Apply for a grant to make your business accessible

Small business owners can get reimbursed for accessibility inspections or for making your business more accessible.

What to do

1. Check if your business is eligible

Your business:

  • Must be registered in San Francisco
  • Can be new or existing
  • Can be a nonprofit (must be current with the Registry of Charitable Trusts)
  • Must be a place of public accommodation (open to the public as defined by the Federal ADA). The following are not eligible:
    • Religious organizations 
    • Private club whose activities are generally not open to the general public
    • Residential short-term rentals
    • Home-based businesses (such as a home office)
    • Shared Spaces
    • Property owners leasing to a place of public accommodation (unless the property owner is also the business owner of the place of public accommodation in the subject commercial tenant space)
  • Must have less than $2.5 million in gross revenue for a single location
    • Less than $8 million in gross revenue for a single business with multiple locations
  • Must have a current average of 100 or fewer employees
    Must submit final invoice(s) to receive the grant if you submit quote(s) with the application

2. Gather information for the application

We will ask you for:

  • Your business address (separate application required for each business location).
  • Whether your gross revenue is $8 million or less (includes all your business locations).
    • Note: Each location requires a separate application
  • Whether you currently have an average of 100 or fewer employees.
  • Details to confirm CASp inspection (CASp inspections are required for non-entryway requests, such as restrooms and sales counters)
  • Any of the following:
    • Paid invoice(s) or quote(s) for equipment, fixtures, or furniture to make your business more accessible
    • Paid invoice or quote for a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) inspection
    • Paid invoice from a CASp, licensed architect or engineer for the completion of the Accessible Business Entrance Category Checklist
    • Paid invoice for architectural design services specifically related to accessibility improvements
    • Paid invoice of permit fees for accessibility improvements to your storefront
    • Labor or installation cost to remove entryway barriers
  • Notes:
    • Paid invoices cannot be older than July 1, 2019. Invoices must be marked as paid or include other proof of payment.
    • Quotes cannot be more than 6 months from the date you submit your application.
    • Labor and installation costs must be in compliance with San Francisco labor laws, including prevailing wage requirements. Learn more about them at the Office of Labor and Standards Enforcement.
    • Permit fees are reimbursable when prevailing wage requirements are met.
    • If you submit a quote, we will ask you to submit a final invoice showing proof of payment before you receive the grant money.
    • We do not recommend uploading screen shots taken from phones. All uploaded documents must show the entirety of the document.  Please ensure information and important details are not cut off. 
    • If you have multiple documents to upload, please aggregate your attachments into one grant application only.
  • A completed W-9 (download a blank version of the form here).

 

3. Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Please read the directions carefully before applying.

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.

We will ask you a few questions to check if you are eligible for the grant. If you are, you can then apply.

This will take about 20 minutes.

If you have questions about the application, check the FAQ page.

4. What to expect after you apply

We will email you a confirmation.

We will let you know the status of your application by email within 15 days of submission.

Before you receive the grant, we will need:

  • A final invoice marked "paid" or other proof of payment (if you submitted a quote with your application)
  • Photos showing how you used the grant funds to make your business more accessible.

Get help

Phone

Office of Small Business

Last updated February 28, 2024