How difficult (or easy ) is it to obtain a business license in California?
816535
It's really not as difficult as it seems just some effort that will seem like nothing compared to actually running your own business.\n\n1. You will need to register your business "DBA" at the County Clerk\n2. The city your business will be located in will need you to register for tax purposes this is the BUSINESS LICENSE\n(many small businesses have the city taxes waived for the first 3 years to help with development)\n3. Get a business Bank account.\n4. get your resale license (http://www.boe.ca.gov/)\n\nThere are some serious things you need to consider and doing some research will help you organize your business and have less headache. Make sure once you've done some research on what type of business you'll be starting (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, corporation etc) you follow the correct order of steps to acquire your status as business. It will keep you from running around in circles and it will save you from potential penalties and or delays.\n\nWhen I started my first business I used went to Boarders and picked up a book by nolo press "how to open up a California business in 24 hrs" http://nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/9FA25870-14F1-4657-9778F19FB41FB93D/111/228/\nThere are many books that are specific to steps required to open it in CA just do some research it will make this seem less daunting.\nGood Luck
530234
Start with your state level office concerning business licenses.  Loan officers in most states are required to be licensed.
1155764
The requirements to become a notary in California can be found here:\nhttp://www.notaryofamerica.com/state.aspx?categoryID=433\n\nHope this helps!
641985
No paid search is required if you are incorporating in California directly since the incorporation process will take care of the search. \n\nIf you incorporate elsewhere and want to qualify in California, then California division of corporations (Secretary of State) already has the interface in internet by which you can search for a name. You can either opt to use the original name or use a name "doing business as" (which is the fictitious name). \n\nYes, it is always good to be prudent in business matters.\n\nsource: I own corporations.
969801
1) Yes, visit your local City and County office to get your business license. You might not be required to get both, but in my City a home business must have both.  Also talk to the zoning director of your city or county to make sure your home occupation will comply with the zoning regulations.\n\n2) After you have done all the necessary paperwork and know that you are ready for business.\n\n3) I wouldn't necessarily worry about this unless you had just an unique name ~ it costs too much to worry about for a one person company.\n\n4) You will still file your taxes the same. Business income and expense will be included in your 1040 form.  However, if you become a larger company, the forms necessary will change.  Visit www.irs.gov for more information on necessary forms and tax laws for businesses.\n\nGood Luck!
635341
Anyone can do business in US with no requirement to be physically present here. Of course, registration, license etc are required.\n\nGenerally you will need to register in every state where you intend to do "business" (e.g. recruit employees, open shop or other physical presence, not including internet or remote sales). Otherwise it is sufficient to register in a single state out of the 50 states.\n\n(1) Pick a state. Most foreign companies pick Delaware\n\n(2) Get incorporated (either as corporation or LLC etc). \n\nIf you do not want it as a corporation but only as a sole proprietorship, you don't have to incorporate. But you can rent an office in any city, go to that city office and get a business license with that address.\n\n(3) If it is a corporation you will need a separate tax id (Also known as entity identification number). You can telephone IRS and they will assign one. For sole prop you can file taxes with personal income tax. \n\n(4) If you incorporate in Delaware and also keep a physical presence in Delaware you won't need a separate certificate from the DE state. IF you incorporate in Delaware and rent an office space in California, you will need a separate "certificate of qualification" from CA state, as a "foreign corporation" (foreign in the sense of another state, not country). You will pay taxes to CA state and not DE State (Where you pay only franchise taxes for shares and no business income tax).\n\nGenerally companies located overseas incorporate in Delaware, and also open a virtual office in Delaware through "Registered Agent" who helps you incorporate. It costs about $500 for one time incorporation, and a recurring cost of $200 or so each year to maintain legal active status it in Delaware. (Figures are approximate).  OFfice space costs are extra.\n\nThe other alternate would be finding a "partner" company that imports your product and markets it in US.\n\nYou will need to decide if you want to go alone or find a partnering company. \n\nImporting gold may invoke custom duties.\n\nOften each segment of a business US is outsourced to expert companies. Importing company could be different from marketing and sales company.\n\nHope the writeup helps a bit. Good Luck on your plans.
1152399
Depending on your state.  Most require nothing.  I cant say for sure though that all are that way.  Check out your states Secretary of State website, and they can provide you with more information.  Example of a search would be California Secretary of State, which is in this case http://www.ss.ca.gov\n\nIt would still be a good idea to set up a small corp, such as an LLC to offer you financial protection.  Say for example your art work gives someone a paper cut and it gets infected and they die, your personal assets would be protected if you have set up a corp properly.  Its not expensive to do (maybe $100-200) if you get a good book and do all the filings with your state yourself.\n\nGood luck on your new company!!!\n\nEdit:  A business licence has nothing to do with filing or dealing with taxes... Unless of course you open a corp and have to pay corp taxes (LLC's taxes in California are $800 a year).  You would just claim the income on your personal taxes under the MISC INCOME portion.  If you have a Corp you will get a K-1 from that corp with your earnings.
1151748
yes it all depends on the state you want your real estate  license in ,or if you want you license at all ,if it is a money thing  you can try a local community collage, but the online school i used was \nLumbleau real estate school... anyway have fun\n\nFrank Camodeca\nColdwell Banker\nSunnyvale California
404553
This should get you started...\n\nhttp://www.cslb.ca.gov/applicants/default.asp\n\nEverything you need.\n\nFingerprint Questions and Answers \n\n \nHow to Order Forms & Applications \n\n \nHow to Study for License Exams \n\n \nBlueprint for Becoming a California Licensed Contractor \n     How to apply for a contractor's license  \n\n \nCheck the Status of your Application \n     Check by Application Fee Number \n\n \nCSLB Processing Times \n\n \nCSLB's Reciprocity Program \n     Help if you're already a licensed contractor in Arizona, Nevada or Utah \n\n \nCheck a Licensed Contractor \n     Check by License Number   \n     Check by Contractor Business Name   \n     Check by Personnel Name \n\n \nCheck a Home Improvement Salesperson Registration \n     Check by Registration Number   \n     Check by Salesperson Name \n\n \nGeneral Information \n     Building Official Information Guide    \n     Suspension of 7065.1(a) Waiver of Exam
1069192
For business license, contact City Hall.  For actual incorporation, the State Corporation Commission.  You could try the local Chamber of Commerce for assistance, or business department at schools or colleges.
148044
This basically depends upon the type of business.  Contractors (Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Concrete, etc.) are required in every state to pass a state qualification test and to be bonded.  Businesses that sell things have to register with the state to pay sales tax.  Corporations and Limited Partnerships need to pay a corporation tax to the state, in the state in which they are incorporated and the state in which they do business (called a "Foreign Corporation" here in California.\n\nLocal governments may regulate your business, like medical clinics or child care, for instance, and require a permit.\n\nA business that is run entirely out of the home, without visitors/customers coming to the home, mostly needs no license unless selling something that is taxed, and then must register and pay sales tax.\n\nI run a multilevel marketing company from my home.  All sales are through the internet and shipping is done by the supplier.  I have no regulations and no business license.  I am required to pay state income tax and federal income tax on my income from this business.  My little town doesn't need to give me a business permit unless I have customers into my place of business (my home.)  Most home-based businesses do not get a business license, unless they are required to do by the municipality.
496930
Go to your county courthouse and ask (a) if a license is required for your type of business as some occupations do not require a license; and (b) what do you need to get a license. You did not specify your business so we cannot really provide you with any other detail.\n\nOnline, you can go to your Secretary of State website (search for [name of your state] Secretary of State) and look for the link on how to do business in the state. Usually that page will contain info or link to instructions on how to get a business license.
1131857
contact the state licensing department-- they will give you a list of all the hoops you will need to jump through, as well as costs to get and keep the license
7763
You may need to contact your city or county government for their requirements for business licensing.\n\nYou may also need to register yourself as a business in your city, county or state.\n\nWhile "Mark Bertrand"s information was helpful to you, this answer is in violation of YA's Community Guidelines for solicitation.
279079
You need to obtain a state real estate license.
858080
The California Secretary of State website has a Business Search portal where you can search whether a business has registered in the state of California. \n\nThis is the site you need: \nhttp://kepler.ss.ca.gov/list.html
1048134
Go to your local government offices and ask how you would obtain a business license. There is probably a department of business licensing or a department of professional and trade services... in my area its handled by the office of permits. And if all else fails there is always an office, kiosk, or a phone number for general information. Also the directory from the local phone company will list various departments within the local govt. And sometimes they are listed by topic, (e.g. Business licensing).