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Example plan · Berkeley, CA

Starting a Business in Berkeley: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist

A step-by-step plan to open a business in Berkeley: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.

Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.

Permits and registrations specific to Berkeley, CA

Sales tax permitSeller's permit
City of BerkeleyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Alameda CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
  • Renew Berkeley business license tax · City of Berkeley Finance Department (city)
  • File Alameda County business personal property return · Alameda County Assessor (county)
  • File the Alameda County transient occupancy tax return · Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector (county)
Register with these California agencies

Startup sequence and prerequisites in Berkeley

This example plan has 32 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.

Do these first

  1. Maintain a registered agent in California
  2. File formation documents with the California Secretary of State
  3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Then, once those are done

  • Register for unemployment insurance (California) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Register for state income tax withholding (California) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Seller's permit (California) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Register for and file California entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 30 days (California) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • City business tax certificate — Berkeley, Alameda County, California — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain food service establishment / health permit — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Ensure certified food protection manager on staff — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Berkeley — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Renew Berkeley business license tax — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Report new hires to the California new hire directory — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Carry workers' compensation insurance (California) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required federal labor law posters — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Complete Form I-9 for each new hire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required California workplace notices — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Provide paid sick leave (California) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Start planObligations (31)
Government fees

Known charges: $810.00 per year.

Total incomplete: some fees unknown

29 of 32 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 3 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule. Fees that depend on your situation: File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (California).

File formationOct 24, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateDec 31, 2026in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 32Saved in this browser

Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.

Suggested planning date: Oct 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked

File the formation documents with the state.

Suggested planning date: Nov 7, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Maintain a registered agent in California

Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.

Suggested planning date: Nov 10, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: File formation documents with the California Secretary of State

State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.

Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Per event
checked Oct 16, 2026
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.

Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Statutory deadline: Dec 24, 2026 · in 68 days
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Applies because: Business is located in Berkeley, CA. Schedule: Before March 1.After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Insurance, employment paperwork, new-hire reporting and workplace notices.

Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
checked Oct 13, 2026
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.

Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 14 days
Quarterly
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31.
Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 14 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business operates in CA. Schedule: October 31.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Apr 1, 2027 · in 166 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business is located in Alameda County, CA. Schedule: April 1 (penalty after May 7).
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 180 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Federal tax treatment is sole_prop. Schedule: April 15.
Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2028 · in 745 days
fee $20.00
Every 2 years
checked Oct 13, 2026
Applies because: llc formed in CA. Schedule: Within the anniversary month and the 5 months before it, every 2 years.
Monthly
not individually checked
fee $800.00
Annual
not individually checked
Ongoing
checked Oct 16, 2026
Quarterly
checked Oct 13, 2026
Quarterly
not individually checked
Monthly
not individually checked
Suggested planning dates are allowances, not agency processing times. Statutory deadlines come from the rules and are labeled as such.

Common questions about Berkeley

The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Berkeley:

  • Contractor licensing: California Contractors State License Board
  • Real estate licensing: California Department of Real Estate
  • Alcohol licensing: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
  • Child care licensing: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing
  • Health facility licensing: California Department of Public Health
  • Renew Berkeley business license tax (City of Berkeley Finance Department, city)
  • File Alameda County business personal property return (Alameda County Assessor, county)
  • File the Alameda County transient occupancy tax return (Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector, county)

In the example restaurant plan above, the licenses and permits are: Seller's permit (California); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City business tax certificate — Berkeley, Alameda County, California; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Berkeley; Renew Berkeley business license tax. Change the industry in the form to see yours.

Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov

In the example plan for Berkeley, requirements come from four levels. California sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.

  • Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
  • State (18): Maintain a registered agent in California; File Statement of Information (California); Register for and file California entity-level taxes; Pay California minimum franchise tax ($800)…
  • County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Alameda County business personal property return
  • City (3): City business tax certificate — Berkeley, Alameda County, California; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Berkeley; Renew Berkeley business license tax

Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov

  • Register for unemployment insurance with California Employment Development Department.
  • Workers' compensation: California Division of Workers' Compensation. Required when: 1 employee
  • State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave (employee-funded): applies from 1 employee.
  • Register to withhold California income tax from wages.
  • The example plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the California new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (California); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required California workplace notices.

Sources: edd.ca.gov, dir.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov

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