After a short Internet search, it is easy to find a handful of sites dedicated to small business resources in California. To make it even easier, this article summarizes each site and what small business owners can find for financing and business planning support in California.
California has relatively high taxes and a high cost of living, which makes it even more important to seek small business tax and financing assistance. Whether you are starting a small business, or you have been operating in California for many years, there is funding and assistance to propel you forward.
California Small Business Development Center
A good place to start is the California SBDC. Through one-on-one consulting sessions, the SBDC can offer guidance on business plans, marketing, sales, access to capital, technology and more. Between 2018 and 2022, the California SBDC helped small business owners access more than $4.78 billion dollars. Financing can come from grants, loans and even business competitions.
The SBDC is a great place to start if you are launching a business or diversifying into a new niche like government contracting.
Visit: https://www.californiasbdc.org/sbdc-services/
California State Controller
On this site, you can find a page of resources dedicated to small businesses that range from licensing and permits to regulations and taxes. For planning and finance, there are two sites listed that walk small business owners through permits by city, county and state per type of business while also identifying state grants.
- Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz)
o Find small business grants and tax credit information - CalGold
o Access information on all state and local business permits
Visit: https://www.sco.ca.gov/resources_for_california_small_businesses.html
California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)
This site advocates for small business success at every stage, offering easy navigation to resources for start-ups, existing businesses and fast-growth businesses. Business owners can meet with Small Business Local Engagement Specialists or a regional advisor to get started.
Visit: https://calosba.ca.gov/
California State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Small business owners interested in exporting goods and services may qualify for reimbursable export vouchers and participate in trade shows. The STEP program is administered by Go-Biz through Gov. Newsom’s office.
Visit: https://export.business.ca.gov/
California Tax Service Center
This site is a partnership of tax agencies to help small business owners find important tax information all in one place. Businesses can download tax forms and review tax news as well as remit tax payments online.
Visit: http://www.taxes.ca.gov/
California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (iBank)
This finance center features a loan guarantee program to assist small businesses that experience capital access barriers. The loan guarantee program encourages lenders to provide funds that help small businesses grow and prosper in California.
The site includes information on participating lenders, venture capital, farm loans and business credits.
Visit: https://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business/loan-guarantees/#
Some of these sites cross-reference other valuable small business sites. It is a handy reference for exploring your options for small business consulting, business planning and financing. Let us know if you have questions about California small business taxation, regulations or accounting support. As a California CPA firm, we serve closely held businesses and their owners across California.
Learn more about LvHJ’s business experience.
