RESOURCES

Our list of the legal resources for business and startups in California.

Planning Your Business

• U.S. Small Business Administration’s Guide to Starting and Managing Your Business. A helpful guide for starting, managing, and growing your business.

• U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Patterns. A great resource to determine how many businesses of a certain type are in a particular city, state, county, or zip code.

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). Provide many free educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

California Requirements For Forming Your Business

• California Secretary of State’s Guide to Starting a Business in California. A step-by-step guide to starting a new business in California.

• California Secretary of State’s Processing Times. You can view the California Secretary of State’s processing times for filings here.

• California Employer’s Guide. A detailed guide on employer reporting requirements that is published by the California Employment Development Department.

California Permits for Your Business

• CalGOLD. Helps you determine what business permits, licenses and registration requirements are required for your business.

• California Seller’s Permit. You can read more about when need a California seller’s permit here, but essentially you need one if you “[i]ntend to sell or lease tangible personal property that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax if sold at retail.” If you do need a California seller’s permit, you can obtain a permit here.

• California Resale Certificate. Information on why a business might need a California resale certificate can be found here. A form resale certificate can be found here.

California Tax Obligations For Your Business.

• California Secretary of State’s Tax Guide. A list of state agencies to determine your business’s tax liability.

Federal Tax Obligations For Your Business

• EIN. The online application to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) can be accessed here.

• IRS Virtual Tax Workshop for Small Businesses and The Self-Employed. Lessons for small businesses and the self-employed to help them meet their federal tax obligations.

Financing Resources

• Angel Investors. Inc. Magazine’s directory of angel investor networks.

Converting Your California Company

• The California Secretary of State Office’s guide to convert from one type of entity to a different type of entity.

Obligations for Dissolving Your California Businesses

• Guide to Dissolve, Surrender, or Cancel a California Business Entity. The California Franchise Tax Board provides a useful guide for dissolving a California business.

• Statement Of Abandonment Of Use Of Fictitious Business Name Statement. The form to discontinue use of your company’s fictitious business name statement can be found here.

Once your California entity has been dissolved, you will also need to file IRS Form 966 and a final state and federal tax return.