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Promote:California

Invest in California

A short guide for companies expanding into California: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.

1. California at a glance

Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance

2. Before you set up

The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route, California’s limits on foreign ownership and the zones, as the guide found them.

Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States

3. Steps to set up

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Setting up in California

  1. Qualify your out-of-state or foreign company with the Secretary of State on bizfileOnline, attaching a certificate of good standing from its home jurisdiction.California Secretary of StateOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: California Secretary of State, business entities FAQ⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  2. Pay the Franchise Tax Board's US$800 minimum franchise tax each year from your second year, or the tax on net income where it is higher.Franchise Tax BoardThe minimum franchise tax is US$800 a year; it is not due in the first year for a newly incorporated or qualified corporation.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: FTB, C corporations page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  3. Register with the Department of Tax and Fee Administration for a seller's permit if you sell taxable goods in California.California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: CDTFA, tax guide for new permit holders⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  4. Enroll in the Employment Development Department's e-Services for Business and register for an employer payroll tax account.Employment Development DepartmentOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: EDD, register for a payroll tax account⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

Show 2 more set-up steps
  1. Use CalGold to find the state, regional and local permits your business type needs.Governor's Office of Business and Economic DevelopmentOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: GO-Biz, CalGold permit assistance tool⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  2. Ask GO-Biz about the California Competes Tax Credit and other incentives before you commit to a site.Governor's Office of Business and Economic DevelopmentOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: GO-Biz, California Competes Tax Credit page, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States

4. Organizations that help investors

Start with GO-Biz. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Investment and business setup

Customs and tax

Show 1 more organization

Chambers and industry associations

Show 1 more organization

5. Worth knowing

Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States

6. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

Turn this guide into your California project.

Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.

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Promote:California is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.