Support Small Businesses over the Holiday Season
The Office of Small Business knows how important the holiday season is for San Francisco’s small businesses. To make it easier for you to find holiday activities hosted by small businesses and merchant corridors, we launched a holiday “buy local” campaign as part of the City’s Shop Dine SF campaign. Find festive activities at sf.gov/holiday. Follow @ShopDineSF on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and visit sf.gov/holiday often for updates.
Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season!
Small Business Holiday Events
There are dozens of events taking place throughout San Francisco. Enjoy a few highlights, find the full, up-to-date list at sf.gov/holiday
DEC 3-4: Sunset Holiday Mercantile
Two days of local makers, merchants, artists, food trucks, children’s activities, and more.
DEC: Winter Wanderland, Union Square
This month-long Holiday Market features treats and treasures by local vendors.
DEC 10: La Cocina Holiday Market, Tenderloin
Shop local handmade goods by BIPOC and women artisans at the beloved La Cocina marketplace.
DEC 10: Halo-Halo Holidays, SOMA Pilipinas
Enjoy family-friendly activities, food trucks, and local retailers, merchants, and artists.
DEC 15: Winter Wonderland 2022, Bayview
Come for ice skating, snowman building, s'mores, and a Bayview Bazaar featuring local retail and gift vendors.
DEC 17: Visitation Valley Holiday Light Festival
Explore light art by local artists, while staying warm with bites and beverages from Leland corridor businesses.
Neighborhood Shopping Guides
Thanks to the Board of Supervisors and local merchant groups for shining a light on neighborhood shopping! Find more guides at sf.gov/holiday
Announcements & Highlights
New Graffiti Abatement pilot program
On November 30, the Department of Public Works announced a courtesy graffiti abatement program for storefronts and other private properties in neighborhood commercial corridors. The pilot program will allow professional Public Works crews or City contractors access to wipe out graffiti at zero cost to the effected property and business owners.
Property and business owners interested in receiving a courtesy abatement should make a request through the 311 customer service center. The property owner’s consent is required.
New payment plan option for food-based businesses with overdue SFDPH license fees
If your food-based business has an outstanding fee due to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, you may be eligible for a payment plan, instead of having to pay the whole bill at once. Businesses have until April 30, 2023 to enter into a payment plan. Get started at sftreasurer.org.
Paid Family Leave Small Business Grant
This grant is for eligible California small businesses with financial help to offset the added costs while an employee is on Paid Family Leave, either for a new child or to care for a seriously ill family member. Grant amounts are $1,000-2,000 per employee on leave, for training and upskilling existing staff to cover the duties of the employee on leave, hiring and training additional staff to cover the duties of the employee on leave, and the marketing, recruitment, and training costs to cover these activities.
Find out more and apply
Permits required for transport of mixed construction and demolition debris
San Francisco’s Construction and Demolition Debris Recovery Ordinance requires any person or company that collects and transports mixed construction and demolition debris (mixed C&D debris) from San Francisco jobsites to obtain an annual or temporary (7-day) permit. SF Environment Department is now accepting applications for 2023 annual permits.
For questions or to get a permit, visit SFEnvironment.org/construction-demolition-requirements, email DebrisRecovery@sfgov.org, or call 415-355-3799.
Deadlines
Important update for food service businesses that use 3rd party delivery apps (DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, etc.)
Review and update your contracts by January 30, 2023
The rules for 3rd party delivery services have recently changed, impacting the delivery fees businesses pay. Beginning on January 31, 2023, 3rd party delivery services must offer you a contract option with a maximum delivery fee of no more than 15%. You will likely have to proactively change your contract if you want to take advantage of the 15% fee option. Otherwise, it may revert to a higher fee beginning on January 31, 2023.
Find out more at sf.gov, or reach out directly to the service(s) you use
Applications open for the NextGen Business Initiative
Program begins in January 2023
University of San Francisco’s Gellert Family Business Center is accepting applications for a 9-month program specially designed for emerging family business leaders, ages 25–45, looking to transition into leadership. The program runs from January 21-September 22, 2023. Tuition is on a sliding scale.
Kickstart Your Business @50+
Program begins February 27, 2023
Blissen and SF Tech Council offer a 10-week “Kickstart Your Business at 50+” program online. This opportunity is designed to guide aspiring older adult entrepreneurs through the step-by-step process of bringing their business ideas to life. Some previous businesses that went through the program include tutoring services, carpet cleaning, home care, tech consulting, financial advising, yoga/wellness classes, and personal or life coaching.
Healthcare open enrollment
Through January 31, 2023
Covered California for Small Business (CCSB) helps you find health insurance for your employees that fits your budget and theirs. Federal tax credits to lower the cost of coverage are available to qualifying small businesses.
Shared Spaces deadline extended to January 15, 2023
Businesses now have until January 15, 2023 to submit an application to transition an existing Shared Space to a more permanent one. Submit your application as soon as possible to ensure permitting staff have time to provide strong customer service and support.
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Not planning to keep your Shared Space? Your pandemic permit will remain valid through March 2023. Learn how to end your Shared Space.
Here are resources for businesses with Shared Spaces:
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An Application Worksheet can help businesses prepare their documents in advance of applying.
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Apply for the Shared Spaces Equity Grant, which funds Shared Spaces improvements to bring them into compliance with the program’s design guidelines
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Find out about future workshops and trainings offered by the Shared Spaces team.
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See a list of contractors, architects and designers who attended a Parklet Design Training.
General Shared Spaces Questions? Email: sharedspaces@sfgov.org
Footprint and Loading Zone Questions? Email: sharedspaces@sfmta.com
Health Care Accountability Ordinance (HCAO)
Changes effective January 1, 2023
*This requirement is for businesses located outside of San Francisco but have contracts with the City & County of San Francisco.* The HCAO requires employers to offer a compliant health plan to their covered employees, to make payments to the City for use by the Department of Public Health, or, under limited circumstances, to make payments directly to their covered employees.
Legacy Business Spotlight
Gamescape is a friendly local game store. Discover titles created by local game designers, which are some of the hidden gems offered in the store, or take home award-winning favorites to experience the phenomenon yourself. For an entirely different challenge, Gamescape stocks an extensive selection of jigsaw and mechanical puzzles as well.
The Legacy Business Program recognizes over 300 iconic, long-standing businesses
Webinars & Events
DEC 1, 8 & 15
Business Storytelling
A 3-part webinar series hosted by the Renaissance Women’s Business Center. Part 1 is “The Basic Narrative,” part 2 is “An Engaging Bio,” and part 3 is “Your Success Narrative.” Sign up for one or all three.
DEC 6
Get Ready For Your 2022 Taxes
In this workshop, you will learn how to comply with your business’s tax obligations and cope with the filing of federal taxes in the upcoming tax period. Hosted by the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.
DEC 6
COVID-19 EIDL Repayment Webinar
Hosted by the SBA, learn how to find out when your loan is due, how much your payment is, track your loan balance, and get other important information you need to manage your loan. A second webinar will be on Jan. 10.
DEC 8
Virtual Legal Clinic
Join Legal Services for Entrepreneurs for their monthly business law clinic, for a one hour consultation with a volunteer attorney. Registration in advance is required. Spots are limited.
DEC 12
Small Business Commission meeting
The Small Business Commission will meet to hear the following items:
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Legacy Business Registry Applications
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BOS File Num. 220340 Planning Code - Planning Code - Neighborhood Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning Districts
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Introduction to Planning
Read the full agenda and meeting details
DEC 13
Shared Spaces Application and Site Plan workshop
In partnership with the East Cut, this workshop is for current parklet operators wishing to apply for the Legislated Permit Program. This interactive training will ensure that parklet operators and professionals designing and building parklets understand how to create a site plan and an application. Bring your application and site plan with you and have our team of experts review it and provide feedback.
DEC 15
Parklet Design Training
This in person Shared Spaces training is for designers, builders, and contractors of parklets. This interactive training will ensure that professionals designing and building parklets understand design requirements and best practices for safety and accessibility at Shared Spaces Parklets. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and will be listed on the Program website as having attended City’s training.
Did you know?
The Office of Economic & Workforce Development’s Employer Services team is your workforce concierge and can assist your business with promoting jobs, finding local candidates, accessing hiring events, and introductions to workforce community partners.
Contact Employer Services at employer.services@sfgov.org and register your business on the City’s job matching resource tool, WorkforceLinkSF.org.
These services are available for bilingual and monolingual employers and employees.