BALLE works with communities around the US and Canada, organizing small and medium-sized businesses into networks to green and strengthen their local economies. Since its founding in 2001, the network has grown rapidly; in the last two years it has tripled in size to nearly 60 networks and become increasingly influential in the world of sustainable business and economic development.
La Cocina provides commercial kitchen space and technical assistance to low-income entrepreneurs who are launching, growing and formalizing their food businesses.
LGBT Community Center / Golden Gate Business Association
We provide a range of services to help LGBT small businesses and entrepreneurs start, run and grow their small businesses. We offer free expert one-on-one counseling to address a full spectrum of business planning and marketing needs. Special emphasis is placed on providing strategic support with loans, loan packaging, and post-loan technical assistance. The Center also offers regularly held group workshops on a variety of marketing, business financing, sales, legal, human resources, and small business-related topics. The GGBA’s mission is to support the growth and visibility of LGBT and supportive businesses.
Since 1973, the Mission Economic Development Agency has been dedicated to improving the economic and social conditions of San Francisco’s immigrants and working class families with an emphasis on the Latino community and the Mission and Excelsior districts.
Targets low-income and unbanked individuals with their banking needs. One-stop services ranging from registering the Company to writing business plans and applying for loans.
Renaissance is San Francisco’s oldest small business development organization. We provide comprehensive services to meet the needs of women and men, small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs at all stages of their business development from startup to launch and growth.
San Francisco Locally Owned Merchant Alliance (SFLOMA)
SFLOMA identifies and promotes locally owned independent businesses. Our goal is to educate and inform residents of and visitors to San Francisco of the positive economic value on the community and the value to the individual of shopping an independent retailers first.
SCORE is a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration dedicated to educating entrepreneurs. Our volunteers are working and retired business executives who provide free counseling and low cost workshops to help businesses get started and grow successfully.
The San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides free, confidential one-on-one business counseling from professional consultants for existing and ready-to-launch businesses, low cost hands-on workshops and access-to-capital programs. This SBA funded program is a member of the Northern California SBDC network.
Our mission is to develop and administer programs that serve the needs of the Southeast Asian communities which include self-sufficiency, economic viability, advocacy, community empowerment, leadership development, acculturation, cultural preservation and small business development including micro-loans.
Urban Solutions is an economic development non-profit organization whose mission is to foster the well-being of disadvantaged communities by helping to increase neighborhood commercial vitality, strengthen small businesses, create jobs and encourage diversity.
Women’s Initiative for Self Employment provides a safe, supportive environment where high-potential, lower-income women can receive the help they need to start and grow their own businesses. We offer a 20 session business-training course, individual coaching and financing services in both English and Spanish. Women graduate with a business plan and the self-confidence to make it work. Women’s Initiative also offers on-going business support, matched saving program and micro-loans to graduates.
The Council is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and enhancement of San Francisco’s Business Community and brings together nearly twenty diverse neighborhood business organizations, giving small business owners a broad base of support. As a host of San Francisco’s Small Business Week, we help to celebrate the success of small business - the very backbone of San Francisco’s economy.
The Department of the Environment has a Green Business Program. Any business can become a green business-and the city would like to help that process along. To qualify, a business must comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations and meet program criteria for conserving resources, preventing pollution, and minimizing waste. Free to all local businesses, the program offers hands-on support, training and technical assistance from environmental experts.
Entertainment Commission
Address:
City Hall, Room 453
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
A seven member Commission established in 2003, the Entertainment Commission has the powers and duties to accept, review, gather information regarding and conduct hearings for entertainment-related permit applications. Additionally, the Entertainment Commission plans and coordinates the provision of City services for major events for which there is no recognized organizer, promoter, or sponsor.
The Small Business Commission functions as the City’s central point of information and referral for entrepreneurs and small businesses located in San Francisco. By championing “business friendly” policies, marketing the contributions of the small business sector and developing appropriate assistance programs, the Small Business Commission and it’s Office of Small Business work to support and enhance an environment where small businesses can succeed and flourish.
Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Address:
City Hall, Room 448
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
OEWD supports the ongoing economic vitality of San Francisco. Under the direction of Mayor Gavin Newsom, OEWD provides city-wide leadership for workforce development, business attraction and retention, neighborhood commercial revitalization, international business and development planning. OEWD’s programs are responsible for strengthening San Francisco’s many diverse neighborhoods and commercial corridors, creating a business climate where companies can grow and prosper and ensuring a continually high quality of life for all San Franciscans.
MOCD contracts with local Economic Development organizations to provide technical assistance, training and loan packaging services for small businesses. In addition to grants, MOCD administers the Small Business Loan Program that provides start-up and existing small businesses with loans that can be used for a number of purposes, including working capital, equipment purchase and other business expansion activities.
Office of Contract Administration (OCA)
Address:
City Hall, Room 430
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
The Office of Contract Administration/Purchasing of the City and County of San Francisco supports the procurement of the material, equipment, and services that are essential to providing governmental services for the citizens of San Francisco. The contracting and procurement services that Purchasing provides, support the operations of the City departments who provide services to the public.
Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE)
Address:
City Hall, Room 430
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
The Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) enforces labor laws adopted by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and by San Francisco voters. OLSE ensures that public works contractors comply with prevailing wage regulations, enforces the Minimum Compensation Ordinance and Health Care Accountability Ordinance, and administers the City’s Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance. OLSE also enforces labor laws of general application, including the SF Minimum Wage Ordinance, Paid Sick Leave Ordinance and Health Care Security Ordinance.
Treasurer / Tax Collector
Address:
City Hall, Room 140
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
The Small Business Administration is the federal agency assisting entrepreneurs with financing, training and advocacy. In addition, the SBA works with thousands of lending, educational and training institutions nationwide to benefit businesses.
Northern California Minority Business Enterprise Center
