These are the public and nonprofit bodies in California that help two or more owners start a business together, fund it and settle it when they disagree. Every one is free or low cost, and every link goes to the organization itself.
This is general information as of October 2026; a lawyer in California should read your actual agreement.
California's partnership rules at a glance
- The law. General partnerships follow the Revised Uniform Partnership Act (Corp. Code §16100). LLCs have California's own act, modeled on RULLCA (Corp. Code §17701.01). LLPs are open only to law, accounting, architecture, engineering and land surveying firms. All 50 states compared.
- The cost. An LLC files for $70, then owes the $800 annual tax from its first year and a $20 Statement of Information every two years. A general partnership files nothing. Fees in every state.
- Non-competes. Void for employees (Bus. & Prof. Code §16600), but a partner leaving or dissolving may agree not to compete in a set area (§16602), and an LLC member the same (§16602.5). Every state's rule.
- When a court can end it. An LLC can be dissolved for deadlock or persistent fraud or mismanagement, and the other members can stop it by buying the petitioners out at fair market value (§17707.03). Grounds by state.
Forming and filing
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California Secretary of State, Business EntitiesFiles LLC articles, LLP registrations and the optional Statement of Partnership Authority, online through bizfile. -
Franchise Tax BoardCollects the $800 annual LLC tax and the LLC's state return. -
California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationSeller's permits, if the business sells taxable goods. -
CalGoldLists the state, county and city permits for your kind of business at your location.
Free advice
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California SBDCFree one-on-one advising from the state's Small Business Development Centers, from choosing an entity to getting a loan application ready.
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SCORE Los AngelesFree mentoring from volunteers who have run businesses, in the Los Angeles area or by video.
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SCORE San Francisco and East BayThe same free mentoring for owners around the Bay.
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California Women's Business CentersA network of 21 centers funded by the SBA and the state, with free advising and training for women owners. -
SoCal Veterans Business Outreach CenterFree business training and advising for veterans and military families in the eight southern counties. -
Pacific Northwest Regional VBOCThe SBA's veterans center for Northern California, Oregon and Washington.
Legal help
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State Bar of California, lawyer referral servicesFinds a State Bar certified referral service in your county, which can match you with a business lawyer. -
USC Gould Small Business ClinicSupervised law students handle formation and corporate work for owners who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. -
UC Irvine Law Startup and Small Business ClinicFree help with formation and operating questions for businesses in Orange County and nearby.
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Local Dispute Resolution ProgramsThe Department of Consumer Affairs' list of county mediation programs, a cheap first step before a partner dispute reaches court.
Money
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California Office of the Small Business AdvocateThe state's small business office: grants, the funded advising network and the way into state financing.
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IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee ProgramState guarantees on bank loans for businesses with up to 750 employees, applied for through a partner development corporation.
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CalCAP for Small BusinessA loan loss reserve run by the State Treasurer that makes lenders more willing to lend to small firms.
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SBA district officesSix in California (Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange County / Inland Empire, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco) for SBA loans and local programs. -
CAMEOThe network of microlenders and business development nonprofits; its member directory finds a small lender or coach near you.
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