Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: October 2026

These are the questions people ask us most about business licenses and fees in San Francisco, answered the short way first. This site is not a government agency; we estimate from published schedules and point you to the official office for the final word. For the calculator itself, start on the home page.

How much is a business license in San Francisco?
The annual registration fee runs $55 to $60,000 by receipts tier, plus a $4 state fee. The gross receipts tax is separate: $0 at $5M or less in global receipts, then marginal rates by category.

Is the $5 million exemption really a cliff?
Yes. There is no phase-in. At $5,000,000 or less in global receipts you owe no gross receipts tax; one dollar over and the tax applies to your full SF receipts through the marginal brackets.

Do I still register if I owe no tax?
Yes. The exemption zeroes the gross receipts tax, not the registration requirement or the registration fee.

What if my business spans categories?
You compute each category's receipts separately through its own bracket table. The calculator above handles one category; multi-category businesses should work through the city's filing instructions.

Will rates change?
Yes, upward. The 2025 and 2026 rates are identical, but higher rates take effect for tax years 2027 and 2028. We update this page as the city publishes changes.

Is this an official government website?

No. This is an independent resource operated by Perfect Option MBC, LLC. We are not a government agency and we are not affiliated with any city or state. Every estimate points back to the official published schedule so you can confirm the number at the source.

Is the calculator free?

Yes. The calculator and this guide are free to use, with no account and no sign-up. The numbers you enter are calculated in your browser and are not stored or sent to us.

How current are the fees?

We work from the fee schedules and tax rules the city publishes, and we update our math when the city updates its schedule. Fees do change, sometimes mid-year, so treat every result as a well-sourced estimate and confirm the final figure with the city before you budget around it.