California lesson 4 of 6
Get an EIN and open a bank account
An EIN is the federal tax number for your business. The IRS issues it free of charge, and no state agency is involved, but you will need it before a California bank will open a business account.
Applying for the EIN
Apply directly on the IRS website. There is no charge. The IRS says plainly that you should be wary of sites that charge for an EIN. If the responsible party has a US social security number or ITIN, the online application issues the number immediately. Without one, the application goes in on Form SS-4 by fax or post and takes considerably longer.
- Wait until the Articles of Organization are approved before applying
- The responsible party is a real person, not a company
- One EIN per LLC, including single member LLCs that plan to hire or open a bank account
Opening the account
A California bank will typically want the stamped Articles of Organization, the EIN letter, your operating agreement, and identification for anyone with signing authority or significant ownership. Bringing all four to the appointment is the difference between opening on the day and coming back next week.
Never run business income through a personal account. Mixing funds is the single most common reason a court sets aside the liability protection an LLC is supposed to give you.
Key takeaways
- The EIN is free and comes from the IRS, not from California.
- Apply after the Articles are approved so the details match.
- A separate bank account is what keeps the liability shield credible.
Official sources
Or let us file your California LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team