May is an exciting and busy month, with San Francisco Small Business Week taking place May 6-10. While our team celebrates small businesses each day, Small Business Week offers an opportunity for us to give San Francisco’s incredible small businesses extra love and attention. Check out the full list of events here.
Announcements & Highlights
Proposed legislation to simplify special event food permitting
Mayor London N. Breed introduced legislation on April 23 to simplify the health permitting for special event food vendors through the creation of a new annual permit. Food vendors who participate in multiple events at multiple locations throughout the year will no longer need to obtain a separate permit for each event. Instead, special event food vendors will have the option to apply and pay for a single annual permit all at once.
Mercy Housing is seeking small businesses and non-profits for new retail spaces in Sunnydale
The available spaces include: six that range from 375 to 625 square feet, a cafe, a small grocer, and two-three restaurants. They are offering affordable rental rates beginning in early 2025.
Learn more by emailing Julia Katz at julia.katz@mercyhousing.org or calling 415-915-6232
SF Environment programs to help businesses go green:
If you own a restaurant or cafe, you can get up to $700 to switch from disposable to reusable foodware for dine-in services. You will also receive free advice and help to make the change easier. This can save a business between $3,000 to $20,000 annually. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the form at SFReuse.org.
If you own an entertainment venue, hotel, school, health facility, mall or other larger institution, you can get up to $5,000. This money can be used to switch to reusable foodware or partner with a service that helps with reuse. Submit an interest form.
Get up to $2,500 toward leasing or buying an automatic dishwasher, to help you build reusable foodware infrastructure for on-site dining. Submit an interest form.
SF LGBT Center is seeking vendors for a block party
Building The Block “Purple Pride” Party will kick off the 2024 PRIDE season. The event is on June 1 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. They are accepting applications for 14 small business vendors who went through the LGBT Center’s training or consulting services.
Verizon offers digital readiness resources
Verizon’s “Small Business Digital Ready” program to access free courses, events and more. They are also offering a $10,000 grant program.
Cafe Mélange opens in City Hall!
Café Mélange is a unique culinary opportunity where Black-owned restaurateurs from the Bayview bring flavors, time-honored traditions and generational recipes of African and African-American cuisine to City Hall. It is the first time the building is hosting a collective of small businesses, and we hope people will support them!
Office of Small Business in the Community
Let us know if you would like the Office of Small Business to visit your corridor and share resources for small businesses. Please send requests to: sfosb@sfgov.org.
Upcoming
Employer annual reporting for the Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) and Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO)
Due by May 3, 2024
Employers covered by the San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance and/or the Fair Chance Ordinance must submit the 2023 Employer Annual Reporting Form. The fee for not filing is $500 per quarter.
File your Business Property Statement
Due by May 7, 2024
Business owners must file a property statement each year detailing the cost of all supplies, equipment, fixtures, and improvements owned at each location in San Francisco.
Legacy Business Passport
Pick up a pocket-sized booklet featuring nearly 80 Legacy Businesses. Collect 25 stamps and win a prize*! The program runs through December 20, 2024. Booklets are free and purchase is not required to participate. Pick up a passport booklet at the Legacy Business Mixer at Zeitgeist on May 9 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM or at any of the participating businesses. The Legacy Business Passport is a campaign from Shop Dine SF and the Office of Small Business. *prizes available while supplies last.
https://www.sf.gov/legacy-business-passport
Webinars & Events
Small Business Week
May 6
Coffee & Community
Join the Renaissance Women's Business Center and the San Francisco Public Library for a business networking event.
May 7
Starting a Business in San Francisco
Learn how the Office of Small Business helps aspiring and existing small business owners and entrepreneurs grow and thrive.
May 8
First Year Free
Learn how the Treasurer & Tax Collector Office waives the cost of initial registration and license fees, first-year permit & more for qualifying businesses.
May 8
Shop Dine SF Pop-up Shop
Shop from over 40 San Francisco makers and artisans. Dance to live music and dine from food trucks! Presented by the Office of Small Business in partnership with Transbay Joint Powers Authority, with financial support from Square.
May 9
Small Business Office Hours with an Advisor
Get feedback on your small business ideas from a business advisor. A partnership with the San Francisco Public Library and the SF Small Business Development Center.
May 9
Vacant to Vibrant Community Market
SF New Deal and Wells Fargo, in partnership with Mayor Breed and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, host for a market featuring unique food and retail, music by local DJs, special guest speakers, and delightful giveaways.
May 9
3rd Annual Legacy Business Mixer
The Legacy Business Mixer is a friendly celebration of San Francisco’s over 400 registered Legacy Businesses. It’s also a place for Legacy Business owners to meet, socialize, and network. The event will spotlight host Legacy Business Zeitgeist. Hosted by the Office of Small Business.
May 10
SF Green Business Certification
Learn the free process of becoming an SF Certified Green Business and how doing so can help you save money and the planet. Hosted by SF Made, with support from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
Find all Small Business Week events
More events in May
May 8
Selling your product wholesale
The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is hosting a webinar about different types of wholesale options and how the process works.
May 30
Virtual Legal Clinic
Get free business law advice at the monthly virtual legal clinic from Legal Services for Entrepreneurs. Be sure to register in advance. Please select the 1-hour appointment time you prefer. They will try to accommodate your preferred time slot.
Sign up
May 30
ADA Opportunities for Small Businesses
This is a webinar from the CA Commission on Disability and the Pacific ADA Center to offer information for businesses to enhance ADA compliance in employment practices and public accommodations.
May 31
How to do business with the State of CA
This an in-person event presented by the Norcal APEX Accelerator. Learn the basics of how state government contracting works.