• Starting a Business in Brentwood

  • OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE

    Click here for license application information 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
    (925) 646-5225 
    2120 Diamond Boulevard, Suite 200
    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

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

  • Building Business. Building Community.