Business Assistance

Here are helpful local resources for business coaching, business planing, and to help you get the insight you need to succeed.

SCORE

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Their network of 11,000+ volunteers, who are retired executives and entrepreneurs, provide their services at no charge or at very low cost. They provide mentoring, counseling, tools and workshops. Visit their website to get paired with your personal business mentor with expertise in your industry.

Sacramento Valley SBDC

The Sacramento Valley SBDC is the leader in providing all small business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to become successful. With direct and personalized business assistance to entrepreneurs through one-on-one consulting as well as satellite offices in eight counties across the region, they offer professional consulting in all aspects of small business management. Visit their website to learn how they can help your business and to request their services.

The Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The mission of Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is to develop and nurture innovative business ideas and to capitalize potential entrepreneurial opportunities. The Center provides entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to launch a venture and to identify and cultivate solutions to entrepreneurial problems, the network structure to bring the plan to fruition, and the technical training to grow the enterprises. The center is designed to provide a new venture incubator service, providing residences, endowments, in-kind office hours, and limited business resources. When start-ups or early stage companies come to the Center, they will be offered with a space (for a pre-arranged period of time) to fine-turn their ideas. Also, the center will provide some other services to lead them to successfully launch their businesses. The other services include, not limited to, a voucher system , a technology index, marketing and technological consultations, and student internships. Learn more at https://www.csus.edu/center/carlsen/.

BERC

Trying to navigate your way through the County permitting process? Look no further, Sacramento County has resources available that take the guesswork (and stress) out of environmental management compliance and health department regulations.

One-On-One – The Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC) is a FREE one-stop-shop permit assistance center to help Sacramento County businesses understand and comply with federal, state, and local environmental regulations.

For more information and resources provided by BERC click here.

Sacramento Public Library

If you’re starting a business, have a great idea, or just want to know more about what the Sacramento Public Library can offer you, book an appointment with a Business Librarian to find the information you need. They’ll help you get started with a business plan, explore funding options, connect you with local resources to help you succeed, or discuss any business questions you might have.

Appointments are from 12 pm – 1 pm Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment. Call 916-264-2920 to book an appointment or register online on the event calendar. Get started today with online business resources that are available 24/7 with your library card.

City of Sacramento Economic Department

Since Sacramento’s success depends on a healthy business climate, the EDD has multiple resources to help all business types. Dedicated to making sure businesses thrive in Sacramento, they help guide those looking to start a business, business owners looking to expand, and those who are looking to relocate to the city. Valuable information about small business, entrepreneurial resources, demographics, project profiles, and opportunity sites are located at http://portal.cityofsacramento.org/Economic-Development.

City of Festivals

Bring your event idea to life with the help of the City of Festivals Grant Program. Individuals and organizations can apply for the grant during each open cycle and receive up to $7,500. The event must be within the City of Sacramento and can be used for any expenses associated with holding the event. To apply or stay updated with the grant timelines, visit https://sacramentofestivals.com.

California Board of Equalization – Townhalls

The California BOE hosts telephone town halls throughout the year. Visit their website for the dates and topics. 

California Competes Tax Credit

The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to businesses that  want to come to California or stay and grow in California. Tax credit agreements will be negotiated by GO-Biz and approved by a statutorily created “California Competes Tax Credit Committee,” consisting of the State Treasurer,the Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of GO-Biz, one appointee each by the Speaker of the Assembly and Senate Committee on Rules. 

For program details, visit http://www.business.ca.gov/