Many California business owners find themselves at a loss when it comes to knowing who to contact about specific business issues. While it is possible to find most of what one needs on the internet, it takes a lot of time to sift through dozens of pages to find what’s needed. To be successful, it’s crucial to maintain a personal relationship with the business groups in your state and city. These groups can provide resources, mentorship, and help with funding in key situations as you do business in California.
In today’s technological age, our first instinct is to investigate the website of each organization. While the websites are helpful, calling directly is more personal and can help you start building important relationships. Both the website and phone numbers are included, but we encourage you to take the personal step and call directly.
The SBA is a national organization with state and local chapters. They work with a number of partners to mentor, counsel, and train small businesses. California has six district SBA offices. Each office has a great deal of information on its homepage, including contact information, events and workshops in the area, and links for SBA lending and mentorship. Each district also has a District Resource Guide with information about doing business in that region of California.
· Fresno District Office – call 559-487-5791
· Los Angeles District Office – call 818-552-3201
· Sacramento District Office – call 916-735-1700
· San Diego District Office – call 619-557-7250 or 619-727-4883
· San Francisco District Office – call 415-744-6820
· Santa Ana District Office – call 714-550-7420
There is also additional SBA site that allows California business owners find a variety of resources by partner organization.
The Secretary of State’s office has links to a variety of programs to help California business owners.
The Governor’s Office of Business (called GO-Biz) has a variety of small business resources, including a guide to federal healthcare laws, California Get Your Business Online, Business Matchmaking, and others.
The Governor’s office also has a comprehensive list of business programs that are available in the state of California. These include business development, permit streamlining, small business assistance, and California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank), among many others.
You can contact the GO-Biz office directly by calling 877-345-4633.
The Chamber is a not-for-profit organization that leads business advocacy in California. The Chamber also provides resources to help businesses stay in compliance with state and local regulations. Companies can purchase posters with required disclosures to post in their businesses, acquire HR training materials, and find a listing of local business resources.
Contact information, including phone numbers, of local chambers of commerce in California can also be found on this site. Being part of a local chamber allows you to have camaraderie among business owners, share ideas, and be aware of local issues that affect business.
Energy is a major issue in California, and Cool California is a group that encourages business owners to consider their energy and environmental impact. They help provide resources so that business owners can reduce energy usage and engage in sustainable projects. The Funding Wizard helps business owners access rebates and incentives for these projects.
This organization does not have a phone number listed, but you can use their contact page to request more direct contact information.
There are many resources for California business owners. Being engaged in your community and local groups is essential to gaining the support and resources you need to be successful. By calling rather than simply visiting websites, you can build relationships in your community and state that will serve you and your business for years to come.
