San Marcos, CA
Home MenuSteps to Starting a Business
When it comes to serving the business community, the City of San Marcos is committed to raising the bar. This guide is designed to walk entrepreneurs through the necessary steps to do business in San Marcos. What type of business are you starting? Note the legend below showing which steps apply to your new business. For any questions or more information, contact the San Marcos Finance Department at (760) 744-1050, ext. 3101 or email smbusinesslicense@san-marcos.net.
What type of business are you starting?
(Download the Steps to Starting a Business brochure)
Each step in this guide indicates one or more icons illustrating what the applicable business type is.
HOME BUSINESS may refer to home-based freelance business
COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL or RETAIL includes storefronts or manufacturing businesses
OUT OF CITY BUSINESSES have a business address outside San Marcos city limits and can include contractors or mobile businesses.
Prior to signing a lease or getting started with your business plan, determine if your business type is allowed at a specific location by using the Zoning Portal, available on the Planning Division's Business Resources webpage. If you have already used the Zoning Portal to determine whether your business type is allowed at the proposed location, proceed to Step 2.
If you are completing tenant improvements such as altering your floor plan by adding or removing walls; making changes to the electrical, mechanical or plumbing systems; or changing occupancy, a building permit will be required. For more information, visit www.san-marcos.net/buildingpermit or call (760) 744-1050, ext. 3205.
Will your ownership be sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, LLC or LLP? Contact your personal accountant or attorney for assistance. If you will be forming a corporation, LLC or LLP, you will need to file with the Secretary of State by visiting, www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs.
If your business name does not include your first and last name, then you must file a fictitious business name statement with the County of San Diego's Clerks Office. To complete your application, visit https://arcc.sandiegocounty.gov/, call (760) 940-6858 or apply in person at the San Diego County Recorder's San Marcos location, 141 E. Carmel Street.
In order to apply for a business license, you will need a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or a Social Security Number (SSN). Employers with employees, business partnerships and corporations must obtain a FEIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For more information or to apply, visit
www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers.
If your business sells taxable items, a Seller's Permit/Resale Certificate must be obtained. Apply online by visiting
www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/permits-licenses.htm
or call (858) 385-4700.
Businesses that handle food must obtain a health permit from the County of San Diego's Environmental Health Department at 5500 Overland Avenue, Ste. #170, San Diego. For more information, call (858) 505-6666 or visit www.sandiegocounty.gov/
content/sdc/deh/fhd/food/publications.html.
SB 1383 requires certain food businesses to donate the maximum amount of edible food they would otherwise dispose of, to food banks, food pantries and other food recovery organizations and services. If a business is classified as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 commercial food generator, there must be an edible food recovery plan. Contact (760) 481-3875 or email recycling@san-marcos.net to schedule a site visit to review the edible food recovery plan. More Tier information can be found on the City's website at www.san-marcos.net/departments/city-manager/trash-recycling/commercial-organics-recycling.
If your business will be selling or serving alcohol, please contact the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (760) 471-4237 or www.abc.ca.gov. Any individual selling or serving alcohol, or checking ID must attend the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's (ABC) L.E.A.D or the Responsible Beverage Sales & Service's (RBSS) training every two years. For class dates or more information, visit www.san-marcos.net/ABCSales.
Anyone conducting business in the City of San Marcos must have a business license. Apply or renew online by visiting www.san-marcos.net/businesslicense.
If you will be conducting business in any cities outside of San Marcos, a separate business license will most likely be required. You must contact each city individually to determine the process.
The City's Stormwater Division requires facility-specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) for those businesses that have a potential to generate and discharge pollutants into the city's stormwater drainage system. To learn more about what BMPs may be required for your business, contact the city's Stormwater Division at (760) 481-3878.
Under Senate Bill (SB) 205, additional requirements may be necessary for approval of business license applications or renewals involving an industrial business that is regulated by the State Industrial General Permit (IGP). Applicants with a State Industrial Classification (SIC) Code regulated by the IGP are required to provide proof of IGP coverage prior to business license issuance.
For more information and assistance regarding SB205 requirements and IGP coverage please visit https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/
It is recommended that you check with the County of San Diego Hazardous Materials Division, the Air Pollution Control District and the Vallecitos Water District to see if your operations require a permit from these agencies.
Businesses that require a fire inspection prior to business license or building permit issuance will be notified at the time of application. For more information or questions about fire inspections, contact the San Marcos Fire Department at (760) 744-1050, ext. 3410.
To learn what other city regulatory licenses (e.g., tobacco retail, massage, entertainment) may be required, visit www.san-marcos.net/businesslicense. To determine if additional state permits or federal permits/licenses are required, enter your business type and location into CalGOLD at www.calgold.ca.gov or visit https://calosba.ca.gov/.
To learn about allowed signage in the City of San Marcos, visit www.san-marcos.net/signage.
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES
Economic Development Division | www.san-marcos.net/openforbusiness
The city's economic development program focuses on business attraction, retention and expansion, while offering many services for new and existing San Marcos businesses.
San Marcos Chamber of Commerce | www.sanmarcoschamber.com
An advocate of businesses, the Chamber is dedicated to the promotion and development of a positive business environment in San Marcos.
San Diego North EDC | www.sdnedc.org
The San Diego North Economic Development Council values both the public and private sectors working together as community partners to sustain and strategically grow the economic base of North San Diego County.
SCORE-SanDiego | www.sandiego.score.org
Offers free small business advice for entrepreneurs. SCORE is a volunteer, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the success of small business
Small Business Development Center North County | https://sdivsbdc.org/north-san-diego-sbdc/
Provides consulting services and workshops for small businesses in North County San Diego.
US Small Business Administration San Diego Office | www.sba.gov
Offers a variety of programs and support services to help businesses navigate the issues faced during initial applications. Business resources are also provided.
San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures | https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/awm/WM_New/device-and-pos-registration.html
Scales and meters used commercially must be annually registered with San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures. Testing and sealing of weighing and measuring devices (such as scales and meters) used for commercial purposes, is required by law before used or placed into service. Retail establishments that use point-of-sale (POS) systems, as defined by California law, must be registered and routinely tested for pricing accuracy.
State of California, Employment Development Division (EDD) | www.edd.ca.gov
EDD is responsible for the state programs involving unemployment insurance, disability insurance, payroll tax collection, and job training/workforce services.
State of California, Department of Industrial Relations | www.dir.ca.gov
This state department oversees workers' compensation, labor standards and occupational safety and health.
California Franchise Tax Board | www.ftb.ca.gov
Obtain State Income Tax forms from the Franchise Tax Board. For more information, visit the California Tax Service Center website at www.taxes.ca.gov.
San Diego Regional EDC | www.sandiegobusiness.org
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation's (EDC for short) mission is to maximize the region’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. As an independently funded nonprofit organization, EDC promotes the region, facilitates corporate expansion across diverse industry sectors, and supports the talent pool that drives their success.
San Diego Workforce Partnership | workforce.org
The San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) funds job training programs that empower job seekers to meet the current and future workforce needs of employers in San Diego County. We are the local Workforce Development Board, designated by the City and County of San Diego.
For more information, contact the San Marcos Finance Department at (760) 744-1050, ext. 3101 or
smbusinesslicense@san-marcos.net.
This guide is only intended to provide a brief overview of the key steps to starting a business and may not be inclusive of all local, state and federal requirements to operate a business.