Starting a Business

OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE
Click here to download a license application form from the City of Brentwood Business License Department.

SELLER'S PERMIT
If you charge sales tax you will need to apply for a Sales Tax Number or Resale Number. Contact:
State Board of Equalization (510) 622-4100
1515 Clay Street, Suite 303
Oakland, CA 94612
Fax: (510) 622-4175

FILING FOR A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME
County Clerk Recorder (925) 335-7900
Fictitious Business Name
555 Escobar Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Click here for more information on filing a fictitious business name.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS
Apply for a Home Occupation Permit. Contact:
City of Brentwood (925) 516-5480
708 Third Street
Brentwood, CA 94513

EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS
If you have employees, you may need to apply for a Federal Identification Number. Contact the local IRS office or call (800) 829-1040

If you have employees, you need to apply for a State employer account number. Contact:
Employment Development Department (888) 745-3886
3478 Buskirk Avenue, Suite 215
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
www.edd.ca.gov

ADDITIONAL LICENSES
Restaurants, catering, or food-handling businesses may need to file with the County Public Health Licensing-Permits. Contact:

County Public Health Licensing-Permits�Į (925) 646-5225
2120 Diamond Boulevard, Suite 200�Į
Concord, CA 94520

If you are serving alcoholic beverages, you may need to apply with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Licensing. Contact:

Alcoholic Beverage Control Licesning (510) 622-4970
1515 Clay Street, Room 2280
Oakland, CA 94612

If you are selling or trading in firearms, new laws require you to register with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Department of Justice. Contact:
Department of Justice (916) 227-3703
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203-0200

If you need an Export License, contact:
U.S. Department of Commerce (408) 998-7402
Bureau of Export Administration
101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1001
San Jose, CA 95113

If you are selling or trading secondhand merchandise or pawn broking, new laws require you to register with the Police Department: Contact:
Brentwood Police Department (925) 634-6911
9100 Brentwood Blvd.
Brentwood, CA 94513

If you deal in check cashing, you must register with the Department of Justice. Contact:
Department of Justice (916) 227-3250
Attn: Check Cashing
P.O. Box 903387
Sacramento, CA 94203-3870

EMPLOYER REQUIRED NOTICES:
Better Business Bureau (510) 238-1000
Contractors State License Board (800) 321-2752
Business Resource Center (Private Industry Council of Contra Costa County) (925) 646-5377
Child Care Licensing (State Department of Social Services) (510) 622-2602

You must be licensed if you care for children from more than one family and who are not related to you.
You don't need a license if you care for your children (or those of a relative), and children from only one other family.

Business License for unincorporated areas, County offices (925) 646-4230
Import Businesses - U.S. Customs Import Specialist (415) 705-4440

BUSINESS START-UP CHECKLIST
For more information on starting a business, call the Chamber office at (925) 634-3344.