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Small Business Resources

The Controller’s Office has compiled the following resources to help California small businesses learn about various federal, state, and local programs. Resources on this page will be updated as programs are identified. Program deadlines vary, so please check with the agency on timelines and application materials. 

To learn about starting a small business in California, please visit SCO’s resource page.

To learn about COVID relief, please visit SCO’s COVID Relief and Assistance for Small Business page.

SCO hosts monthly free regional small business webinars. Register for future webinars or view past webinars here.

Tax Credits

Program Agency What Does It Do? More Information and to Apply:
California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA) State Treasurer’s Office Offers sales tax exemptions on equipment purchases for manufacturers promoting alternative energy and advanced transportation and facilitates financing for energy efficiency retrofits. https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/caeatfa/
California Competes Tax Credit Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Offers tax credits to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size, or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. https://business.ca.gov/california-competes-tax-credit/

 

    Loans and Financing

    Program Agency What Does It Do? More Information and to Apply:
    California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA) State Treasurer’s Office Supports small business financing and has sub-programs for both electric vehicle charging and low-emissions heavy duty trucks. https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/
    California Rebuilding Fund Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lenders A loan program to support California’s small businesses—especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state. Businesses who employed 50 or less full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply https://www.connect2capital.com/p/californiarebuildingfund/

     

      Training

      Program Agency What Does It Do? More Information and to Apply:
      Trainings and webinars  CalOSBA California funds a network of small business technical assistance centers that provide no-cost one-on-one consulting and low-cost training services to small businesses and entrepreneurs with all stages https://calosba.ca.gov/local-direct-assistance/external-trainings-webinars/

       

        Employer-Provided Programs

        Program Agency What Does It Do? More Information and to Apply:
        CalSavers State Treasurer's Office California’s new retirement savings program that offers employers a public option. https://www.calsavers.com/
        Employee training Employment Training Panel The Employment Training Panel (ETP) provides funding to employers for training that upgrades the skills of their workers.  https://etp.ca.gov/program-info/small-business/

         

          Government Contracting

          Program Agency What Does It Do? More Information and to Apply:
          Learn how to do business with the state of California CA Department of General Services Find resources to support your certified small business or disabled veteran business enterprise pursue contract opportunities with the state of California. https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Resources/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Resources-List-Folder/How-to-do-business-with-the-state-of-California
          Cal eProcure CalVet (CA Department of Veterans Affairs) CalVet is committed to awarding a minimum of 25 percent of its procurement dollars to California certified Small Business (SB) and a minimum of 5 percent to certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) firms. https://www.calvet.ca.gov/OPC/Pages/SB-DVBE.aspx
          Doing business with CalVet CalVet (CA Department of Veterans Affairs) CalVet is committed to awarding a minimum of 25 percent of its procurement dollars to California certified Small Business (SB) and a minimum of 5 percent to certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) firms. https://www.calvet.ca.gov/OPC/Pages/SB-DVBE.aspx
          Federal Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) Federal Defense Logistics Agency The Procurement Technical Assistance Program was established to expand the number of business capable of participating in government contracts.  https://www.dla.mil/SmallBusiness/PTAP/

           

          Business Advocacy Agencies (Note: These are not government agencies.)

          Company More Information:
          California Black Chamber of Commerce https://www.calbcc.org/
          America’s Small Business Development Centers https://americassbdc.org/
          Small Business Majority California https://smallbusinessmajority.org/state/ca
          California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce https://www.calasiancc.org/
          California Hmong Chamber of Commerce https://cahmongchamber.com/
          California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce https://www.cahcc.com/
          California Chamber of Commerce https://www.calchamber.com/

           

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