Licenses and permits to open a grocery store in Alhambra
Opening a grocery store in Alhambra takes 9 filings with 8 agencies, starting with the Articles of Organization (California LLC) and ending with the proposition 65 warning labels. The fixed government fees add up to about $890, 2 fees are set by the space or the business and 4 filings are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.
Fees and timelines at a glance
Selling packaged food adds food rules on top of a store's usual registrations. The same filings as retail stores.
| Filing | Agency | Government fee | How long | Renews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (California LLC) | California Secretary of State | $70 | Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue. | Statement of Information (LLC-12, $20) within 90 days, then every two years. |
| Statement of Information (California LLC) | California Secretary of State | $20 | Not listed | Every two years, in the anniversary month of formation and the five months before it. |
| Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) | Internal Revenue Service | Free | Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call. | Not listed |
| Seller's permit | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration | Free | Often issued the same day. | Does not expire. |
| City of Alhambra business license | City of Alhambra Business License Section | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Registration Form for Commercial Employers | California Employment Development Department | Free | Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster. | Not listed |
| Certificate of Occupancy (occupancy permit) | City of Alhambra Development Services Department | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| LLC annual tax ($800) | California Franchise Tax Board | $800 | 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. | Every year, by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year. |
| Proposition 65 warning labels | California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment | Free | 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. | Not listed |
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.
Statement of Information (California LLC)
California Secretary of StateCalifornia
Due within 90 days of forming or registering the LLC in California, then every two years. Filed in bizfile Online, or on the paper form by mail.
- Fee
- $20
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every two years, in the anniversary month of formation and the five months before it.
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.
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.
City of Alhambra business license
City of Alhambra Business License SectionAlhambra
Apply online for an in-city license with your Alhambra start date; an occupancy permit application goes with it.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
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.
Certificate of Occupancy (occupancy permit)
City of Alhambra Development Services DepartmentAlhambra
Mail or bring the form to City Hall, Development Services, 111 South First Street.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
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.
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.
Questions and answers
How much do the permits cost to open a grocery store in Alhambra?
The fixed government fees add up to about $890, 2 fees are set by the space or the business and 4 filings are free. The largest fixed fee is the LLC annual tax ($800), at $800. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.
How long do the permits take for a grocery store in Alhambra?
The times the agencies give. Articles of Organization (California LLC): Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue. Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN): Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call. Seller's permit: Often issued the same day. Registration Form for Commercial Employers: Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster. LLC annual tax ($800): 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. Proposition 65 warning labels: 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.
Which agencies issue the permits for a grocery store in Alhambra?
The 9 filings go to 8 agencies: California Secretary of State, Internal Revenue Service, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, City of Alhambra Business License Section, California Employment Development Department, City of Alhambra Development Services Department, California Franchise Tax Board and California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
What is the first filing to open a grocery store in Alhambra?
The Articles of Organization (California LLC), with the California Secretary of State. Filed online in bizfile Online.
More on opening in Alhambra
Questions people ask
- How do I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
- How long does it take to get an EIN?
- Does a foreign-owned single-member LLC have to file Form 5472?
- How do I become an importer of record in the US?
- Do I need a seller's permit in California?
- Does a new California LLC have to pay the $800 tax in its first year?
Other businesses in Alhambra
Every filing links to the agency's own page, and every fact comes from an official form or agency page. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file. How we source and check these guides
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