12 Legal Requirements to Start a Business in California | How to Legally Start a Small Business

Thinking of starting a new small business? Here are the 12 minimum legal requirements you need to address to start a business in California (or in any state in the United States). Yes, there are a few more issues you’ll need to address someday, but in this video I’m sharing the basic legal elements to get your business started asap.

00:00 Intro
00:19 1 - Name Search
01:09 2 - Legal Entity
01:44 3 - Trade Name / DBA
02:18 4 - Federal EIN
03:00 5 - State Tax ID Number
03:30 6 - Business License
03:55 7 - Special Permit/License for Industry
04:22 8 - Zoning Permit
05:03 9 - Sales Tax Number / Permit
05:49 10 - Bookkeeping & Bank Account
06:53 11 - Business Liability Insurance
07:33 12 - Privacy Policy on Website
08:22 There’s more …

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Legal Disclosure: Elizabeth is licensed to practice in the state of California and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Information contained in this video is not legal advice – please seek advice of counsel. This video and description may contain attorney advertising.

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#legalrequirements #startabusiness

[Leti-xxkg]

Hands down the best video I have seen as far as the legality of working in California goes. Thank you so so much for your help. I’ve seen many different videos and your video is the most direct and open about what you need and order and that there is much more than that and not a simple beginner steps video like most others I’ve seen.

[mercyjalpert]

Found this video helpful especially the Privacy Policy on the business website. You are the first person that I've heard that from. Thank you for your 12 tips!

[christinablain]

Thank you for this. It’s so scary opening up a business. I’m still confused but I do have a better understanding of what to do.

[Healthycellph]

Great organized video. Short, sweet, to the point 🙌🏽

[farzan]

I learned a lot from this video. ThankYou !👌👌👌

[RoxyR_LA]

Thank you! Very helpful. I live in California

[danishar]

Hi, Thanks Great video. Are the steps the same if not starting online business ?

[sharoncunningham]

I'm planning on selling wax melts in California, firstly through Esty . just to confirm i will be needing all the 12 requirements as stated in your video ? many thanks

[thaleiaf]

These videos are amazing and extremely helpful for a newbie! Thank you so much!

[dulcemariatovar]

I love this video so much as I am brewing ideas for a new business in San Joaquin County. You said these are the minimum but if you made a 4 hour video with more info I would watch it! I am for sure a bit lost when looking into all of the legal stuff that comes as the foundation of a business!

[dianagee]

Hi, can you please tell me the government website to do a trademark search? Thank you!

[EJ-fyly]

Very helpful. Thank you for making the video.

[TELA-GAMING]

California has the most insane laws for operating a business. I owned a car stereo business there for 15 years and was forced to buy a license each year for something we had absolutely no involvement with. We sold and installed car stereos but had to (in addition to a sales and installation license) had to pay for a "Small Appliance Repair" license. We did not deal with any small appliances and did no repairs of any kind.

[Anthony-wpby]

I just stumbled upon your informative video Elizabeth. Liked & subscribed.

[aaronunroe]

Very helpful information, thank you Elizabeth for taking the time to make this video.

[LuisPerez-vrks]

Thank you for this! Very easy to follow, bless your heart.

[FrostyCB]

Thanks for sharing. Great information in this video. I have a question regarding the business name:
if finding out that someone has taken your name and went and registered it, would/could a social media account's creation date hold up in court when trying to get it back?

[dauraktv]

Very helpful! I do wish this was like 10hrs long and went into fine detail with everything you mentioned 😅

[Esserem]

Much appreciated and very insightful, in the birthing throes trying to get this thing rolling and this video is a huge help!

[honeylove]

GREAT VIDEO!!! Thanks a million 🤗. New subscriber