Can I start a business in California without being a resident and without a physical location?
<p>The details are that I would likely be a resident 4 to 6 months a year and that the business does not need a physical location as we provide local shipping services through independent operators -  imagine an Uber-style shipping company.</p>

<p>Does the scenario change if the business was, for example, a web design company?</p>

<p>If the answer is no is there a scenario where I could hire someone, a resident, to start a business and then sell it to me as an out-of-state resident? </p>

<p>Yeah, that's not a problem.  Get one of Nolo Press's <a href="https://store.nolo.com/products/business-suite/business-formation/starting-a-business" rel="nofollow noreferrer">books</a> on starting a business, and go to town. </p>

<p>Any citizen can incorporate a business in any US state.  You will need a  <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_agent" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>registered agent</strong></a> in the state you registered in.  This must be a real office staffed 9-5 M-F.  Usually you contract this out for $300-ish a year, but you can be your own registered agent if you have a street address you are at 90% of the time.  The criterion is that if a process server tries 3 times to deliver you a legal notice, he must succeed.</p>

<p>You will find that government license fees and the cost of registered agents will be higher in California than in other states.  As you research setting up a corporation or LLC, you will learn other advantages of choosing another state.  </p>

<p>However, if you do business in California (pay employees; interact with customers), you will need a state license to <strong>do business in California.</strong>  If you formed your business in California, that "comes with it".  Otherwise your out-of-state business must register <em>as a foreign business</em> with the Secretary of State.  This costs about the same as registering a domestic (CA) business.  </p>

<p>You will also need a California Registered Agent.  Registering a foreign business and licensing it into CA can get a bit burdensome, you have to compare that to the benefits of foreign corporations to see if it's worth it. </p>

california