Licenses and permits to open a retail store in Alhambra

Opening a retail 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.

Updated October 21, 20269 filingsSources: the agencies' own sitesSources checked October 21, 2026

Fees and timelines at a glance

A store's filings are mostly registration and tax, plus the sign and occupancy for the space. In Alhambra, grocery stores file exactly the same filings.

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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill 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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it

Questions and answers

How much do the permits cost to open a retail 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 retail 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 retail 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 retail store in Alhambra?

The Articles of Organization (California LLC), with the California Secretary of State. Filed online in bizfile Online.

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<div class="placetta-checklist"><p><strong>Licenses and permits to open a retail store in Alhambra</strong></p><ol><li>Articles of Organization (California LLC) (California Secretary of State)</li><li>Statement of Information (California LLC) (California Secretary of State)</li><li>Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service)</li><li>Seller's permit (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration)</li><li>City of Alhambra business license (City of Alhambra Business License Section)</li><li>Registration Form for Commercial Employers (California Employment Development Department)</li><li>Certificate of Occupancy (occupancy permit) (City of Alhambra Development Services Department)</li><li>LLC annual tax ($800) (California Franchise Tax Board)</li><li>Proposition 65 warning labels (California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment)</li></ol><p>Source: <a href="https://www.placetta.com/guides/alhambra/retail-store.html">Placetta license guide</a></p></div>

Questions people ask

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

Get the plan for your retail store in Alhambra

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