Today, Mayor London N. Breed and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) announced $4 million in grants to support existing and new small businesses into in filling storefronts citywide. They add to the City’s existing small business grant programs and ongoing technical assistance. For example, our office has staff dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start a business, navigate permitting, find and secure a lease, and more.
Here are some quick links to explore how these services may help start, sustain, or grow your business:
Free business counseling | Find a grant | Permitting help | Step-by-step guide to starting a business
Announcements & Highlights
Two new City grant programs to provide $4M in support to small businesses. Eligible businesses can apply to one of the below, with applications accepted on a rolling basis:
Business Training Grant
The Business Training Grant will provide a diverse range of small businesses between $5,000 to $50,000 to stabilize and grow in San Francisco. The focus of these is to ensure entrepreneurs are informed and educated through participating in a minimum of 12 hours of trainings and workshops.
Storefront Opportunity Grant
The Storefront Opportunity Grant will provide small businesses with funding and access to technical assistance in signing a lease for a new commercial storefront. Small businesses that are eligible can apply to receive up to $25,000 for a first storefront location or up to $50,000 to expand to an additional storefront location. As part of this program, small businesses can learn about and receive assistance in their lease negotiations.
SF New Deal offering help with Employee Retention Tax Credit filings
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a refundable payroll tax credit offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that provides up to $26,000 per employee to employers who retained staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. SF New Deal will provide technical assistance and one on one support to small business owners as they navigate the eligibility and filing process. SF New Deal will be able to support businesses in preparing filings to the IRS with a 15% filing fee, with no deposit, or minimums.
Eligibility criteria:
Businesses must have had 10+ W2 employees on payroll in 2020 and/or 2021, have documented payroll, be in good standing with the IRS and meet at least one of the following conditions:
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Had to partially or fully suspend their operations due to government orders
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Or had a significant decline in gross receipts when comparing corresponding quarters in 2020, 2021 or 2022 to 2019
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Or opened their business on or after February 15th, 2020.
Business owners and managers can reach out to find out more at ertc@sfnewdeal.org, or 415-480-1185.
Please note: the pilot program has limited capacity. Businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ and women are encouraged to apply.
Get help with hiring
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.
5-minute survey for restaurant and hospitality workers
Golden Gate Restaurant Association and the SF Housing Accelerator Fund are gathering information about the housing situation for restaurant and hospitality workers in San Francisco. Please share the survey with your employees. Participation will help provide more data on creating and designing more affordable housing solutions in SF. The survey is anonymous.
Take the housing survey for hospitality and restaurant workers
Office of Small Business in the Community
Let us know if you would like the Office of Small Business to visit your corridor and share resources for small businesses. Please send requests to: sfosb@sfgov.org.
Deadlines
New Minimum Wage effective July 1, 2023
Employees performing work in San Francisco, including part-time and temporary employees, must be paid no less than the San Francisco minimum wage, which increased to $18.07 on July 1st. Employers must display an updated poster at each workplace or job site. Print the poster on 8.5" x 14" paper.
*If your business has a contract with the City, you must also meet the Minimum Compensation Ordinance and print additional signs for display.
Small Business Growth Fund
Apply by July 21, 2023
This private grant program provides small business owners with capital to accelerate their growth. Recipients will receive $5,000-$25,000.
To be eligible, for-profit businesses must have less than $1M in 2022 gross annual revenue and a clear plan for how the funds will help them achieve a significant growth milestone in 2023.
Learn more and apply to the Small Business Growth Fund
Legacy Business Spotlight
Heritage Happy Hour at Bay View Boat Club
Aug 10
A casual “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity.
The Bay View Boat Club's bright yellow clubhouse, with its magnificent gardens, sits on San Francisco Bay next to the city's only public boat ramp and equidistant between AT&T Park and Chase Center.
Webinars & Events
July 20
Your Business on Your Schedule: Info Session
Join Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center for a brief informational webinar about their 4-week, on-demand business planning class. The next month-long cohort begins on August 1.
July 24
Partnership Agreements for Small Business Co-Owners
Learn to create a simple partnership agreement that can help prevent common problems and grow your business. Hosted by the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and the SF Community Business Law Center.
July 26
QR Codes: Best Practices & Digital Menus
Navigating emerging technology trends while meeting the needs of customers can be challenging. If you’re interested in learning more about how to utilize QR codes post-pandemic and whether it’s the right choice for your restaurant, join this webinar hosted by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association.
July 26
Hands-on Workshop for Entrepreneurs: Fix Your Digital Marketing
This interactive workshop is a partnership between the San Francisco Small Business Development Center and the San Francisco Public Library. Learn the first steps in getting your website fixed, social media in order, videos created, and analytics set up.
July 27
Virtual Legal Clinic
Register in advance for a free one-hour consultation with a business law attorney. Hosted monthly by Legal Services for Entrepreneurs.
Shop Dine SF
Shop Dine SF is a campaign for San Franciscans to spend your shopping dollars here. Visit shops, eat at restaurants, and get services from the small businesses that make San Francisco special.
Visit sf.gov/shopdineSF or follow the campaign on social media to find events and initiatives across San Francisco!
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Coming up
Summertime in Chinatown
Head to Chinatown this summer to shop and dine! Hosted by Spotlight Chinatown, this is a campaign to promote local business, especially those that are impacted by the Central Subway construction, and to highlight Chinatown’s unique neighborhood character through photographs and stories.
Find a local guide to shops, restaurants, and special summertime events!