How much permits cost to open in San Jose
In San Jose, the filings with a fixed government fee add up to about $1,315. 10 more are set by the space or the business, and 9 are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Articles of Organization (California LLC)
California Secretary of StateCalifornia
Filed online in bizfile Online.
- Fee
- $70
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue.
- Renews
- Statement of Information (LLC-12, $20) within 90 days, then every two years.
Seller's permit
California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationCalifornia
Register online before your first sale; one permit for each location.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Often issued the same day.
- Renews
- Does not expire.
Create/Update Importer Identity Form
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Sent to CBP (usually through your customs broker), or created in the ACE portal. Needed before your first entry as importer of record.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- Up to 5 business days.
Customs Bond
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Bought from a CBP-approved surety, usually through your customs broker, who files it electronically. A continuous bond covers a year of entries.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- At least 5 business days for review.
- Renews
- Continuous bonds renew yearly.
Certified food protection manager
California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health departmentCalifornia
An owner or employee of a place that prepares, handles or serves unpackaged perishable food passes a food protection manager exam from an accredited organization. A new place, a new owner, or a place that loses its certified person has 60 days to have one, and one person can't be certified for two locations. Keep the certificate on file for the inspector.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every 5 years.
ACE Secure Data Portal account for importers
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Applied for online in ACE. Lets you see your entries, duties and bond.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
Cosmetic product facility registration (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the facility that makes or processes the cosmetics.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every two years.
Cosmetic product listing (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the brand (the responsible person on the label), one listing per product.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Update every year.
City of San José Business Tax Certificate
City of San José Finance DepartmentSan Jose
Register online within 90 days of starting business in San José, with the owner, tax ID, location and, if you have them, the seller's permit and county health permit numbers.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- If you pay during registration, the account activates in 2 to 3 business days; otherwise the invoice is mailed within 5 to 10 business days.
- Renews
- Every year.
Product safety certificate, filed electronically at entry
U.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionUS federal
The importer issues the certificate itself (there is no government form) and, under the eFiling rule, files the certificate data with CBP at entry.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
Hazardous materials registration
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)US federal
Filed online when you ship or offer certain hazardous materials in bulk, such as large lithium battery shipments.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every year by June 30.
Registration Form for Commercial Employers
California Employment Development DepartmentCalifornia
Register in e-Services for Business within 15 days of paying over $100 in wages.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster.
Food facility plan check
County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental HealthSCC
Email the application, scaled plans, menu and equipment sheets to dehplancheck@deh.sccgov.org, then pay the invoiced review fee. The city needs the county's stamped plans before its own plan check.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- After payment, inspector review may take up to 20 business days.
Building permit for a tenant improvement
City of San José Building DivisionSan Jose
Apply on SJPermits.org, upload plans through SJePlans and pay the plan review fee before review starts. Restaurants can use the city's Streamlined Restaurant Program.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- San José's standard plan review for a commercial tenant improvement takes about 10 working days for the first round and 5 working days for each recheck.
Fire protection system permit
San José Fire Department, Bureau of Fire PreventionSan Jose
When plan check calls for it, apply on SJPermits.org under Fire Prevention, pay, then upload documents in SJePlans.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- Fire Department review of fire protection system plans takes about 10 working days for the first round and 5 working days for each recheck on a commercial project.
Building final inspection
City of San José Building DivisionSan Jose
Schedule the final on SJPermits.org once every other inspection on the permit has passed.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- San José doesn't publish a wait time for the final inspection; you request it on SJPermits.org, and it's approved only after every other inspection on the permit has passed.
Health permit to operate a food facility
County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental HealthSCC
Submit the permit application by email or in person at or before the final inspection; the operating fee is invoiced after the final.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- The county's plan review can take up to 20 business days, and the invoice for the operating permit is sent after the final inspection passes.
- Renews
- Every year.
Sign permit
City of San José Planning DivisionSan Jose
Upload the signed application to SJPermits.org, then pay the invoice.
- Fee
- $445
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- Average: 2 weeks.
LLC annual tax ($800)
California Franchise Tax BoardCalifornia
Paid every year by every LLC registered or doing business in California.
- Fee
- $800
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Paying the $800 LLC tax online through Web Pay is immediate; it's due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the LLC's tax year.
- Renews
- Every year, by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year.
Packaging producer registration (EPR)
CalRecycle, through Circular Action AllianceCalifornia
The brand owner or importer of packaged goods sold in California registers and reports with the producer organization.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Proposition 65 warning labels
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard AssessmentCalifornia
Nothing is filed. Businesses with 10 or more employees warn before exposing Californians to listed chemicals, including online at checkout.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Nothing to file
- Takes
- Nothing is filed with or approved by OEHHA, so there's no processing time; the business decides whether a warning is needed and must have it in place itself.
Guides for each business in San Jose
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
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