Downtown San Diego has all the amenities of a major metropolitan city, but with a friendly, small town feel. The Downtown environment is a perfect place for entrepreneurs, franchise operators, or those thinking about starting a small business.

Small businesses are the driving force of San Diego's economy, representing more than 60,000 businesses (approximately 92 percent of all businesses in the City) and about half of San Diego's job growth since 1991. The following is a list of non-profit organizations and governmental agencies that offer programs to help small businesses get started in San Diego:

Support

The City of San Diego's Office of Small Business
This is an excellent resource center for owners of small businesses. There are a variety of programs to directly assist small businesses, ranging from providing detailed information on City and regional services to help with start up questions and providing assistance with permitting issues. The City also provides matching grants to businesses in targeted areas for storefront renovation projects.

Phone: (619) 685-1390
Internet: www.sannet.gov/economic-development/business-
assistance/small-business

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (Emerging Business Center)
The Chamber's Emerging Business Center offers programs for starting or building a business, staying current with business management trends and the connecting with other businesses and potential customers. The center publishes a detailed resource guide, sponsors a business owner's roundtable and monthly business seminars.

Phone: (619) 544-1300
Website: www.sdchamber.org

San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
The EDC is a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by a coalition of private-sector investors, the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, the San Diego Unified Port District and several cities in the region. The organization offers comprehensive client services to the high-tech industry.

Phone: (619) 234-8484
Visit them at www.sandiegobusiness.org

Asian Business Association
This 350-member association, which was created in 1990, holds a monthly "Rice Club Luncheon," featuring business speakers and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. It also serves as an information center for contracting opportunities, job offers and advice on how to reach the Asian market.

Phone: (619) 235- 8880
Website: www.abasd.org

Disabled Businesspersons Association
The 12,000-member group is the largest organization for disabled businesspeople in the world. It evaluates the feasibility of business plans and conducts markets research and product evaluations, among other services. It is free for members and nonmembers. The association has about 10 volunteer counselors.

Phone: (619) 594-8805
Website:www.disabledbusiness.com

Foundation for Enterprise Development
Founded by SAIC chairman J. Robert Beyster, this nonprofit organization focuses on promoting the concept of employee ownership through various educational programs.
It also sponsors "Premier Fast Track" classes for young entrepreneurs. The 11-week, 44-hour courses are available for a nominal fee and covers a range of issues commonly faced by fledgling small businesses.

Phone: (858) 459-4662
Website: www.fed.org

San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
This association provides free, hour-long counseling sessions for business owners, a business directory and a newsletter. It also sponsors monthly "mixers" to foster networking and support strategies. The association's roster of 800 members includes students and corporate executives.

Phone: (619) 702-0790
Website: www.sdchcc.com

National Association of Women Business Owners
The organization's chapter in San Diego sponsors a Master Mind program in which small-business owners meets with members in a confidential, noncompetitive setting to discuss business programs and problems. The chapter holds monthly meetings that feature speakers who address such small-business issues as financing and succession planning. Additionally, NAWBO presents its annual Bravo awards to recognize achievement by local small-business owners.

Phone: (619) 683-9595
Website: www.nawbo-sd.org

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
This national organization provides free counseling to entrepreneurs and start-up companies. Eighty-six volunteers in San Diego County made 18,400 contacts, including calls and visits, and conducted 5,775 one-on-one counseling sessions. SCORE sponsored about 70 workshops, some of them designed for women and minority business owners.

Phone: (619) 557-7272
Website: www.score-sandiego.org

International Rescue Committee
The San Diego office of the IRC- an agency established in 1933 by Albert Einstein to assist the world's dispossessed offers "micro-enterprise" classes for refugee entrepreneurs. The classes provide extensive training for people who recently arrived here from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and other global hot spots.

Phone: (619) 641-7510
Website: www.theirc.org

National Federation of Independent Business
The NFIB has 36,000 members in California and 610,000 nationwide. It is the largest small-business advocacy organization in the nation. The nonprofit, nonpartisan group represents the consensus views of its members before Congress and 50 state Legislatures.

Phone: (916) 448-9904
Internet: www.nfib.com

Funding

Accion San Diego
This non-profit organization provides direct loans from $300 - $25,000 to micro and small businesses. They assist enterprises located in economically disadvantaged communities.
Since it opened in 1995, Accion has assisted more than 700 entrepreneurs with more than $3 million in funding.

Phone: (619) 685-1380
Internet: www.accionsandiego.org

California Southern Small Business Development
This non-profit company primarily serves San Diego County and Southern California and is under contract with the State's Office of Small Business to administer its loan guarantee program. Loans can be guaranteed for up to 90 percent, or $350,000, with terms of up to seven years. The loans can be used for the purchase of assets and existing businesses and for establishing business.

Phone: (619) 232-7771
Website: www.casouth.com

CDC Small Business Finance Corp.
This non-profit company is the largest organization in the United States that offers financing backed by the Small Business Administration. CDC also offers consultation to loan recipients on strengthening their businesses.

Phone: (619) 291-3594
Website: www.cdloans.com

City of San Diego Office of Small Business
The city offers financial assistance via the Storefront Improvement Program, which provides matching grants of up to $7,500 for storefront renovation costs, and the Emtek Loan Fund, a revolving loan program offering up to $250,000 to businesses for growth purposes. The office also serves as an information clearinghouse for small businesses, operates two enterprise zones and works with various regulatory departments and agencies to ensure that small businesses get assistance.

Phone: (619) 685-1387
Website: www.ci.san-diego.ca.us

U.S. Small Business Administration
The San Diego office provides guarantees on a variety of loan programs. The SBA also offers free consulting services at its Small Business Development Centers in Chula Vista and Oceanside. The office in Downtown San Diego maintains a reference center stocked with books, magazines and computer programs.

Phone: (619) 557- 7250
Website: www.sba.gov/regions/states/ca/sandiego

Permits and Licenses

Permit Assistance
San Diego Regional Permit Assistance Center

Phone: (619) 236-5938
Website: www.sdrgoed.ca.gov/sandiego

Obtain Sign Permits
City of San Diego Planning and Development Review Department

Phone:(619) 446-5000
Website: www.sannet.gov/development-services/devrev.shtml

Check City Zoning
City of San Diego Planning and Development Review Department

Phone: (619) 446-5000
Website: www.sannet.gov/development-services/devrev.shtml

Obtain Business Certificate
City of San Diego Treasurer's Office

Phone: (619) 236-6173

Determine if Your Business Needs Environment Health Permits
Usually includes, but is not limited to: food related businesses, food handling, public swimming pools/ground storage tanks, medical wastes, x-ray equipment, water wells, septic systems, and solid waste handling and composting.
County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health

Phone: (619) 338-2222
Website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh

Check on State Licenses Required for Specific Business or Professions
State of California Consumer Affairs Office

Phone: (800) 952-5210
Website: www.dca.ca.gov

Obtain State Employer Tax Identification Number
Employment Development Department, Tax Office

Phone: (619) 516-1920
Internet: www.edd.ca.gov

Obtain Wastewater Discharge Permit
City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department

Phone: (858) 292- 6300
Internet: www.sannet.gov/mwwd

Obtain Air Pollution Control Permits
Usually applies to business operations that emit contaminants. Examples include, but are not limited to: dry cleaners, gasoline dispenses, boilers, stationary engines, chemical manufacturing or processing and rock, mineral and asphalt plants.
San Diego County Air Pollution Control District

Phone: (858) 650-4700
Internet: www.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/landuse/air/faq.html

File Articles of Incorporation/ Register a Trademark
State of California, Secretary of State

Phone: (619) 525-4113
Internet: www.ss.ca.gov

Trademark Registration
State of California, Secretary of State

Phone: (916) 653-3506
Internet: www.ss.ca.gov/business/ts/ts.htm

Apply for an Alcoholic Beverage License
State of California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Phone: (619) 525-4064
Internet: www.adc.ca.gov

Determine If Your Business is "Police-Regulated"
City of San Diego Police Department
Central Area Station

Phone: (619) 531-2250
Internet: www.cr.sandiego.ca

Obtain a Seller's Permit
State of California Board of Equalization

Phone: (619) 525-4486
Internet: www.bow.ca.gov

Obtain Information on Workers' Compensation Regulations and Benefits
State of California Industrial Relations Department
Division of Workers' Compensation

Phone: (800) 736-7401
Internet: www.dir.ca.gov

Water Connection
City of San Diego Water Department

Phone: (619) 515-3500
Internet: www.sannet.gov/water

Determine State Requirements Related to Employees
Includes, but is not limited to: fair employment laws, occupational safety, wage-hour laws and child labor laws.
State of California Industrial Relations Department
Division of Labor Standard

Phone: (619) 220-5451
Internet: http://www.dir.ca.gov

Determine Federal Requirements Related to Employees
Includes, but is not limited to: employee withholdings, self-employment tax, sole proprietorship and corporation taxes.
United States Government
Internal Revenue Services (IRS)

Phone: (800) 829-1040
Internet: www.irs.gov

Check with Tax Authorities
Business Personal Property Tax
County of San Diego
Assessor's/Recorder/Clerk

Phone: (619) 237-0502
Internet: www.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/general/assessor

State/Corporate Income Tax
State of California
Franchise Tax Board- Walk in Services Only

Phone: (800) 852-5711
Internet: www.ftb.ca.gov/index.html

Federal Income Tax
United States Government
Internal Revenue Services (IRS)

Phone: (800) 829-1040
Internet: www.irs.gov

Other Permits or Regulations
San Diego Regional Permit Assistance Center

Phone: (619) 236-5938
Internet: www.calgold.ca.gov

Grading Permit
City of San Diego Planning and Development Review Department

Phone: (619) 446-5000
Internet: www.sannet.gov/development-services/devrev.shtml

Commercial Refuse Collection
City of San Diego Environmental Services Department

Phone: (858) 573-1211
Internet: www.sannet.gov/environmental-services

Incorporation
State of California, Secretary of State

Phone: (916) 653-3506
Internet: www.ss.ca.gov/business/ts/ts.htm

State Contractor's Bureau

Phone: (800) 321-2752
Internet: www.cslb.ca.gov