California Business Bill of Sale
California requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page California business bill of sale PDF that includes everything the California Department of Motor Vehicles looks for, matching the fields on REG 135. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Business details
Price and terms
How to sell a business in California
A business bill of sale transfers the tangible and intangible assets of a small business, such as equipment, inventory, furniture, the trade name, customer list and goodwill, from the seller to the buyer at closing. It is the document that goes with the purchase agreement and is what the buyer shows to banks, landlords and the state when the business changes hands.
Seller steps
- Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
- Agree on the price and fill in the California business bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the serial number.
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. California does not require a notary.
- Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the business.
- Hand over the business and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the description against the business itself before you sign.
- Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
- If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.
Before you sign
- Attach an inventory and equipment list as a schedule for anything beyond a one-line description.
- Say clearly whether the buyer assumes any debts, leases or contracts.
- Both parties sign in their capacity (owner, member, president) if an entity is involved.
- This is the bill of sale, not the purchase agreement. For a sale above a few thousand dollars, have a lawyer draft the purchase agreement and use this as the closing document.
Why a bill of sale matters for a business
- Transfers the assets at closing in one signed document.
- Lists exactly what is and is not included, which prevents post-sale fights.
- Needed to transfer the DBA, licenses, lease and utility accounts.
- Supports the buyer's asset basis for taxes and the seller's gain calculation.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
California at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Required in common cases
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- REG 135
- Where the buyer registers
- California Department of Motor Vehicles (www.dmv.ca.gov)
- Buyer's deadline to title
- 10 days from the sale
- License plates
- Stay with vehicle
California uses REG 135 to record the purchase price and date, and requires it when the title is missing or the seller is not the registered owner. The transfer must be started within 10 days of a private sale. Plates stay with the vehicle.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other California forms
- California Vehicle Bill of Sale
- California Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- California Boat Bill of Sale
- California Trailer Bill of Sale
- California Firearm Bill of Sale
- California Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- California RV Bill of Sale
- California ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- California Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- California Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- California Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- California Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- California Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- California Equipment Bill of Sale
- California Tractor Bill of Sale
- California Horse Bill of Sale
- California Dog Bill of Sale
- California Livestock Bill of Sale
- California General Bill of Sale
Business Bill of Sale in other states
California business bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a business in California?+
California requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. California uses REG 135 to record the purchase price and date, and requires it when the title is missing or the seller is not the registered owner. The transfer must be started within 10 days of a private sale. Plates stay with the vehicle. California publishes REG 135 for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a California business bill of sale need to be notarized?+
California does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.
Does the buyer need to file a business bill of sale in California?+
No. Businesses are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy.
Is a business bill of sale the same as a purchase agreement?+
No. The purchase agreement sets the deal: price, terms, representations, non-compete. The bill of sale is the closing document that actually transfers the assets. Small deals sometimes use the bill of sale alone; larger ones should have both.
Does it transfer the LLC or corporation?+
No. This transfers assets. Selling the entity itself is a membership-interest or stock sale and needs different documents. Most small-business sales are asset sales.
Do I need to notify the state?+
Usually the DBA (assumed name) and any licenses or permits have to be reassigned or re-filed, and some states have bulk-sale notice rules. Check with the secretary of state and your accountant.