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California small-business compliance checklist

A free self-assessment covering the licenses, permits, and filing deadlines California commonly requires of small businesses. Choose a business type and answer a short set of questions — no account needed. Every requirement is shown with the provision it comes from, so you can read the rule yourself.

What this checklist covers

The checklist draws on 47 requirements across 12 areas of California and federal law. Which of them you are asked about depends on the business type you choose — a restaurant and a salon are asked about different things, because the law asks different things of them.

  • Business licensing (15 requirements)

    • Auto-renewing membership disclosures — CA Business & Professions Code §17600 et seq. (Automatic Renewal Law)
    • Body art facility permit & infection control plan — CA Health & Safety Code §119306(a), §119313 (Safe Body Art Act); §119320 (suspension)

  • Food safety (FSMA) (8 requirements)

    • Food safety plan (FSMA HARPC) — 21 CFR Part 117 — Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls
    • FDA food facility registration — FSMA 21 U.S.C. §350d; 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart H

  • Workplace safety (OSHA) (6 requirements)

    • AED on site, trained staff & readiness checks — CA Health & Safety Code §104113
    • Hood & fire-suppression certification — CA Fire Code; NFPA 96

  • Employment law (FLSA) (5 requirements)

    • Employee vs. independent contractor classification — FLSA; IRS Publication 15-A; CA AB5 (California); state equivalents
    • Booth renter vs. employee classification — CA Labor Code §226.8 (willful misclassification); AB 5 / AB 2257 professional services exemption

  • Anti-discrimination (3 requirements)

    • ADA / accessibility compliance — Civil Code §51, §52(a); ADA
    • Sexual harassment prevention training — CA Gov. Code §12950.1 (SB 1343); similar requirements in NY, IL, WA

  • Tax registration & filing (3 requirements)

    • Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) — IRS Form SS-4; 26 U.S.C. §6109
    • State employer tax registration — State employment tax laws; varies by state

  • Employee records & I-9 (2 requirements)

    • Informed consent & client age rules — CA Health & Safety Code §119302, §119303; CA Penal Code §652, §653
    • Form I-9 employment eligibility verification — Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) 8 U.S.C. §1324a; 8 CFR §274a

  • Benefits & leave (1 requirement)

    • Paid sick leave policy — CA Labor Code §245 et seq. (SB 616); state paid sick leave laws

  • Data privacy (CCPA) (1 requirement)

    • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) compliance — CA Civil Code §1798.100 et seq. (CCPA/CPRA)

  • DOT / transportation (1 requirement)

    • Business vehicle & DOT compliance — FMCSA 49 CFR Part 391

  • Required workplace postings (1 requirement)

    • Required workplace posters — FLSA; OSHA; Title VII; ADA; FMLA; state equivalents

  • Workers' compensation (1 requirement)

    • Workers' compensation insurance — CA Labor Code §3700; state workers' comp laws in all 50 states

ComplianceOS is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We don't determine what applies to your business.