//Rancho Cordova, California

How to start a business in Rancho Cordova.

Rancho Cordova is a major employment center east of Sacramento, home to the California Franchise Tax Board, an aerospace and defense heritage, and business parks full of tech, healthcare, and financial-services firms. Here is the practical sequence to register, license, and open, with the official links and where to get free help.

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

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

Rancho Cordova punches well above its size. The California Franchise Tax Board runs its headquarters here, VSP Vision and Delta Dental anchor a deep bench of healthcare and financial-services employers, and the old Mather Field and Aerojet Rocketdyne story gave the city an aerospace and defense backbone that still shapes its business parks. Add the Highway 50 corridor, sizable light-industrial and logistics space, and a large daytime workforce, and you get a city where a lot of business gets done before lunch.

That means your customer might be a firm inside a Prospect Park office building, a warehouse crew off White Rock Road, or a family in one of the neighborhoods that fill in around the job centers, and each one finds you differently. Getting open cleanly, with the right city Business License, 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 Rancho Cordova, step by step.

Rancho Cordova runs business licensing through its Department of Finance. Here is the full order, including the county and state pieces that sit alongside the city's own steps.

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 Rancho Cordova Business License
All businesses operating from a fixed location in Rancho Cordova must have a Business License, and home-based businesses need one too. Financial institutions (but not check cashing businesses), churches, libraries and agriculture are generally exempt; call to confirm. Apply for, renew and pay online through Rancho Cordova Online, or in person with the city's forms. Questions: (916) 851-8737, BusinessLicense@cityofranchocordova.org.
City of Rancho Cordova: Business License
4
Know the fee for your license type
New and renewal fees are the same for most licenses: $103 for a General, home-based or out-of-area contractor license, and $321 for a General license with tobacco sales. A Special Business License is $318 the first year, including a $32 background check, and $286 to renew; an Employee Permit is $213, then $181. Rental housing registers separately: $50 plus the $4 state fee plus $16 per unit.
City of Rancho Cordova: Business License
5
Clear zoning and pull any industry permits
Confirm your use is allowed at the address before you sign a lease, especially for a warehouse, storefront, or any use in the Highway 50 business parks. The city notes home businesses face some restrictions related to traffic and other neighborhood concerns. 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
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 Rancho Cordova checklist

Take the steps with you.

Get the Rancho Cordova 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 Rancho Cordova?

Yes, if your business operates from a fixed location in the city, including a home. Financial institutions (but not check cashing businesses), churches, libraries and agriculture are generally exempt. Confirm at (916) 851-8737.

Source: City of Rancho Cordova, Business License

How much does a Rancho Cordova Business License cost?

$103 a year for a General, home-based or out-of-area contractor license, new or renewal, and $321 with tobacco sales. A Special Business License is $318 the first year, including a $32 background check, then $286.

Source: City of Rancho Cordova, Business License

How often do I renew?

Every year. Late fees are charged on overdue payments. You can renew and pay online through Rancho Cordova Online.

Source: City of Rancho Cordova, Business License

Can I run a business from my home in Rancho Cordova?

Yes, with a Business License: home-based businesses require one. The city says some restrictions apply to businesses in residential areas because of traffic and other concerns.

Source: City of Rancho Cordova, Business License

How do I open a restaurant in Rancho Cordova?

Beyond the Rancho Cordova Business License, 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 Rancho Cordova, 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 Rancho Cordova: Business License
Every business operating from a fixed location, home-based included: $103 a year. (916) 851-8737, BusinessLicense@cityofranchocordova.org.
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.