Apply for licenses and permits
Requirements vary by activity, location and issuing agency; federal, state, county and city layers may all matter.
U.S. Small Business Administration ↗Activity + address + agency
Find the licenses your business may need
Choose the activity and location. We will organize the registrations, tax accounts, property checks and specialist permits to confirm with the responsible agencies.
Current coverage: a general retail storefront in the City of Los Angeles, California. If you choose another location or regulated goods, we will tell you that a checklist is not available yet.
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Your checklist
What to verify with each agency
Start with the Los Angeles retail example below. Change the supported answers above to see which agencies apply and which questions still need verification.
Example checklist
General retail storefront · Los Angeles, California
Example: tangible goods, sole proprietor, no employees, no regulated products. Sources checked 2026-08-17.
- 1City
Apply for the Los Angeles Business Tax Registration Certificate
The City registration rule applies to business activity in Los Angeles.
- 2State tax
Register for a California seller's permit
The example sells tangible personal property and must confirm whether an exclusion applies.
- 3Property
Check zoning and property history for the exact address
ZIMAS is property specific; the address cannot be replaced by a statewide article.
- 4Cross-agency
Run the official California permit-assistance path
CalGOLD routes to agencies but does not issue or guarantee a complete permit list.
- 5Entity
Keep entity formation separate from operating permission
An entity filing is not proof that a storefront can legally operate.
Still unresolved: property-specific use and occupancy, business-specific exemptions, current forms and fees, and any unreported regulated activity.
Why one filing is not enough
Formation is not permission
An LLC filing, EIN, seller's permit, city tax registration and property approval answer different questions. None substitutes for the others.
1. ActivityWhat is sold or performed?
2. LocationWhere is the premises and customer activity?
3. Agency layersWhich authority owns each decision?
4. Open questionsWhat must still be verified?
5. RecordWhich source, date and answer support the next move?
Official sources
Confirm each step with the issuing agency
The agency decides whether a requirement applies, whether an application is approved, what it costs and how long it takes.
The Business Registration Process
People or entities conducting business activities in the City of Los Angeles apply for a Business Tax Registration Certificate and may need other agency registrations.
City of Los Angeles Office of Finance ↗Do You Need a California Seller's Permit?
A business selling or leasing tangible personal property in California generally must register for a seller's permit unless an exclusion applies.
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration ↗Zoning Search
ZIMAS provides property-specific zoning, land-use, planning-case and building-permit information by address or parcel.
Los Angeles City Planning ↗Business permits and licensing help
CalGOLD directs businesses to federal, state, regional and local permitting authorities but does not issue permits or determine every requirement.
State of California ↗Starting a Business — Entity Types
Corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships have entity filings with the Secretary of State; entity choice is not itself a business-license answer.
California Secretary of State ↗Employers: Payroll Tax Account Registration
A business with employees generally registers within 15 days after paying more than $100 in wages in a calendar quarter.
California Employment Development Department ↗Employer identification numbers
The IRS issues EINs for federal tax administration; an EIN is not a local operating license.
Internal Revenue Service ↗Common questions
Quick answers
What to verify with each agency?
Start with the Los Angeles retail example below. Change the supported answers above to see which agencies apply and which questions still need verification.
Why does general retail storefront · Los Angeles, California?
Example: tangible goods, sole proprietor, no employees, no regulated products. Sources checked 2026-08-17.
Why does formation is not permission?
An LLC filing, EIN, seller's permit, city tax registration and property approval answer different questions. None substitutes for the others.