: Business Personal Property
7. 7

   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
8. 8

   Use the free help that already exists

   The CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center offers one-on-one business advising at no cost to clients, plus webinars, trainings and help with funding, for Kern, Inyo and Mono counties: (661) 654-2856. Use it before you pay a consultant.

   CSU Bakersfield SBDC (free advising)

• Bakersfield

  Business license steps and the county seat's energy, ag, healthcare, and logistics economy.

• Delano

  Business license steps and the agricultural, food-processing, and small-business market.

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.

• Kern Council of Governments: Member cities

  The county's 11 cities, from Arvin to Wasco. Each sets its own business license rules.

• Kern County: Starting a Business

  Which businesses in unincorporated areas need a county license, plus business names and zoning.

• Kern County Sheriff's Office: Licensing Unit

  County business licenses for listed trades in unincorporated areas, by appointment. (661) 391-7690.

• Kern County Clerk: Fictitious Business Names

  $43, plus $6 for each extra name or owner, with photo ID and an Affidavit of Identity. 1115 Truxtun Avenue. (661) 868-3588.

• Kern County Public Health: How do I Start a Food Facility?

  Plans approved before you build, then an inspection and a health permit that does not transfer. (661) 862-8700.

• Kern County Public Health: Restaurants, Markets & Kitchens

  The food permit and plan review applications, plan uploads, change of ownership and the food grading policy.

• Kern County Assessor-Recorder: Business Personal Property

  File if your business property cost $100,000 or more or the Assessor asks: due April 1, 10% penalty after May 7. (661) 868-3310.

• CSU Bakersfield SBDC (free advising)

  One-on-one business advising at no cost to clients, plus webinars and funding help, for Kern, Inyo and Mono counties. (661) 654-2856.

• 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.