How to start a business in San Bernardino.

The City of San Bernardino runs business registration through the Finance Department, and the county and state handle the pieces that sit alongside it. Here is the full order.

1. 1

   Choose 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 San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk within 40 days of starting business. It costs $90, plus $2 for each additional name or registrant, and online filings are processed within 10 business days. The county says publication must start within 45 days of filing, once a week for four consecutive weeks in an adjudicated newspaper, but its FAQ still says an unpublished statement expires after 30 days, so starting within 30 satisfies both.

   CA Secretary of State: bizfile OnlineSan Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: 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 a Zoning Verification Review first

   The city's Planning Division issues a Zoning Verification Review, and you submit the approved copy with your registration application. You need it even if you are buying an existing business or moving into a building the same kind of business used before, so check your type of business and location before you sign a lease. Planning Division: (909) 998-2300. A home business may also need a Home Occupation Permit from Community Development: (909) 998-2200.

   City of San Bernardino: Business Registration
4. 4

   Get your San Bernardino Business Registration Certificate

   Anyone doing business in the City of San Bernardino, directly or indirectly, must first get a Business Registration Certificate, with a separate certificate for each branch or location; only businesses exempted by state or federal statute are excepted. Apply online or in person at 201 North E Street, Space 201A. A business located in the city pays a fee based on gross receipts, and one based elsewhere that works in the city may pay a flat rate. The certificate is mailed in about two to three weeks. Many business types need a special permit, so call first if yours is on the city's list: (909) 998-2101.

   City of San Bernardino: Business Registration
5. 5

   Pull any industry permits

   If you sell or serve food: Every food facility needs a health permit from San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services, and plans for a new or remodeled facility, or a change in menu or type of operation, must be approved before construction begins. Plans are approved or rejected within 20 working days, and a final inspection comes before you open: (800) 442-2283. Catering trucks, ice cream trucks and carts show a copy of their county health permit to get the city certificate. For other permits, GO-Biz offers permitting and regulatory help for any size company.

   San Bernardino County Environmental Health: Plan CheckGO-Biz: Permit & Regulatory Assistance
6. 6

   Keep the certificate current

   Display the certificate where it can be seen, or carry it if you have no fixed business address; photocopies are not valid. It is not transferable and ends when the ownership changes. The city sends a courtesy renewal notice before it expires and gives you 30 days to renew, and not getting the notice does not excuse a late renewal. When you register, also arrange at least weekly trash service with Burrtec, the city's franchise hauler: (909) 804-4222.

   City of San Bernardino: Business Registration
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 Orange County Inland Empire SBDC offers no-cost help for entrepreneurs across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Use it before you pay a consultant.

   Orange County Inland Empire SBDC (free advising)

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 San Bernardino: Business Registration

  A Business Registration Certificate for anyone doing business in the city, with an approved Zoning Verification Review first. 201 North E Street, Space 201A, (909) 998-2101.

• San Bernardino Council of Governments: Member Jurisdictions

  Lists all 24 cities and towns in San Bernardino County. Each one licenses the businesses inside it.

• San Bernardino County Clerk of the Board: Business Licenses

  The county issues no business license for unincorporated areas and none that covers the whole county. A business in a city contacts that city.

• San Bernardino County Land Use Services: Planning

  Planning for the unincorporated areas, with a zoning lookup by parcel number. (909) 387-8311.

• San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: Fictitious Business Name

  $90 to file, plus $2 for each additional name or registrant. File online, by mail or in person. (855) 732-2575.

• San Bernardino County Environmental Health: Plan Check

  Food facility plans are approved before construction, inside city limits and out. Plans are approved or rejected within 20 working days. (800) 442-2283.

• San Bernardino County Environmental Health: Food Facilities

  Health permits for restaurants, markets, food trucks and carts. A permit includes two routine inspections a year.

• San Bernardino County Assessor: Business Property

  Form 571-L is due April 1 if your business property cost more than $100,000 or the Assessor asks. A 10% penalty applies after May 7. (909) 382-3220.

• Orange County Inland Empire SBDC (free advising)

  No-cost help for entrepreneurs across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. (800) 616-7232.

• 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.