Licenses and permits to open a dessert shop in Arcadia

Opening a dessert shop in Arcadia takes 12 filings with 9 agencies, starting with the Articles of Organization (California LLC) and ending with the LLC annual tax ($800). The fixed government fees add up to about $890, 6 fees are set by the space or the business and 3 filings are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.

Updated October 21, 202612 filingsSources: the agencies' own sitesSources checked October 21, 2026

Fees and timelines at a glance

Desserts served on site make it a food service business, with the health permit and inspection that go with it. The same filings as restaurants.

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.
Certified food protection manager	California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department	Varies	Not listed	Every 5 years.
Food handler cards for staff	California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department	Varies	Not listed	Every 3 years.
Food facility plan check	Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health	Varies	Plan review within 20 working days.	Not listed
City of Arcadia business license	City of Arcadia Development Services, Business License Division	Varies	Not listed	Every 12 months.
Registration Form for Commercial Employers	California Employment Development Department	Free	Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster.	Not listed
Building permit for the build-out	City of Arcadia Building Services	Varies	Not listed	Not listed
Public health permit (food facility)	Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health	Varies	Plan review is completed within 20 working days after payment (10 if you pay for expedited review); the inspector needs at least 3 working days' notice for the final inspection, and the permit is issued after the permit fee is paid.	Every year.
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.

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
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Food handler cards for staff

California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health departmentCalifornia

Every employee who prepares, stores or handles food gets a California Food Handler Card from an accredited course within 30 days of hire; the card is good for 3 years. Anyone holding a valid food manager certificate is exempt.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed online
Renews
Every 3 years.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Food facility plan check

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental HealthLos Angeles County

Submit plans before building out; approval comes before the public health permit.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed on the agency's portal
Takes
Plan review within 20 working days.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
City of Arcadia business license

City of Arcadia Development Services, Business License DivisionArcadia

Every business in Arcadia gets one; check the zoning with Planning before signing a lease. Applying after opening adds a late charge.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Paper form, mailed
Renews
Every 12 months.

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
Building permit for the build-out

City of Arcadia Building ServicesArcadia

After the county health plan check approves a food facility's plans, the city's building and safety office approves them before construction.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed in person

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Public health permit (food facility)

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental HealthLos Angeles County

Apply after plan approval and before opening; an inspector visits first.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Paper form, mailed
Takes
Plan review is completed within 20 working days after payment (10 if you pay for expedited review); the inspector needs at least 3 working days' notice for the final inspection, and the permit is issued after the permit fee is paid.
Renews
Every year.

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

Questions and answers

How much do the permits cost to open a dessert shop in Arcadia?

The fixed government fees add up to about $890, 6 fees are set by the space or the business and 3 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 dessert shop in Arcadia?

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. Food facility plan check: Plan review within 20 working days. Registration Form for Commercial Employers: Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster. Public health permit (food facility): Plan review is completed within 20 working days after payment (10 if you pay for expedited review); the inspector needs at least 3 working days' notice for the final inspection, and the permit is issued after the permit fee is paid. 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.

Which agencies issue the permits for a dessert shop in Arcadia?

The 12 filings go to 9 agencies: California Secretary of State, Internal Revenue Service, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, City of Arcadia Development Services, Business License Division, California Employment Development Department, City of Arcadia Building Services and California Franchise Tax Board.

What is the first filing to open a dessert shop in Arcadia?

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 dessert shop in Arcadia</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>Certified food protection manager (California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department)</li><li>Food handler cards for staff (California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department)</li><li>Food facility plan check (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health)</li><li>City of Arcadia business license (City of Arcadia Development Services, Business License Division)</li><li>Registration Form for Commercial Employers (California Employment Development Department)</li><li>Building permit for the build-out (City of Arcadia Building Services)</li><li>Public health permit (food facility) (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health)</li><li>LLC annual tax ($800) (California Franchise Tax Board)</li></ol><p>Source: <a href="https://www.placetta.com/guides/arcadia/dessert-shop.html">Placetta license guide</a></p></div>

Questions people ask

Other businesses in Arcadia

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 dessert shop in Arcadia

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.

The full list for your address, in filing order
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