Permits and Government Contracts license information

Starting a(n) Government Contracts Business Licenses & Tax IDs

Hi, I'm Cost Of Business License Government Contracts 📝 ✅ Contractor Government Contracts Checklist Business License DBA (Doing Business As) LLC or Corporation Registration Seller’s Permit Contractor’s License Surety Bond Employer Identification Number (EIN) Workers’ Compensation Insurance OSHA Compliance Certification Disadvantaged Business Enterpris..., .

Government Contracts

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Starting a Government Contractor Biz? Let’s Nail It!

If you're planning to snag those sweet government contracts as a contractor, you've got to look sharp on paper too. Translation? Set your business up like a pro. Here's your checklist:📝

✅ Contractor Government Contracts Checklist

Business License
DBA (Doing Business As)
LLC or Corporation Registration
Seller’s Permit
Contractor’s License
Surety Bond
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
OSHA Compliance Certification
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification (if applicable)

🔨 The Basics

A **Business License** is your golden ticket to operating legally. If your business name isn’t your legal name, you’ll need a **DBA**—or skip the drama and file an **LLC or Corporation** to register the name permanently. The **Seller’s Permit** lets you collect sales tax, because the government loves its cut.

⚡ The Special Stuff

A **Contractor’s License** proves you won’t turn a building into modern art by accident. The **Surety Bond** is like a promise you’ll play nice. **EIN** is your business’s Social Security number, and **Workers’ Comp** keeps employees from suing you into oblivion. **OSHA Compliance** means you won’t accidentally invent a new safety hazard. If you qualify, **DBE Certification** opens doors to juicy contracts. **Obtain all licenses and registrations here online**—because paperwork should be painful, not the process. 📌

✅ Business Licenses and Registrations You’ll Need

✅ **LLC or Corporation Registration** – Protects your personal assets and makes you look serious. No one's handing out contracts to "Bob's Side Hustle LLC-ish Thing." Choose LLC or S Corp for tax perks and protection.
✅ **Business Name Registration (DBA)** – If your business name is anything other than your personal name, register it. Helps you get checks made out to the right name (and looks cooler on business cards).
✅ **Seller's Permit (aka Sales Tax Permit)** – Needed if you're selling products or taxable services. Even contractors sometimes sell goods, like equipment, supplies, or resale items. Yes, even if you *mainly* offer services.
✅ **General Business License** – The basic "yes, you're allowed to operate this business" document. Like your company’s permission slip.
✅ **EIN (Employer Identification Number)** – Like a Social Security Number for your biz. You’ll need it to hire people, open a business bank account, and fill out those juicy contract applications.
✅ **Special Permits (If Applicable)** – Depending on your trade, you might need specialty licenses (electrical, plumbing, etc.). Contracts don’t go to unlicensed folks swinging hammers on the fly.

Do You Need a Seller’s Permit?

Short answer: ✅ If you plan to sell any taxable products (tools, supplies, materials, etc.), or subcontract with parts involved, you’ll likely need one. Service-only with no goods involved? You might not. But it never hurts to be compliant and ready to scale.

LLC vs. S Corp: Do You Need One?

You technically *can* operate solo as a sole proprietorship, but would you show up to a tuxedo party in gym shorts? Probably not. LLCs and S Corps give you credibility, liability protection, and tax flexibility. An LLC is easy to manage and great for starters. S Corp may save you money on self-employment taxes once your profits grow.

What’s an EIN and Why Should You Care?

Think of it as your business’s social security number. It’s what you put on W-9s, tax forms, payroll, and those all-important government contract applications. Plus, it makes you sound official when you say, “Sure, I’ll email you my W-9.”

Equipment and Capital to Start

✅ **Laptop + Printer** – Because printing 87-page contract bids at Staples is not a vibe.
✅ **Smartphone with Business Line** – Your cousin's memes don’t belong on your work phone.
✅ **Project Management Software** – Even a basic one keeps your contracts in line and on time.
✅ **Professional Website & Email** – "[YourBiz]@gmail.com" won’t cut it when bidding on $100K jobs.
✅ **Startup Capital** – Plan for $1,000 to $5,000 depending on your field. Equipment, licensing, branding, and marketing will eat quick.

Industry Stats to Impress Your Inner Nerd

✅ The U.S. government spends **over $600 billion** a year on contracts. Yes, that’s billion with a B.
✅ Small businesses land **about 25%** of federal contract dollars. That’s a nice slice of pie.
✅ Construction and services contracts dominate—think IT, consulting, maintenance, etc.

Ready to Register?

Obtain all licenses and registrations here online: 👉 👉 👉 👈 👈 👈 Keep it legit. Keep it professional. And keep the government contracts rolling in like a boss.

✔ Biz Structure

You can choose to be a(n) Government Contracts :

Sole Proprietor,
LLC,
Corporation or
Partnership.
After you decide and select your business entity, you need licensing.

✔ Biz License

Long Beach Business Tax Registration ( Business License)
All businesses including home, online or mobile BUSINESS need a BUSINESS license because they are BUSINESSES.

✔ DBA Biz Name

A(n) Government Contracts business using a fictitious business name in Los Angeles County i.e. you are a business that uses a DBA doing business as trade name to trade that is other than the full legal (first and last -- full name) name of a sole proprietor or a name other than the LLC or Corporation business name need a(n) fictitious business name. For instance you open a(n) Government Contracts business and you name it "Superior Government Contracts Group". You will need to file a fictitious business name for that name.

✔ Seller Permit

In CA you need a resale ID ( AKA seller's permit) if you selling touchable items. (A.K.A state id, wholesale, resale, reseller certificate, about $39 for most states).
Seller's Permit

✔ Federal EIN

Note: All businesses need a federal tax ID number except sole proprietors that are not employers and are not independent contractors.
An independent contractor is a self employed business person that receives more than $600 per year from anyone of his or her clients.
IRS rule: The client must issue a 1099 form to the independent contractor and the independent contractor must have a federal tax ID. However, even sole owners may obtain a federal ID and use it as a business tax ID instead of using their own social security number as a business tax ID number.
However, all other licenses that apply to sole proprietors as discussed here are requited regardless of getting a federal tax ID number.

✔ State EIN

In addition you will need a federal and a state EIN if you will hire employees. I.e., a CA Federal Tax Id Number ($29) and a(n) CA State Employer Tax Number

✔ L L C

Instead of filing a fictitious business name DBA Filing (about $49 plus state and legal newspaper publication fees) in Long Beach, Incorporate in CA or form a(n) CA LLC .

Filing a DBA is not required if you will set up an LLC or form a Corporation. If you will do business under your first and last legal name you will not need to get a fictitious business name.
Also note that even using your first and last name may not help you avoid filing a DBA if the name has a suffix such as "& sons" etc.

✔ Incorporation

If you do form an Home Based Business llc or incorporate (about $49 plus state fees for most states) your Government Contracts business instead of just filing a fictitious business name (dba), it will help you avoid personal liability from wrongs arising from your business dealings and you will not have to file the Long Beach business name. In lieu of recording a Los Angeles County trade company name (our filing service fee includes trade name registration and newspaper legal publication for 4 weeks) you can also form a corporation in CA or form an CA LLC (starts @ $49 plus state fee for most states & includes bylaws for the corporation and Limited Liability operating agreement for the LLC that is required to open a business bank account). .


Cost Of Business License CA Government Contracts CA Long Beach

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