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Business
Resource Information |
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The City of San
Luis Obispo's Economic Development Manager assists new and existing businesses. We work closely with
local agencies and business organizations to help solve your business
problems.
We
have found the following list of business resources to be helpful to
all types of businesses. For questions on the necessary permits required of your particular
business, please contact the agency listed.
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LOCAL
BUSINESS
RESOURCES IN ADDITION
TO
THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
 City of San
Luis Obispo
990 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Business
Licensing
The purpose of the
city's business license regulations is to provide for necessary
regulation of lawful businesses being conducted within the city in
the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare of the people
of the city. The primary focus of the city's business license
regulations is to provide reasonable assurance that business
operating in the city are doing so in compliance with the city's
planning and building policies, regulations, and ordinances; and in
compliance with the city's business tax provisions.
Fire Department Disaster
Preparedness Program
Find out how to protect your
business in case of a disaster. It includes a checklist to help you
prepare and more information about the program.
San Luis Obispo Downtown
Association
1108
Garden Street, Suite 209
San
Luis Obispo, Ca 93401
(805)
541-0286
2007 Downtown Association
Strategic Plan
Established
in 1975, the Downtown Association promotes the health and welfare of
downtown. The Downtown Association serves its retail, professional and
service members in a variety of ways, ranging from promotional events
to networking opportunities to business development.
Economic
Vitality Corporation (EVC)
4111
Broad Street
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
788-2012
The
Economic Vitality Corporation is an alliance of San Luis Obispo
businesses and public agencies focused on stimulating the economic
vitality of San Luis Obispo County. The EVC manages the City’s
Revolving Loan Program; offering small business loans to qualified local
businesses.
 The
Institute for Professional Development
Cuesta
College, San Luis Obispo Campus
P.O.
Box 8106
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93403
(805)
541-0924
The
Institute for Professional Development is the economic development
side of the college. Offering training and support services for small
businesses within the County of San Luis Obispo.
 The
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
1039
Chorro Street
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
781-2670
The Chamber's
Economic Vision Document
With nearly
1350 member companies in all aspects of business, the San Luis Obispo
Chamber serves area businesses with the latest business news,
community information and business connections. The San Luis Obispo
Chamber is nationally known as one of the most progressive and dynamic
Chambers in the country.
 Business
Assistance Center at Cuesta College
3211 Broad St., Suite 109
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-549-0401
The Business
Assistance Center (BAC) at Cuesta College is part of a nationwide
program that provides business technical assistance to small
businesses. The services provided by the BAC include workshops
covering the basics of start-up, financing a small business, and
marketing a product or service. The primary mission of the BAC is
to offer a very high level of expertise in the form of prepaid
one-on-one counseling to the small business community.
The
San Luis Obispo Public Library
Reference
Section
995
Palm Street
San
Luis Obispo, Ca 93401
(805)
781-5989
The
Reference Section includes over 100 business and trade journals and
newspapers; a Career Action Center specializes in small businesses;
and an Investment Business Reference Section that will include
import/export literature.
 S.C.O.R.E.
711 Tank Farm
Road, Ste 210
San Luis Obispo,
CA 93401
(805)
547-0779
How to Start a Business in San Luis Obispo County
SCORE is a
local service that offers confidential, free counseling to small
businesses. Workshops are also given on a variety of business related
topics for start-up and existing businesses.
Mission Community Services
Corporation
71 Zacca Lane, Ste 130
San Luis Obispo, CA
Toll Free: 1-877-831-9377
(805) 595-1357
info@mcscorp.org
Mission Community Services
Corporation, along with their Women’s Business Center website, offer
support to individuals looking at self-employment as a viable option
for their next job. The business center works with start-up and
existing businesses too. The services offered include one-on-one
consulting services and business related training classes. Many of
their services are federally funded.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
Better
Business Bureau of San Luis Obispo County
P.O.
Box 129
Santa
Barbara, CA 93102
(805)
963-8657
The Better
Business Bureau helps to promote effective relationships between
businesses and a more informed buying public. The Bureau can provide
business and charity reliability reports, help promote better
relations between businesses and consumers, resolve consumer to
business complaints, provide consumer advice and referrals, and
process inquiries and complaints on businesses in San Luis Obispo
County.
DBA -
Fictitious Business Names
California
law requires that every person who regularly transacts business for
profit under a fictitious name, file and publish a fictitious business
name statement. Contact the County Recorder for additional
information.
County
Recorder
1055
Monterey Street, Ste. D120
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
781-5080
County
Clerk, Hall of Justice and Records
1055
Monterey Street, Ste. D120
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
781-5080
County
Health Permits
If your
business will involve the handling of foods, you must consult the
Environmental Health office and obtain a permit. Permits do not
transfer if you take over an existing food business.
Environmental
Health
2156
Sierra Way
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
781-5544
County
CUPA Business Plans
If your
business involves handling of hazardous material above threshold
quantities, you must submit a Business Plan to the local
Certified Unified Program Agency. Follow the link for more
information and the electronic application.
http://www.ezsubmitslogov.org/slo/home.htm
Property
Taxes
You will be
contacted automatically by the County Assessor's Office. As owner of
record, you will automatically be sent a tax bill. Tangible personal
property exceeding $30,000 is also taxable.
County
Assessor
1055
Monterey Street, Ste. D360
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
781-5643
Tax
Collector's Office
1055
Monterey Street, Ste. D290
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
781-5830
STATE
OF CALIFORNIA
Alcoholic
Beverage Control
If you
intend to have your business sell alcoholic beverages, you should
contact the State Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
 California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
3220 S.
Higuera Street
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
543-7183
Contractors
If you
intend to engage in the construction industry, you should contact the
State License Board to determine what special permits/license may be
required.
 Contractor's
State License Board
9821
Business Park Drive
Sacramento,
CA 95827-1703
(800)
321-2752
Department
of Industrial Relations
320 W.
4th Street
Los
Angeles, CA 90013
(213)
576-7750
Forming a
Corporation
If forming
a corporation, you must file articles of incorporation with the
California Secretary of State.
Secretary
of State
1500
11th Street, 3rd Floor
Sacramento,
CA 95814
Corporate
Filing & Services Division
(916)
657-5448
Limited
Partnership Division
(916)
653-3365
Trademark
Division
(916)
653-4984
Insurance/Workers' Compensation
Any
business should consider insurance coverage for general liability,
product liability, fire and similar disasters, robbery and theft.
Fidelity bonding should be considered for employees who
handle cash receipts or other funds. If you have employees, Worker's
Compensation insurance is mandatory under California law.
Division of
Workers' Compensation
Safety
and Health Regulations
If you have
employees, there are laws that set safety standards designed to
prevent injuries arising out of unsafe or unhealthy working
conditions. Small employers (less than 10 employees) may be exempt
from some of the CAL-OSHA requirements.
CAL-OSHA
6150
Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 307
Van
Nuys, CA 91401
(800)
963-9424
Seller's
Permit / Resale Number
Every
business that will sell or lease tangible personal property
(merchandise) to customers must obtain a seller's permit from the
State Board of Equalization.
State
Board of Equalization
50
Fremont Street, Suite 1400
San
Francisco, CA 94105
(800)
400-7115
State
Licenses
The State
of California imposes license requirements and fees on more than 100
businesses and professions. The Department of Consumer Affairs grants
most licenses.
Department
of Consumer Affairs
400
"R" Street, Suite 1080
Sacramento,
CA 95814
(916)
445-1254 or
(800)
952-5210
State
Taxes - Withholding
If you have
employees, you must register with the state Employment Development
Department.
Employment
Development Department (EDD)
Vehicle
Registration
Commercial
vehicles for a business must be registered with the Department of
Motor Vehicles.
Department
of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
3190 S.
Higuera Street
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)
543-0590
Wages,
Hours, and Child Labor
If you have
employees, you should contact the Department of Industrial Relations
with regard to minimum wages, overtime pay, employee dismissal
requirements, hiring of minors, and fair employment practices.
State
Labor Commissioner Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
30 Van
Ness Avenue, Suite 3400
San
Francisco, CA 94102
(415)
557-7878
FEDERAL
Employee
I.D. Number/Taxes
Most small
businesses are unlikely to require any type of federal permit to
operate, unless they are engaged in rendering investment advice,
making alcohol or tobacco products, preparing meat products or making
or dealing in firearms. However, if you have formed a corporation or a
partnership, one should apply for a federal employer identification
number (Form SS-4) even if the business has no employees. Request from
the IRS the Employers Tax Guide, a publication that explains federal
income tax, unemployment tax, and social security tax withholding
requirements for employers.
Internal Revenue Service
(IRS)
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