How do you apply for a business license in California?

To get a business license in California, you must pay the license fee and submit an application to the city hall or governing offices of the city in which your business is located. Your license is typically mailed out within two weeks of application.

Fees and application processes vary because each city is responsible for its own licensing, but applications generally require information including the business name and the owner's contact information, federal tax ID number, seller's permit number, expected sales and number of employees. If you have several locations in different California cities, you are required to obtain a separate business license to operate in each city.