Online store licenses
in San Francisco, California
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
The business is an online store operating from a home in San Francisco, California, selling tangible goods without a commercial storefront or employees. It is subject to state and local regulations, including business registration and sales tax requirements. The legal structure, tax election, and sales channels have not been established.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- State
- California
- County
- San Francisco County
- City
- San Francisco
Details to confirm before you apply
- What legal structure and federal tax treatment will the business use?
- Which sales will go through registered marketplace facilitators, and which will be direct or through other channels?
- Will the owner operate under a name different from their legal name, requiring an FBN?
- What specific tangible goods will be sold, and do they trigger any additional regulations?
- Is the owner planning to hire employees in the future, which would require additional registrations?
- Does the owner have a plan for managing inventory if they store products at home?
- What is the current status of the secondhand dealer permit requirements in San Francisco?
- Is the owner aware of the gross receipts tax filing requirements and thresholds?
The main licenses and permits
6 of 7- 01Business Registration Certificate (county/city business license)Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector, City and County of San Francisco · San Francisco
Every person engaging in business in San Francisco — including a home-based online store with no storefront — must register within 30 days of commencing business. The home address is used as the business location.
RequiredAnnual. Renew by the last day of February each year; registration year runs April 1 – March 31. - 02California state income tax registration and filing (FTB)California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) · California
All California businesses must file state income tax with the FTB; a sole proprietor reports business profit or loss on their personal Form 540 and pays estimated tax.
RequiredAnnual (tax returns); estimated payments quarterly - 03California Seller's Permit (sales and use tax)California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) · California
Required for taxable merchandise sales outside the marketplace exemption. A seller whose entire retail sales are facilitated by registered marketplace facilitators is generally exempt from seller registration with CDTFA.
ConditionalNone; the permit remains valid as long as the business actively sells and files returns (sales tax returns are typically filed quarterly or monthly based on volume). - 04Home occupation / accessory use compliance (zoning)San Francisco Planning Department · San Francisco
Permitted as an accessory use if the business complies with the home-based business rules: no clients coming to the home, no non-resident employees coming to the home, no advertising displayed at the home, no non-residential physical changes to the home, and no more than 1/3 of the unit's total floor area used commercially.
ConditionalNot applicable. - 05Fictitious Business Name (FBN) statement (DBA)San Francisco County Clerk (City Hall, Room 160), under California Business & Professions Code · County
Required only if the business name differs from the owner's legal name.
ConditionalThe statement expires 5 years from the filing date; refile before expiration (renewal fee $69) and republish. - 06Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
Required if federal entity or tax rules require a separate EIN, such as corporate taxation, a partnership, employees, or applicable excise-tax filings. Entity type and tax election are unknown; check any separate bank or local registration requirement.
ConditionalNone (one-time; EINs are not renewed)
This example includes 1 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should an online store in San Francisco check?
Our research identifies Business Registration Certificate (county/city business license), issued by Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector, City and County of San Francisco, as required. Every person engaging in business in San Francisco — including a home-based online store with no storefront — must register within 30 days of commencing business. The home address is used as the business location. Check the other city permits in this guide and confirm the requirements for your premises and activities.
How much do licenses and permits cost for an online store in San Francisco?
Most fees vary by item; see report. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review Employer Identification Number (EIN) (if applicable) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Business Registration Certificate (county/city business license) (Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector, City and County of San Francisco), then California Seller's Permit (sales and use tax) (if applicable) (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical online store. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.