Full Text
T H E C I T Y O F EL CERRITO Starting a business in El Cerrito ---PAGE BREAK--- W E L C O M E T O T H E C I T Y O F E L C E R R I T O ! We are glad that you have chosen our city as the location for your new business. The City of El Cerrito understands the importance of the business community and the impact that successful growing businesses have on our community. To that end, the City’s Economic Development Division has been set up to attract new businesses to our community and to offer services and programs to assist in the growth and success of our existing businesses. The following information is provided to assist you through the process of estab lishing your business in El Cerrito. At any time throughout this process, feel free to contact Dwayne Dalman, Economic Development Project Manager at (510) 215-4362 for assistance. 1. Create A Business Plan There is no way to eliminate all the risk asso ciated with starting a business. However, you can improve your chances of success with proper planning and preparation. A good way to start is by creating a Business Plan. The following resource partners can assist you with this process: W.C.C. Business Development Center 3445 San Pablo Dam Road El Sobrante, CA 94803 (510) 223-9900 Contra Costa Small Business Development Center 300 Ellinwood Way #300 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (925) 602-6840 www.contracostasbdc.com Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA has a large number of programs and services to help your business start, grow and succeed. San Francisco District Office 455 Market Street, Sixth Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 744-6820 SBA Help Desk, (800) 827-5722 www.sba.gov Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) SCORE provides training, mentoring and free counseling services to small business owners and entrepreneurs. 492 9th Street, Suite 350 Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 273-6611 www.eastbayscore.org 2. Check Zoning Regulations Before you sign a lease or apply for any business permit, it is important that you check with the El Cerrito Planning Division to ensure that the proposed use is allowed on the property. Some uses may require additional permits, while some may not be allowed at all. Most businesses will only require Planning Division preliminary review (an over the counter procedure), while some will be required to go through envi ron mental review and obtain a use permit (up to a 3–6 month process involving a public hearing). City of El Cerrito Planning Division 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 215-4330 www.el-cerrito.org—See Planning If you plan to operate a business out of your home, you will need to visit the Planning Division for a Home Occupation permit. 3. Decide on a Business Structure If you will be establishing a corporation, S corpora- tion, partnership, or limited liability company, you must register with the Secretary of State. California Secretary of State Sacramento Main Office 1500 11th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 657-5448 www.sos.ca.gov/business/business.htm 4. Register a Fictitious Name If you intend to name your firm anything other than your own name, you must file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the County Clerk. Contra Costa County Clerk–Recorder 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553 (925) 335-7900 www.ccclerkrec.us 5. Get a Business License The City of El Cerrito requires that any person who transacts and carries on any business, trade, pro fes- sion, calling, or occupation in the city, or who pro- vides a service within the city, must procure a Business License and pay the appropriate fees. For more infor- mation about a business license, please visit or call the Financial Services Dept. Business license applica- tions can also be downloaded online. City of El Cerrito Administrative Services Department 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 215-4335 www.el-cerrito.org—See Finance ---PAGE BREAK--- 6. Obtain Important Permits To help you determine what regional, state, and federal licenses and permits your business may need, the State of California has a per mit ting website located at www.calgold.ca.gov. Below are some com- mon permits that are required. ■ USE PERMIT Each parcel in the City has been assigned a zoning designation that describes which land uses are permit- ted outright and which land uses require a use permit. Depending on the type of use and zone, the Planning Manager and/or the Planning Commission is responsi- ble for approving a use permit. Additionally, you should inquire about parking requirements for your project. You may need a parking exception use permit through the Planning Commission. For more information, the El Cerrito Planning Division has prepared a guide to walk you through the development process. ■ DESIGN REVIEW Any changes or alterations to the exterior of a com- mercial building or parking lot will require design review approval. A Design Review application is avail- able on the City’s web page or at City Hall through the Planning Division. ■ SIGN PERMIT Before ordering or installing a new sign or modify- ing an existing sign for your business, please contact the Planning Division. Most signs require approval by Planning. Some only require admin istrative design review, while other multi-tenant commercial build- ings may require a sign program, approved by the Design Review Board. All temporary signs, such as banners, require preliminary review by Planning and approval from the City Building Official. ■ CITY OF EL CERRITO BUILDING PERMIT A Building Permit is needed for all new construc- tion in the City of El Cerrito. In most cases, a permit is also required for replacement of existing construc- tion, additions, remodeling and commercial tenant improve ments. Building Permits are how the City reg- ulates construction to ensure it is safe for occupancy and use. If you are thinking of signing a lease, buying/ renovating a building or new construction, please visit or call the City Building Division. City of El Cerrito Building Division 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 CERRITOORG See Building ■ REGIONAL & COUNTY PERMITS Restaurants and Food Vendors: Certain businesses which handle food (sale, preparation) must be approved by the Contra Costa County Health Depart- ment. This approval is designed to ensure compliance with County sanitation codes. Food preparation is not allowed under a home occupation permit. Contra Costa Health Services Department of Environmental Health 2120 Diamond Blvd., #200, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 692-2500 www.cchealth.org/groups/eh/ To sell alcoholic beverages from your business, you must obtain an Alcoholic Beverage License. California Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control 1515 Clay Street, Suite 2208, Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 622-4970 www.abc.ca.gov If your business discharges matter into the air, a permit from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District may be required. Bay Area Air Quality Management District 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 771-6000 Compliance and Assistance Hotline, (415) 749-4999 www.baaqmd.gov ■ STATE PERMITS Wholesale and Retail Businesses: If your business will involve sales, you will need to obtain a Seller’s Permit from the State Board of Equalization. California State Board of Equalization (800) 400-7115 www.boe.ca.gov/info/reg.htm ■ UTILITIES Water: East Bay Municipal Utility District 375 11th Street, Oakland, CA 94607 (866) 403-2683 www.ebmud.com Gas & Electricity: Pacific Gas & Electric, (800) 468-4743 www.pge.com Refuse Collection: East Bay Sanitary Company 1432 Kearney Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 237-4321 Sanitary District: Stege Sanitary District 7500 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 524-4668 www.stegesd.dst.ca.us Recycling: El Cerrito Recycling Center 7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 215-4350 www.ecrecycling.org ---PAGE BREAK--- 7. If you will have employees: Obtain your Employer Identification Numbers or Federal Taxpayer Identification Number ■ FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040 www.irs.gov ■ STATE EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Employment Tax Office (888) 745-3886 www.edd.ca.gov ■ PAY EMPLOYEE TAXES For information regarding employee withholdings, self-employment tax and other business tax with- holdings contact the Internal Revenue Service. Internal Revenue Service 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 637-2487 www.irs.gov ■ WORKERS COMPENSATION Workers compensation insurance is required for all California employers. Premiums are based on the job each employee performs and their total wages. In California, most small employers are insured by the State Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund). State Compensation Insurance Fund (877) 405-4545 www.statefundca.com 8. Recruit and Train Employees Through the Contra Costa County Workforce Devel- opment Board’s direct service providers, such as the One-Stop Career Centers, employers are offered a job posting service; candidate recruitment, screen- ing, and referral; testing and interviewing facilities; subsidized customized employer-based training; and tax credit assistance. Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County 300 Ellinwood Way, 3rd Floor Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (925) 602-6800 9. Open a Checking Account for Your Business Separate business and personal accounting is essential when you file your tax return. Contact the financial institution of your choice directly. 10. Additional Resources to Help your Business Grow ■ EL CERRITO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 406 Colusa Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 705-1202 www.elcerritochamber.org ■ OBDC SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE 825 Washington Street, Suite 200 Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 763-4297 www.obdc.com ■ BAY AREA GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM (925) 335-3220 www.greenbiz.ca.gov ■ EL CERRITO LIBRARY 6510 Stockton Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 526-7512 www.ccclib.org ■ SHOP EL CERRITO www.shopelcerrito.com ■ CALIFORNIA TOOLS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS www.toolsforbusiness.info T H E C I T Y O F EL CERRITO 6/10 El Cerrito City Hall 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530