Local Level
The Chamber of Commerce Mountain View can help you establish business contacts. The Chamber holds monthly mixers where members share information and opportunities. It also works with the city government to improve the business climate in the Mountain View community. Feel free to call the Chamber at 650/968-8378, with any business needs or questions.
State Level
The California Chamber of Commerce works in Sacramento to represent California businesses. They work with legislators on issues such as taxes, workers compensation reform, business liability... just to name a few. The California Chamber of Commerce also publishes books and holds seminars to help business owners deal with labor laws and environmental regulations which increasingly affect all businesses.
Call 800/331-8877 for information on books, seminars, and other services of the California Chamber of Commerce.
Community Colleges, University Extension, Adult Schools
Business survival often depends upon your understanding of basic accounting, business record keeping, and business planning. Call to find out what business classes your local colleges and night schools are offering.
Foothill College: 650/949-7777
Mtn View-Los Altos Adult Education: 650/940-1333
Small Business Institute @ West Valley College:408/741-2096
U.C. Extension: 408/342-0302
Doing Buisness with the City of Mountain View
You eat lunch here, you work here — have you thought about expanding your clientele list to include your favorite town?
The City of Mountain View generates a lot of business, and we think you should get in on the action. It takes just three
simples steps and less than 20 minutes! [
Learn more...]
Federation (a program of the US Chamber) - Free to Chamber member small businesses:
- Access to "members only" sections of the U.S. Chamber's Small Business Center
- Discounts on products and services from the U.S. Chamber's affinity partners
- The Chamber's e-newsletter, uschamber.com Weekly
- Legislative alerts for small businesses notifying them of pressing policy initiatives*
- The Chamber's monthly flagship publication, uschamber.com
- For more information, visit www.uschamber.com/federation/benefits.html
Exporting and Importing
Are you Ready to Make International Sales? It was one of the few titles Seinfeld's George Kostanza really wanted to have:
the Importer/Exporter. While this might feel a little daunting for smaller business, if your business strategy has
international trade in its future - and the plans for infrastructure that come along with it - then we have some tools to
help your company plan and execute. Your first step would be to take the
Readiness Quiz. It will give you a good baseline on how prepared your business is - or could be - to international sales.
The U.S. Government publishes a book to guide you through the process, called
The Basic Guide to Exporting. It is available through US Government Bookstores for a nominal fee. Visit www.bookstore.gpo.gov or call Toll-Free: 1-866-512-1800 for more information.
A helpful website is
www.export.gov to answer more of your questions about exporting.
Exporting:
California has three offices to assist businesses in exporting products:
Export Assistance Service
125 S. Market St. Ste. 1001,
San Jose, CA
408/271-7300
Export SBDC
300 Esplanade Dr. #1010
Oxnard 93030
805/981-4633
California World Trade Commission
1121 L St. #310
Sacramento 95814
916/324-5511
The US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration also assists businesses. Their offices are located at:
250 Montgomery St. 14th Floor
San Francisco 94102
415/705-2300
5201 Great America Pkwy #333
Santa Clara 95054
408/291-7625
The U.S. Government publishes a book to guide you through the process, called The Basic Guide to Exporting. It is available through US Government Bookstores. Call 415/252-5334 for more information.
Importing:
Contact the nearest U.S. Customs Office. Describe what you want to import and ask if there are any restrictions or required forms and tariffs. Be sure to find out the typical time it takes to get items through the customs process.
The U.S. Government publishes a book to guide you through the importing process, called Importing into the U.S. It is available through US Government Bookstores. Call 408/277-2510 for more information.
IRS Help: Hotline & Tax Workshops (federal taxes only)
The IRS holds workshops on federal forms and requirements for businesses and employers. Sometimes, a state representative is available to answer a few questions. For information, dates, and locations, call the IRS' tax assistance hotline at 800/829-1040. Generally, the workshops last four hours and are held monthly, or quarterly depending on community demand.
Libraries
Libraries are wonderful resources, filled with information on every phase owning and operating a business. Call the Mountain View Library at 650/903-6335. The Main Library in Fremont has a library devoted to business. The location is 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538, 510/745-1400.
Minority Business Development Center
These offices, sponsored by the Federal Government, help minority businesses get contracts with the federal government (known as procurement services). They also provide credit, management, and technical assistance. There is a fee for their services; generally on a sliding scale. The offices are:
District Office:
San Francisco 415/744-3001
221 Main St.
94105
www.mbda.gov
sfro-info@mbda.gov
Native American? Call 818/442-3701 or 707/445-8451 for information on special programs.
Pre-recorded Helplines 916/327-HELP and 800/827-5722
916/327-HELP: The California Small Business Advocate's Office operates a pre-recorded helpline with information on: Starting a Business, Financing, Management and Technical Assistance, Government Programs, Toxic and Hazardous Materials, Permits and Licenses, Loan Packaging Services, Energy Product Loans, Assistance for the Handicapped, and Equity and Venture Capital.
800/827-5722: This pre-recorded helpline is operated by the SBA in Washington, D.C.
Referrals for Professional Business Advisors
Call the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View office, 650/968-8378, for referrals for Attorneys, CPA's, Business Consultants, Insurance Agents, Computer Consultants, and any other business services that you may need.
Regional Development Corporations
Sponsored by the state, these offices help with loan packaging and provide loan guarantees through local banks. They have five major loan programs: Energy Reduction, Hazardous Waste Reduction, Replacement of Underground Storage Tanks, Loans for Environmental Assistance, and Farm Loans. They also guarantee other loans, but usually these loans are for existing businesses rather than start-ups. Many offices also have satellite offices in nearby cities. To find out about their services, call: Bay Area Small Business Development Corp., 3932 Harrison St, Oakland, 510/652-5262.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Business Consulting
Sponsored by the Small Business Administration, retired executives provide free business counseling. Counseling sessions are held at the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View. To schedule an appointment, call the Chamber at 650/968-8378. Many SCORE chapters hold one day workshops on starting a business. These workshops sometimes have a small fee. The local chapter workshops are held in San Jose. For more information call 408/288-8479.
Small Business Administration
The SBA helps small businesses by guaranteeing bank loans, helping businesses get government procurement contracts, and publishing booklets. The SBA co-sponsors management training programs with private firms. Usually there is a small fee. Call the SBA for a schedule. It also sponsors SCORE, referenced above.
Guaranteed bank loans: The SBA guarantees loans which otherwise might be denied by regular lenders. However, the loan application process is time consuming and requires you to pledge assets (your home, business items, etc.) Loans for less than $50,000 are generally not done (because participating lenders don't want to bother with them). If you want a guaranteed bank loan, you should find a local bank willing to work with the SBA. Call the SBA for a list of participating banks. The bank should contact the SBA for an application.
San Francisco: 211 Main St. 4th Fl. 94105-1988
415/744-6801
Small Business Development Centers
Sponsored by the state, these centers provide three types of services to new and existing businesses:
- They provide basic business and economic information and referrals;
- The centers have on-site, professional business counselors as well as a network of both public service providers and private individuals and firms who can provide one-on-one counseling and technical assistance in business planning and management, financial analysis, financing and marketing.
- Local centers sponsor training and educational activities.
East Bay:
2201 Broadway #814, Oakland, 94612
510/893-4114
Silicon Valley:
111 N. Market St #150, San Jose, 95113
408/298-7694
Small Business, Minority, Handicapped, or Women Owned Businesses:
Many large companies (Pacific Telephone, PG&E, etc.) have special programs which help you "break into" their purchasing network. If you offer products or services needed by larger companies, call the company's main number and ask for "Purchasing Assistance Programs for Small or Minority Owned Businesses".
State Contracts
California Department of General Services
Office of Small and Minority Business (OSMB)
1808 14th St. #100, Sacramento
916/322-5060
The OSMB publishes a helpful manual titled "A Guide to State Contracting" which explains the state's small business 5% preference bid system and targeted preference act (TACPA). The office also publishes on a subscription basis the California State Contracts Register, a twice monthly listing of service and construction bid opportunities.
California Small Business Advocate
Department of Commerce, 801 K S. Suite 1700, Sacramento 95814, 916/322-6108
This state office offers assistance to small businesses which have specific problems in dealing with the state. This office is also a good source of legislative information pertaining to small businesses.
Tax Incentives, Special Loans, Enterprise Zones
Be sure to contact the local chamber of commerce or city to find out if there are any special loans or assistance (either technical or financial ) for locating a business in economically depressed areas. (City of Mountain View 650/903-6300,
www.ci.mtnview.ca.us).
Chamber of Commerce Mountain View