A business plan offers a structured blueprint for achieving business goals. It will help you identify the actions you need to take, and ensure you stay on track. Many businesses fail without a solid business plan. Having a good business plan can be beneficial when you apply for a loan.

Get Support

Attend the Business Action Plan Workshop that is designed to help small businesses define and refine their goals, create a strategic business plan, and manage their financials more effectively.

The City has partnered with business advisors to offer you personalized guidance in crafting a business plan—completely free of charge. If you're interested in one-on-one advising, please reach out to our Business Liaisons to schedule a session.

naz.jalalidin@newarkca.gov  (669) 298-5898
morgan.pedersen@newarkca.gov (510) 673-6375

Your choice of legal structure will affect your income taxes and personal liability. Will you operate your business as a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation? Determining this will clarify what formational documents are required by the State.

If you are a sole proprietor, no formation documents are required to be filed with the California Secretary of State. It is optional for partnerships to file with the State. If you are starting a corporation or a limited liability company, you must contact the California Secretary of State’s Office and they can supply you with all the information and forms needed. You are strongly advised to contact your own accountant or attorney for advice determining the best legal structure for your business.

California Secretary of State

1500 11th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 653-6814

www.sos.ca.gov

Important!

Before signing a lease or purchasing a property, contact the City of Newark’s Planning Division to verify if your business use is allowed in the space or if a Use Permit is required. City zoning ensures that businesses operate in suitable areas, protecting both you and your neighbors from incompatible uses.

Planning Division

(510) 578-4330
planning@newark.org                     

The website, www.SiliconValleyOnline.org is a free online database of available retail, commercial and industrial properties in Newark and the broader Silicon Valley region.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, City of Newark’s Economic Development team is eager to help. Feel free to contact the Business Liaisons or Deputy Economic Development Director at angela.tsui@newarkca.gov.

If you are registering your business using a fictitious name or Doing Business As (DBA) name, you will need to register with the Alameda County Clerk’s Office. This step needs to be completed 40 days before your first transaction and before obtaining a Business License from the City of Newark. For more information, visit acgov.org/auditor/clerk.

Also, public notices announcing your business name must be posted for four weeks in the local newspaper. For public notices, you can contact the East Bay Times, the Tri-City Voice, or the Mercury News.

Try This Tip:

You can generate a short, brandable business name using AI business name generator Namelix at https://namelix.com.

All Businesses are required to file State and Federal tax returns. For State tax information, visit www.taxes.ca.gov. For Federal tax information, visit www.irs.gov/businesses.

Will you sell a product? The California Board of Equalization can assist you in determining whether you need a Seller’s Permit. You may also be required to collect sales tax. To do so, the Board of Equalization will need to issue you a resale number to report that sales tax.

Whether you are self-employed or an employer with one or more employees, you must also pay Social Security taxes.

---

Franchise Tax Board 1515 Clay Street, Suite 305 Oakland, CA  94612 (800) 852-5711 www.ftb.ca.gov

Board of Equalization 250 South Second Street San Jose, CA  95113 (408) 277-1231 www.boe.ca.gov

Social Security 280 S. First Street, Room 244 San Jose, CA  95113 (800) 772-1213 www.ssa.gov

In accordance with the City ’s license and taxation ordinance, any person conducting business, including Internet-based businesses, within the City of Newark is required to have a business license on file. This ordinance also applies to those businesses advertising a Newark address as their physical location and/or using a Newark address for business mailing purposes.

Complete your business license application here: www.blapp.newark.org

Finance Department Front Desk

(510) 578-4310

finance@newark.org

Home-Based Businesses

Any Newark business that does not have a commercial storefront, office, retail or industrial location is considered to be a home-based business, even if the sales or services are performed on the Internet or outside the residence.

Home-based businesses, also need a home occupation permit. Planning approval is required prior to issuance of business license.                For more                     details, visit City of Newark’s website at https://www.newark.org   /departments/administrative-services/finance/business-license/home-based- business.

Use Permits

Use Permits may be required depending on the type of business proposed and the extent of the building alterations involved. Application for permits and other required forms can be downloaded from the City of Newark’s website at https://www.newark.org/departments/community - development/planning-division

Building Permits

Before starting any tenant improvements, renovations, or equipment installations, please contact the Building Inspection Division.

building.inspection@newark.org (510) 578-4261 (press 1)         

Sign Permit

If your business would like to display a sign that is visible from outside a building, a Sign Permit is required from the Planning Division. Permits are needed for both permanent and temporary signs. Contact Planning Division for more information.

planning@newark.org  (510) 578-4330

---

Important Message

Before starting any construction work for your business, we strongly encourage you to discuss with the Building Inspection Division your project. Skipping this step can lead to unnecessary costs and complications down the road— something we want to help you avoid.

A quick conversation with the Building Inspection Division can help you avoid these pitfalls and ensure a smooth, hassle-free project. The Building Inspection team is here to support you, so please reach out and let's make your construction experience successful from the start!

	A quick conversation with the Building Inspection Division can help you avoid these pitfalls and ensure a smooth, hassle-free project.  The Building Inspection team is here to support you, so please reach out and let's make your construction experience successful from the start!
Building Inspection Division (510) 578-4261 (press 1) building.inspection@newark.org	Matthew Farrell Chief Building Official (510) 578-4217 matthew.farrell@newarkca.gov

---

Depending on the type of business, you may be required to obtain p4ermits or licenses from the following county, state, or federal agencies:

• Alameda County Environmental Health Permit: deh.acgov.org Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) License: www.abc.ca.gov

• California Department of Consumer Affairs License: www.dca.ca.gov Import/Export Permit: www.cbp.gov/trade

• Family Child Care License: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing

• Retail and Wholesale Business Permits: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/faqseller.htm

• Contractor’s License Construction: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/

• Other Permits and Licenses: https://www.calgold.ca.gov/

Try this tip:

To determine what other regional, state, and federal permits and license your business may need, please visit the State’s CalGOLD Business Permits Made Simple website at www.calgold.ca.gov.

 

 

If you hire employees, be sure to register with the California Employment Development Department at edd.ca.gov. They will provide you with the necessary forms and answer any questions you may have regarding your responsibilities. As an employer, the State requires you to do the following:

• Withhold state income tax
• Withhold state disability insurance
• Pay unemployment tax
• Pay for any employment training costs

If you have employees, you are required to be located in a commercial location.

You must also register with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at www.irs.gov to receive an Employer Identification Number. The IRS offers many services to new business owners and will provide a package of helpful information explaining the types of forms used and due dates for these forms.

As an employer, you are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. You may obtain this insurance through your own insurance agent or the State Fund of California at www.statefundca.com. The State Fund is a non-profit, public enterprise fund that operates like a mutual insurance carrier.

Business 101

This series is designed specifically for Spanish- speaking business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, focusing on essential concepts and practices for successful business operations.

• Newark Chamber of Commerce

35501 Cedar Blvd

Newark, CA 94560

(510) 578-4500

www.newark-chamber.com

• Old Town Business Association

Veronica Reyes President

(510) 938-7944

 Hector Soto Membership Committee

(510) 378-4730

• Small Business Development Center

25800 Carlos Bee Blvd Hayward, CA 94542

(510) 885-4801

www.eastbaysbdc.org

• Small Business Administration

455 Market St, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 744-6820

www.sba.gov/district/san-francisco

Library

The library offers a variety of online learning tools to help you develop skills in areas like basic computer use, financial planning, and more through Udemy. Access these resources with your library card by visiting the library’s website at aclibrary .org and exploring the available tools.

Online Business Courses

Explore a variety of resources such as Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Explora to discover comprehensive courses on essential business topics.

Digital Business Bootcamp

This series provides practical tools and strategies to enhance online presence, engage audiences, and drive business growth.

Business 101

This series is designed specifically for Spanish-speaking business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, focusing on essential concepts and practices for successful business operations.