How to fill out the CSLB license application Page 1

Division 1

The first question you need to answer is, what is the name of my company? The second question is, which is related to the first question, what kind of business entity will I be?

Let’s take the first question.

A business name can be your personal name or a fictitious business name (FBN), also known as a DBA or Doing Business As.

If you apply for a sole proprietorship or sole proprietorship license, you may use your personal name as your business name. Of you can use an FBN. If you choose to use an FBN, you’ll want to make sure it’s available within your city or county to register with, and this registration is required no matter which business entity you go with.

As I mentioned in a previous post, a business name indicating any business classification should indicate the classification being requested. If you are applying for a plumbing license and your business name is ABC Solar, the CSLB will require you to provide a DBA that includes the word “plumbing.” If your FBN is Apples to Apples, then the CSLB will not ask you to change it or add a DBA because Apples to Apples does not denote any business classification.

Now the second question.

Will you be operating as a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or LLC? These types of entities have their own specific requirements.

Sole Proprietor – Just you, or you and an RME qualifier

Partnership: You and one or more partners

Corporation: Only you, or you and a rater, and other officers. Please note that the officers listed on the corporation’s record with the Secretary of State must also be listed on the license application.

LLC: Only you, or you and a qualifier, and other managers or members. Note that an LLC license has an additional bonding requirement that ranges in price from $1,250 to $5,000 per year. All members of the Managers LLC listed in the State Registration Section must also be listed on the license application.

division 2

Once you have addressed the business name question, you can proceed to Section 2 of the application. Here you will check the box corresponding to your type of business.

A partnership requires a partnership EIN which is obtained from the IRS. The number will have this format: XX-XXXXXXX.

A corporation requires a Corp number which is obtained from the CA Sect. of State. The number will have this format: CXXXXXXX.

An LLC requires an LLC number which is also obtained from the CA Sect. of State. The number will have this format: XXXXXXXXXXXX, and it begins with the year the LLC was formed.

Note: A partnership, corporation, or LLC must be formed before submitting your license application to CSLB.

Division 3

Here you will list the qualifier information. The rater is a person who has the experience and will take the CSLB exams. Note: The qualifier may also be the sole owner, sole officer, or sole member of the LLC, unless the qualifier is not an officer or manager/member. If the qualifier is not a sole proprietor, sole officer, or sole manager/member, then the information for the sole proprietor, officers, or manager/members will be included in Section 4, page 2 of the application.

Please see my next post for how to complete Section 4 or Page 2 of the CSLB license application.

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