//Folsom, California

How to start a business in Folsom.

Folsom pairs a serious tech economy, anchored for decades by Intel's campus, with an affluent, growing community that keeps everyday businesses busy. Here is the practical sequence to register, license, and open, with the official links and where to get free help.

Starting a business in Folsom? The official steps and source links are below.

Already operating or launching with budget in place? You can also

Folsom is a rarity in the Sacramento region: a technology hub and a historic town at the same time. Intel's campus on Prairie City Road has anchored the local economy for decades, and healthcare systems like UC Davis, Kaiser, Sutter, and Dignity are steadily adding to it. Just up the road, Historic Sutter Street and Old Folsom keep a walkable, distinctly local retail and dining scene alive, while the Palladio at Broadstone draws shoppers from across the area and Folsom Lake pulls in weekend crowds. It is an affluent, well-schooled community, and that shapes who your customers are.

That means your customer might be a tech professional near the Intel campus, a Sutter Street regular, or a family settling into one of the newer neighborhoods, and each one finds you differently. Getting open cleanly, with the right business license certificate, permits, and zoning sign-off, is the first step. Getting found afterward is the second. This guide covers the first in detail, then points you to the second at the end.

//The sequence

How to start a business in Folsom, step by step.

Folsom runs business licensing through its Finance Department, with the county and state handling the pieces that sit alongside the city's own steps. Here is the full order.

1
Register the business and the name
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 Sacramento County Department of Finance, Business License Unit, within 40 days of starting business, in person or by mail. The county says to start publishing within 30 days of filing, once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation; state law allows 45, so starting within 30 satisfies both.
CA Secretary of State: bizfile Online Sacramento County Department of Finance: Fictitious Business Names
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 EIN CDTFA: Seller's permit
3
Get your Folsom business license certificate
A Folsom business license certificate is an annual tax for doing business within city limits, and the Municipal Code requires one for any business activity in the city, including businesses located outside city limits. The city works with HdL on applications, payments, certificates and support: apply, renew, pay, close or update online, or mail the application to City of Folsom, c/o HdL Support Center, 8839 N Cedar Ave #212, Fresno, CA 93720, with checks payable to the City of Folsom. Support: (916) 458-4753, folsom@HdLgov.com.
City of Folsom: Business License Certificates
4
Confirm zoning and pull any industry permits
The city says a certificate is not permission to operate: you still have to meet zoning, health, building and fire rules, so confirm the use is allowed at the address before you sign a lease. If you sell or serve food: Sacramento County Environmental Management permits and inspects every retail food facility in the county, cities included, and plans for a new facility, a remodel or a change in the type of operation must be submitted before construction begins: Plan Review, (916) 874-6010. The first year's permit fee is billed after you are permitted. For other permits, GO-Biz offers permitting and regulatory help for any size company.
Sacramento County EMD: Retail Food Protection Program Sacramento County EMD: Plan Review FAQs GO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance
5
Renew by July 31 and keep it current
Certificates expire June 30 every year. Renewal notices are emailed and mailed, payment is due by July 31, and late renewals are charged penalty fees. Certificates do not transfer: a new owner applies again, each business name or DBA needs its own application, and a home occupation's change of address is reviewed by the Planning Division.
City of Folsom: Business License Certificates
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 tax Franchise Tax Board: Corporation minimum tax
7
Use the free help that already exists
The Norcal SBDC network offers expert, no-fee advising for new startups and established businesses; its Sacramento Valley SBDC is at 1792 Tribute Rd #270, Sacramento, (916) 655-2100. Use it before you pay a consultant.
Norcal SBDC: Sacramento Valley SBDC (free advising)

//Free Folsom checklist

Take the steps with you.

Get the Folsom business checklist with the city, county, state and federal source links in one place, plus the licensing offices of five Sacramento County cities. We keep the source page dated so you can see when it was last checked.

//Common questions

Things we get asked first.

Do I need a business license in Folsom?

Yes. The Folsom Municipal Code requires a business license certificate for any business activity within the city, including businesses located outside city limits. You still need any county and state licensing that applies.

Source: City of Folsom, Business License Certificates

When does a Folsom business license expire?

Every year on June 30. Renewal notices are emailed and mailed, payment is due by July 31, and a business that misses the due date is charged penalty fees. Renewing is the owner's responsibility.

Source: City of Folsom, Business License Certificates

Who handles Folsom business licenses?

The city has partnered with HdL for applications, payments, certificates and support. Apply or renew online, by mail, by email or by phone: (916) 458-4753, folsom@HdLgov.com.

Source: City of Folsom, Business License Certificates

What if I sell the business or change its name?

Certificates do not transfer, so a new owner closes the old certificate and applies again. Each business name or DBA needs its own application, and a home occupation's change of address goes to the Planning Division for review. Most other updates are free by phone or email.

Source: City of Folsom, Business License Certificates

How do I open a restaurant in Folsom?

Beyond the Folsom business license certificate, every retail food facility needs a health permit from Sacramento County Environmental Management, which covers all the cities. Submit plans before any construction, remodel or change in the type of operation (Plan Review: (916) 874-6010), and schedule the final inspection at least two days ahead once all equipment works: (916) 875-8440. After opening you post the green, yellow or red placard from your latest inspection.

Sources: Sacramento County EMD, Plan Review FAQs and Retail Food Protection Program

How do I register a business name in Sacramento County?

If you use a name that is not your legal name, file a fictitious business name (DBA) statement with the Sacramento County Department of Finance, Business License Unit, within 40 days of starting business, in person or by mail. The county says to start publishing within 30 days of filing, once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation; state law allows 45, so starting within 30 satisfies both.

Source: Sacramento County Department of Finance, Fictitious Business Name FAQs

//Already operating?

The marketing question starts after the filing question.

If the business is already open, or the launch is funded, tell our founders what you want to change. We will look at the business before recommending SEO, paid media, the website or anything else.

For operating businesses and funded launches with budget available to act on the plan.

//Bookmark these

Official Folsom, Sacramento County, and California resources.

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.

City of Folsom: Business License Certificates
An annual tax for any business activity in the city, including businesses based outside it. Apply and renew through HdL: (916) 458-4753.
Sacramento County: Business Licensing
The county licenses businesses in the unincorporated area, outside Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Galt and Isleton. (916) 874-6644.
Sacramento County: Business Licensing FAQs
County license fees ($262.60 for three years), special licenses, zoning checks and home occupation standards.
Sacramento County Department of Finance: Fictitious Business Names
Filed with the Business License Unit, in person or by mail. The county says to start publishing within 30 days. (916) 874-6644.
Sacramento County EMD: Retail Food Protection Program
Permits and inspects every retail food facility in the county, cities included, and posts green, yellow or red placards.
Sacramento County EMD: Plan Review FAQs
Plans before any new construction, remodel or change in the type of operation. Plan Review: (916) 874-6010.
Sacramento County Assessor: Business Personal Property
File if your business property cost $100,000 or more, or the Assessor asks. (916) 875-0730.
Norcal SBDC: Sacramento Valley SBDC (free advising)
No-fee advising for startups and established businesses. 1792 Tribute Rd #270, Sacramento, (916) 655-2100.
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.