How to Get a Business License in Bakersfield, California

October 29, 2026

California has no general statewide business license. The Secretary of State issues none, and the seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) is not a business license. In Bakersfield, the local requirement is a Business Tax Certificate, which the city's Finance Department Treasury Division administers. Most Bakersfield businesses also file an entity registration with the state, register with the CDTFA or the Employment Development Department (EDD) when the facts call for it, and add any licenses their trade requires. This guide covers the bakersfield business license process in the order most owners handle it.

Disclaimer: This is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Entity, tax, and licensing choices depend on your specific facts. Consider talking with a qualified attorney or CPA before you file, especially if your business is complex, regulated, or has multiple owners.

Step 1: Register Your Business Entity With the Secretary of State

If you operate as an LLC or corporation, you file formation documents with the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, usually through bizFile Online. Sole proprietors and general partnerships generally do not file formation documents with the state, but they may still need a fictitious business name statement (see Step 3).

Filing	Fee	Notes
Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)	$70	Online filings are normally processed within about 5 business days or less. Paper filings take 10 or more business days.
Articles of Incorporation (stock corporation)	$100	A corporate name needs no designator.
Name reservation	$10	Lasts 60 days and cannot be renewed for consecutive periods.
Statement of Information, LLC (Form LLC-12)	$20	Due within 90 days of filing, then every two years.
Statement of Information, corporation (Form SI-550)	$25	Due within 90 days of filing, then every year.

An LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” (“Limited” may be “Ltd.” and “Company” may be “Co.”). It cannot include “bank,” “trust,” “trustee,” “incorporated,” “inc.,” “corporation” or “corp.” The Secretary of State offers expedited handling for an additional fee: $350 for 24-hour processing, $750 for same-day processing if received by 9:30 a.m., and $500 for 4-hour service at a drop-off counter with precleared documents. Confirm current expedite terms on the state site before you pay.

Every LLC organized or registered in California in 2024 through 2026 owes the $800 minimum annual franchise tax starting in its first year. On top of that, an LLC owes an LLC fee of $900, $2,500, $6,000 or $11,790 once its California-source total income reaches $250,000, $500,000, $1,000,000 or $5,000,000. An LLC whose first taxable year begins in 2027 through 2029 pays $400 in year one under RTC 17941(g)(2), so confirm that first-year amount with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). A newly incorporated or qualified corporation or S corporation does not owe the $800 in its first taxable year.

Two structural points trip up owners. California does not allow a domestic series LLC. An LLC also cannot render a licensed professional service, so licensed professionals typically use a professional corporation instead. Every California LLC and corporation must also keep an agent for service of process: either a California resident individual or a corporation holding a Corporations Code 1505 certificate. An LLC must keep an office in California, which does not need to be a place of business activity.

Step 2: Register for Sales Tax and Payroll

If you sell taxable goods, you need a seller's permit from the CDTFA. The permit is free. The statewide base sales tax rate is 7.25%, and district taxes raise the rate in many areas, with city rates running from 7.25% to 11.75%. Look up the combined rate for your address on the CDTFA site rather than relying on a general figure. A resale certificate has no required form. If you have employees, register with the Employment Development Department.

Step 3: File a Fictitious Business Name, If Needed

If you do business under any name other than your legal name, such as a sole proprietorship trade name or an LLC name you use publicly that differs from its registered name, you need a Fictitious Business Name Statement. You file it with the county clerk-recorder in the county where your principal place of business is located. For Bakersfield, that is the Kern County Clerk, reachable at (661) 868-3588.

• Deadline: File within 40 days of starting to do business under the name.
• Publication: Publish the statement in a newspaper once a week for four weeks. The publication fee is separate from the filing fee.
• Filing fee: The statutory fee is $10 plus $2 for each additional name or owner under Bus. & Prof. Code 17929. Counties charge more than the statutory amount, so confirm the total with the Kern County Clerk.
• Expiration: The statement expires after five years.

Step 4: Get the Bakersfield Business Tax Certificate

The city requires a Business Tax Certificate for any business located within the Bakersfield city limits and for any business coming into the city to conduct business. This is the core city registration, and it is what most people mean when they search for a bakersfield business tax certificate. Applications go to the Finance Department Treasury Division at City Hall North, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA. Call (661) 326-3762 or (661) 326-3763.

What the certificate costs

The city does not give a flat fee you can look up and apply. The cost depends on the information on your application, including an estimate of your gross receipts for the first twelve months. The rate schedule is in the Bakersfield city code, but the Treasury Division calculates the actual amount. Call the Treasury Division for a quote before you mail your application. Applications must include payment to be processed. Every California local license also carries a $4 state disability access fee, which you should expect to pay on top of the local amount.

What the application asks for

Gather these items before you call or apply:

• Business name, and your fictitious business name filing if one is required
• Business address and phone number
• Billing address
• Names of all owners and their service of process addresses
• Type of business and type of organization
• Federal ID number, or the Social Security number or driver license number of one owner
• The date you start doing business in Bakersfield
• Your contractor license number, if one is required
• Your CDTFA seller's permit number, if one is required
• Your estimate of gross receipts for the first twelve months

Fees for regulatory permits may also apply, depending on your business type. The Treasury Division can tell you whether your business triggers any of them.

Step 5: Add the Licenses and Permits for Your Activity

California has no state license for most businesses, but regulated trades and professions do need one. Check these before you open:

• Contractors: The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses contractors. A license is required for work valued at $1,000 or more.
• Food and health-regulated businesses: Kern County Environmental Health issues health permits at (661) 862-8700. Fees vary by county. Our guide to county health permit fees for restaurants and food businesses explains how those fees differ across California, but it does not list Kern County, so confirm the amounts directly with Environmental Health.
• Alcohol sales: The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licenses alcohol sales.
• Other professions: Many licensed professions are overseen by Department of Consumer Affairs boards. Check the board for your field.

Home-Based Businesses: The Home Occupation Permit

If you plan to run your business from your home inside Bakersfield, you need a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Department before you start operating from the residence. According to the city's application sheet, the permit carries a one-time charge of $101.00. It remains valid as long as the owner lives at the residence, and it is not transferable. The application sheet is undated, so confirm the current amount with Planning at (661) 326-3733 before you pay. A home office still needs the Business Tax Certificate, so budget for both.

Confirm zoning before you sign a lease or start construction. Planning at (661) 326-3733 can confirm whether your property's zoning allows your use. For a change of use or a remodel, contact Building at (661) 326-3720.

Renewal Dates and Ongoing Deadlines

The Bakersfield business license renewal cycle runs on the city's fiscal calendar, and it is the one most owners miss:

• Business Tax Certificate: The certificate is valid until June 30 each year.
• Business tax payment: Taxes are due each year on July 1 and must be paid before July 31 to avoid penalties.
• Reminders: The city says businesses are responsible for paying on time and should not rely on courtesy reminders. Put July 31 on your calendar now.
• State filings: An LLC files its Statement of Information every two years, and a corporation files it every year. The state can assess a $250 penalty through the FTB if an LLC misses its filing after a Secretary of State notice.

Who to Contact

Office	Contact	Use it for
City of Bakersfield Finance Department, Treasury Division	1600 Truxtun Avenue, City Hall North; (661) 326-3762 or (661) 326-3763	Business Tax Certificate quote and application
Planning Department	(661) 326-3733	Zoning confirmation and Home Occupation Permit
Building	(661) 326-3720	Change of use or remodel
Kern County Clerk	(661) 868-3588	Fictitious business names
Kern County Environmental Health	(661) 862-8700	Health permits
CDTFA	cdtfa.ca.gov	Seller's permit
Contractors State License Board	cslb.ca.gov	Contractor licenses
California Small Business Development Center network	californiasbdc.org	Free business advising

Bakersfield Business License Checklist

1. Confirm zoning with Planning at (661) 326-3733 before you lease, buy or build, and get the Home Occupation Permit if you work from home.
2. File the fictitious business name with the Kern County Clerk within 40 days if you need one, then publish it for four weeks.
3. Call the Treasury Division at (661) 326-3762 for the Business Tax Certificate quote before you mail your application.
4. Pay the Business Tax Certificate before July 31 each year to avoid penalties.

Because the city's rate depends on your application, the quote from the Treasury Division is the only number to plan around. Verify every fee in this guide with the listed agency before you pay, since fees and rules change. If your business involves entity structure, multiple owners, or a regulated trade, a qualified attorney or CPA can help you avoid costly corrections.