Business

The Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century – a time when technology is again, changing the face of business. The chamber is at the forefront supporting entrepreneurs as they do business in Los Alamitos. The Los Alamitos Business Environment starting and operating a business in Los Alamitos. The overall health and vitality of Los Alamitos’s economy is a key factor in sustaining the community’s quality of life and in making Los Alamitos a desirable place to live & work.

Los Alamitos supports a diverse array of business interacts, including retail, manufacturing and a wide variety of services based businesses, financial services and many others.

The Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce, the City’s Community/Economic Development Department SCORE, and numerous groups and organizations have built a strong partnership to provide businesses with knowledge and assistance they need to succeed here.

Chamber Business Tips Is Starting A Business:
The key to successfully starting a business is good preliminary ground planning. As your idea for a new business grows in your mind, discuss it with who own similar businesses. Look for pitfalls and hurdles to avoid and opportunity capture. Listen, explore, question…then put pencil to paper and start planning.

Develop a Business Plan. This is a critical step. Will your business:
· Fulfill a market need?
· Provide a special product or service.
· Provide an adequate profit?
· How will you get started?

The Small Business Development Center and SCORE offices can help you answer these questions. There are also books available on developing business plan; the Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce offers ONE-ON-ONE SCORE counseling at its office in Los Alamitos. There is no charge, by appointment only (562) 598-6659. Make contact with the relevant government offices to determine and meet the requirements for your business. Make contact with financial entities.

Implement you Plan - Start your business!

Once you are in operation, monitor your business from different perspectives, customers, employees, financial, operations, etc. Get timely assistance with issues as they arise.

Key Contacts and Information Sources
The primary offices you may want to contact to start a business are the following:

BANKS
Choose one carefully as all banks do not provide identical services. Saving and loans are now authorized to make business loans.

BONDS - SURETY
Check with your insurance agent.

BUILDING PERMIT
See your City Clerk.

BUSINESS LICENSE
All businesses operating in incorporated cities, even if not based there, must obtain a city business license. Home-based businesses may also need a special permit. Businesses in county areas must obtain a county license if the business requires policing.

WHERE
City - City clerk
(562) 431-3538

County - County Sheriff
550 N. Flower St., Room 101
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 527-9100

STATE LICENSE BOARD
(800) 321-2752

INVENTIONS
Call: U.S. Information Center (800) 688-9889

INCOME & FICA TAX
Federal Call: (800) 829-1040

INSURANCE CLAIM PROBLEM
State Dept. of Insurance (800) 927-4357

FEDERAL - U.S. DEPT. OF LABOR, WAGES & HOUR DIV.
34 Civic Center Plaza, Room 402
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 836-2156

LEASE
Check with your attorney before signing.

NATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
Check
Public Library
University Library
Yellow Pages

ORGANIZATIONS
Kinds of: Proprietorship - Partnership - Corporations- Limited Partnership - Chapter "S" Corporation, see your Attorney or Accountant

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (OSHA)
Call: Cal. - (714) 935-2750 Info: (800) 356-4674
U.S. - (800) 475-4019

ON LINE HELP
http://www.sba.gov
http://www.score114.org

PAYROLL TAX INFORMATION (STATE)
Employment Development Department
23151 Plaza Point Dr.
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 768-6102

RESALE NUMBER
State Board of Equalization
28 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 558-4054

SALES AND USE TAX (California)
State Board of Equalization
28 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 558-4054

SIGN REGULATIONS
See City or County Clerk

SITE LOCATION
Check you location, zoning and lease carefully with your attorney.

SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT CORP. (SBIC)
Call SCORE for list - (714) 564-5202

STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE
(800) 480-3287

TAXES, FEDERAL
Federal Income & FICA Taxes
Internal Revenue Services (IRS)
80 W. Civic Center Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92715
(714) 347-9204 (877) 829-5500

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Employment Development Dept.
28 Civic Center Plaza, Room 755
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 558-4342

VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT
(Pest Control)
13001 Garden Grove Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92643
Call: (714) 971-2421

WORKER'S COMPENSATIONS (CALIF.)
Contact State Compensations Insurance Fund
1750 E. 4th St.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 565-5000 or your Insurance Broker

ZONING (Planning, Building, etc.)
County Environmental Management Agency
300 N. Flower
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 834-2300

Also, contact your local Community/Economic Development Department (562) 431-3538