Business Resources :: California Secretary of State

The Secretary of State’s office is often asked what other agencies a business entity may need to contact to ensure proper compliance. The following is a list of the agencies most often referenced. In addition, we have included several links to websites that may assist you in your business endeavors.

State Agencies & Programs

To assist you in finding the appropriate permitting information for your business, the CalGOLD database provides links and contact information that direct you to agencies that administer and issue business permits, licenses and registration requirements from all levels of government.

Division of Financial Institutions: Information relating to credit unions, industrial loan companies, banks, savings and loan associations or savings banks.
Division of Corporations: Responsible for the regulation of securities, franchises, off-exchange commodities, investment and financial services, independent escrows, consumer and commercial finance lending, and residential mortgage lending.

Information relating to franchise tax requirements, penalties and suspensions/forfeitures.

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers more than 30 tax and fee programs that generate revenue essential to our state, including sales & use taxes.

Information relating to unemployment insurance, disability insurance and employment tax.

Information relating to licensing requirements at the state level for specific business entities.

Information relating to requirements for insurance companies, agents and brokers.

Information relating to registration of law corporations and limited liability partnerships. Also provides links to county bar associations that have lawyer referral services.

Information relating to worker’s compensation requirements.

Information relating to charitable trusts and public benefit corporations.

Provides a one-stop shop for tax assistance, including information about income tax, payroll tax, sales & use tax, and other taxes and fees for businesses.

California’s Unclaimed Property Law requires corporations, businesses, associations, financial institutions, and insurance companies (referred to as “Holders”) to annually report and deliver property to the State Controller’s Office after there has been no activity on the account or contact with the owner for a period of time specified in the law. The most common types of Unclaimed Property are:

Wages and commissions
Vendor payments
Bank accounts and safe deposit box contents
Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends
Uncashed cashier’s checks and money orders
Certificates of deposit
Matured or terminated insurance policies
Estates
Mineral interests and royalty payments
Trust funds and escrow accounts

Provides a one-stop shop for business assistance, including attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, facilitation of regulatory compliance, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state programs as well as coordination with local and regional agencies.

Provides contact information for local California Chambers of Commerce.

Federal Agencies & Programs

Information relating to federal taxes and employer federal identification numbers.

The Employer ID Numbers (EINs) webpage provides specific information on applying for an EIN, making a change in the application for an EIN, or canceling an EIN.
The Tax Information for Retirement Plans webpage provides information for Retirement Plans Community, Benefits Practitioner, Plan Participant/Employee and Plan Sponsor/Employer.

Offers a centralized place to find information from local, state, and federal agency sites.

Information regarding starting and managing small businesses.

Information regarding importing and exporting issues related to the U.S. Customs Service.

Information regarding national industrial standards.

Information regarding the national copyright system.

Provides resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning international sales strategies.

Information and services provided by the U.S. government for the business community.

County Agencies

The county agency where the principal place of business is located provides information relating to city/county business licenses, fictitious business name requirements, zoning, building permits, etc., dependent on business entity activities. To determine the applicable county agency, please refer to the list of California counties provided on the California State Association of Counties website.