Apply for a grant to open a new storefront

PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

Cost of opening a storefront

Opening a storefront in San Francisco is a major financial and operational commitment. Costs to open your doors may include, but not be limited to, permits, licenses, equipment, furniture, tenant improvements, deposits, and inventory. This grant is intended to cover only a portion of your startup costs and you must have additional capital to go towards opening your storefront.

You may be ready to open a storefront if:

1. You have consistent revenue
2. You have working capital and reserves
3. You understand the full cost of opening and maintaining a storefront
4. You are prepared for the operational responsibility
5. You have a clear plan for sustaining the business long-term

Applicant minimum criteria:

1. Applicants must have operated their business for at least three years, and the new storefront must be within the same industry

This opportunity is best suited for businesses that are already stable, revenue-generating, and prepared for a long-term commitment to the commercial corridor.

Ineligible
• Past recipients of Storefront Opportunity Grant (SOG)
• Past recipients of the Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund
• Businesses relocating from their current storefront within San Francisco

Program details

The Storefront Opportunity Grant provides comprehensive commercial broker and leasing services as well as a grant opportunity between $50,000 - $100,000 to eligible businesses to open a storefront in the community. Interested business owners will need to submit an application by Friday, February 13 at 5:00PM.

Program goals:

1. Activate vacant commercial spaces with sustainable small businesses
2. Lower barriers for local entrepreneurs to remain on commercial corridors
3. Strengthen economic vitality of commercial corridors

This program is for businesses that do NOT have a lease yet, whether for their first location or an expansion. Businesses that are chosen to move forward will receive:

1. Broker services to identify a location for your new business and secure a Letter of Intent (LOI)
2. Lease review services to empower you to negotiate your lease and avoid any potential pitfalls
3. Technical assistance to ensure your storefront business can start and grow through one-on-one advice

Funding Tiers

Every business journey is unique, and so are the resources required to bring a vision to life. This strategy ensures that every dollar is purposeful, helping create vibrant storefronts and stronger communities.

Retail / Personal Services - $50,000

Examples include, but not limited to, boutiques, salons, fitness studios, and pet services.

Food / Cafe (Limited or No seating) - $75,000

Examples include, but not limited to, coffee shops, bakeries, juice bars, and small cafés.

Bar / Restaurants (Full-service) - $100,000

Examples include, but not limited to, for full-service restaurants, bars, and late-night concepts.

Pharmacies - $100,000

Neighborhood serving pharmacies

Ineligible Business Types
Convenience Stores • Tobacco Retailers • Liquor stores • Adult Entertainment • Religious Institutions

OEWD reserves the right to not award a business that does not fit into the neighborhood economic development strategy

Step 1: Check business eligibility

Your business must:

1. Be registered business with the City and County of San Francisco with an active BAN
2. Have $5M or less in gross business revenue on most recent tax return
3. Have 100 or fewer employees
4. Have 3 or more years of business tax returns within the 10 years
5. Not have any open notices of violation with any City Department
6. Have a proven track record of 3 or more years of operations
7. Be in good standing with the California Secretary of State
   1. If you are suspended from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), you are not eligible

Nonprofits are eligible if they are revenue-generating and open to the public for programming and/or services and are current with the Registry of Charitable Trusts

Step 2: Review requirements

Storefront requirements

1. The storefront must be ground floor, open to the public during regular business hours, and commercially-zoned
2. Storefront must be open to the public a minimum of 4 days a week
3. Storefront must be appropriately zoned for the type of business
4. Storefront must be ADA compliant
   1. If storefront is not ADA compliant, business owner must demonstrate they are working towards compliance
5. Storefront must obtain the proper permits, licenses, and pass all City department inspections

Lease requirements

1. The lease must be for a minimum of 3-continuous years
   1. NOTE: Leases that are less than three years with the option for renewal do not qualify for this program

Office spaces that are not open to the public for programming and/or services will not be considered.
Appointment-only businesses will not be considered.

Step 3: Submit application

Interested businesses must submit a complete application to be considered for the Storefront Opportunity Grant. Failure to submit a complete and accurate application may result in disqualification.

Application Overview

1. Business concept and market fit
2. Financial readiness
3. Background and experience
4. Contribution to community
5. Business Information
6. Demographic Information

Applications will be evaluated and business owners who meet the minimum threshold will be invited to present their concept to a panel of community leaders and business advisors.

This is not a first-come, first-served program. All applications submitted by the deadline will be evaluated.

APPLY
Application portal will close on Friday, February 13 at 5:00PM

Step 4: Presentations

Businesses that are chosen to move forward will have to present their concept to a panel of community leaders and business advisors.

We will provide you with presentation template and a 12-month financial projections template. Chosen applicants will receive additional instructions via email.

Step 5: Receive broker and lease review services

Businesses will receive comprehensive brokerage and lease review services to aid them on their journey to opening.

The broker services will help the business owner identify potential vacant spaces to open their storefront.

With the City's leasing specialist, small businesses will be better equipped to negotiate their lease terms with these additional resources.

While free to the business owner, the combined broker and leasing services are valued at $150/hr.

Step 6: Sign lease

Once the business owner has identified a vacant commercial storefront, has negotiated the terms of the lease, and has been reviewed by the City's leasing specialist, the business owner may now sign the lease.

Note: Letter of Intent (LOI) and draft lease must be reviewed by the City's leasing specialist before signing. There is a two-week turnaround time for feedback on the draft lease from the City's leasing specialist.

Deadline to submit a signed lease is Friday, May 29th at 5:00PM.

Step 7: Receive funds

In addition to signing the lease, the business owner must commit to 6 months (12 hours or more) of one-on-one technical assistance to receive funds. The business owner and provider will work on a 6-month plan and submit to OEWD prior to receiving funds. Detailed instructions will be provided to awardees via email.

NOTE: OEWD will work with the business owner to connect them to an appropriate Technical Assistance Provider. The additional resources will help the business to grow and thrive.

Payment

The business owner will work with a nonprofit partner to direct deposit their grant into a business bank account. Detailed instructions will be provided to awardees via email at that time.

Step 8: Grand opening

The business owner will work with OEWD and their Project Manager to schedule a Grand Opening in the community.

Resources

• Looking for application assistance? Contact one of our community partners
• Looking for permitting support? Schedule a meeting with a permit specialist