Starting a Business in Irvine: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Irvine: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Irvine, CA
- City business tax certificate — Irvine, Orange County, California · City finance/business tax office: Irvine / Orange County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Irvine · Irvine (Orange County) building department (city)
- Renew Irvine business license · City of Irvine Business Licensing (city)
- File Orange County business personal property return · Orange County Assessor (county)
- Form the business: California Secretary of State
- Register for state taxes: California Franchise Tax Board
- Register as an employer: California Employment Development Department
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Irvine
Based on your selections, this plan has 13 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in California
- File formation documents with the California Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- 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 — Irvine, Orange County, California — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Irvine — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Renew Irvine business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $810.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
11 of 13 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 2 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Irvine
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 Irvine:
- 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
- City business tax certificate — Irvine, Orange County, California (City finance/business tax office: Irvine / Orange County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Irvine (Irvine (Orange County) building department, city)
- Renew Irvine business license (City of Irvine Business Licensing, city)
- File Orange County business personal property return (Orange County Assessor, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: City business tax certificate — Irvine, Orange County, California; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Irvine; Renew Irvine business license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in California
- File formation documents with the California Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $810.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov
In your plan for Irvine, requirements come from four levels. California sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (6): 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 (1): File Orange County business personal property return
- City (3): City business tax certificate — Irvine, Orange County, California; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Irvine; Renew Irvine business license
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.
Sources: edd.ca.gov, dir.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov