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Starting a Business in San Francisco
Starting a business can be a very exciting and challenging undertaking. There are certain local requirements that you must address and cannot be ignored before you begin. To help guide you through the maze of government rules and regulations, we have provided below information on local business registration, licenses, permits and other requirements to help you start your business in San Francisco. For more detailed information on how to start a business in San Francisco please visit the website: http://www.sfgov.org/site/business_index.asp
Business Tax Registration
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Within 15 days of starting your business, file with the Treasurer and Tax Collector for a Business Tax Registration Certificate. Every business, sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation operating in the City and County of San Francisco must register. Place to Register
Treasurer & Tax Collector
Taxpayer Assistance
City Payment Center
City Hall, Room 140
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place,
San Francisco, CA 94102
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tel: (415) 554-4400
Fax: (415) 554-6207
Internet: http://www.sfgov.org/tax/
As required by the Business and Professions Code Section 17910, every person who regularly transacts business in the State of California for profit under the fictitious name, shall file a Fictitious Business Name Statement no later than 40 days from the time he or she commences to transact such business. You must file a fictitious business name, unless you use your own personal name for the business. A Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed in the county where the principal place of business is located.
Place to File and Register
County Clerk
City Hall, Room 168
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102-4678
Hours: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Tel: (415) 554-4950
Fax: (415) 554-4951
E-mail San Francisco’s County Clerk
Url: http://www.sfgov.org/site/countyclerk_index.asp
Before registering your business, be sure to check with the Zoning Center to determine if you're allowed to conduct business in the location or area you have selected. This applies even if you plan to do business out of your home.
Place to Inquire
City Planning Information Center
1660 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tel: (415) 558-6377
Fax: (415) 55-6409
Url: http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp
In addition to the Business Registration Certificate, certain types of businesses are required to obtain additional permits and licenses to operate in San Francisco. Contact each of the following departments to determine if you need a city business license. No license will be issued until a permit is granted by the appropriate regulatory agency listed under "Permits" below. After the business permit is approved by the assigned regulatory agency, the business owner pays a license fee to the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector and the permit is issued.
Food establishments, laundries, pet shops (containing live animals), hazardous material storage, operation of underground storage tank, swimming pools, spas and wells:
Department of Public Health
1390 Market St. Rm. 210, SF, CA 94102
(415) 252-3800 | 8am - 5pm
Street vendors/peddlers, massage parlors, dance halls and places of entertainment, taxis:
Police Department
850 Bryant St. Rm. 458, SF, CA 94103
(415) 553-1115 | 8am - 5pm
Gas stations, parking lots, public assemblies, theaters, hazardous materials/gases, and repair garages:
Fire Department
698 Second St. Rm. 109, SF, CA 94107
(415) 558-3303 | 7am - 5pm
Building permit application for construction, alterations, repairs and remodeling:
San Francisco Permit Center
Department of Building Inspection
Public Service Division
1660 Mission Street, First Floor Lobby, SF, CA 94103
(415) 558-6088 | 8am - 5pm Hours
Street artist permits for artists that sell their own handcrafted items on the city streets:
Arts Commission
25 Van Ness Ave., Room 60, SF, CA 94102
(415) 252-2583
Businesses that use commercial weighing/measuring equipment such as taximeter, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops, delicatessen and more:
Dept. of Consumer Assurance, Div. of Weights/Measures
501 Cesar Chavez, Suite 109A, SF, CA 94124
(415) 285-5010
Alcohol and Beverage Control
Generally there are two broad categories of alcohol licenses. On-sale licenses are for businesses such as bars and restaurants that sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. Off-sale licenses are businesses such as grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores and corner markets that sell alcohol for consumption off site. One-day licenses are for the sale of alcohol at special events. To enquire about the difference licenses you can contact the Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC) for San Francisco and San Mateo County.
Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC)
185 Berry St., Suite 5600
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 557-3660
Email Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC)
Entertainment Commission
The Entertainment Commission has the powers and duties to accept, review, gather information regarding and conduct hearings for entertainment-related permit applications. Additionally, the Entertainment Commission plans and coordinates the provision of City services for major events for which there is no recognized organizer, promoter, or sponsor.
For information and permit application:
Entertainment Commission
City Hall, Room 453,
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place SF, CA 94102
(415) 554-7793
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