Beginning March 2, 2015, all businesses within the City of Palo Alto located in fixed places of businesses (i.e. commercial buildings, retail storefronts, etc.) are required to register their business with the City. For more information, visit the Business Registry page.

Palo Alto is a draw for start-ups and established businesses. Maybe it's because Silicon Valley was born here, in a humble garage on Addison Ave, where Bill Hewlett and David Packard began their little business in 1938. 

The city gets top marks from business for a number of reasons. For retailers such as Stanford Shopping Center and others, the area offers excellent demographics with cultural diversity and high household incomes. Palo Alto is a lively city, with a daytime population of over 120,000 people who frequent local restaurants, coffee houses, and shops. At night, Palo Alto is a regional draw for its cultural events, top-rated restaurants and nightlife.

Palo Alto businesses enjoy the efficient utility services provided by the city. This is possible because Palo Alto had the foresight to invest in its own municipal utilities back in 1896. Modern services include a dark fiber infrastructure that provides ultra-fast Internet access.

With its international reputation as a leader in technological development, and its California-heritage tradition, Palo Alto is an extraordinary place to operate a business.