Santa Cruz County Online Resources:
- License and Permit Information for Santa Cruz County
- City of Santa Cruz: Licenses and Permits for Business and Business License Tax Application
- City of Santa Cruz has launched Business Roadmap to Help Entrepreneurs in Santa Cruz when opening a new venture.
- City of Santa Cruz: Freelance/Consultant Guide
- SCORE Santa Cruz County SCORE is a group of entrepreneurs with a lifetime of real world experience to share. They have helped hundreds of small business owners. Free and confidential.
General Online Information:
- Busines Guide - from the SBA website
- Choosing a Legal Structure for Your Business - from the SBA website
- California State Resources for Businesses
- California State Board of Equalization
- Small Business/Self-Employed from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Website
- Zotabox's Business Opportunities Handbook
- SmartBiz Website
- Franchise Times Website
- Template for Startup/Expansion Financials (xls file)
- California Health Coverage Guide
How-to Online Information:
- OpenCounter Santa Cruz Permitting Portal
- SBA.gov has business planning samples and processes online, as well as webinars
- Business Plan Outline from the Small Business Administration
- Bplans.com is the definitive destination for business planning information on the web. Find, view, download and edit sample business plans optimized for the Web
Business Licenses, Permits and Regulations:
Home-based businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties do not require a business license. However, because each county has different requirements and zoning regulations, be sure to check with us.
License and Permit Information for Santa Cruz County (pdf file)
City of Santa Cruz: Licenses and Permits for Businesses and Business License Tax Application
Financing a Business:
We work closely with local lenders and have information on the various loans available, including:
- All SBA Loan Programs
- Micro-loans for start-up and existing businesses
- Agricultural loans
- Export financing
Read: How To Qualify For A Loan Opportunity Funds For Client Loans
Non-Profit Startup Resources:
- You can hire an attorney or paralegal to help
Call the Santa Cruz Bar Association for a referral at (831) 425-4755 or online at www.santacruzbar.org/
- Do it yourself:
www.Nolo.com A great book listed on this webpage that will walk you through the incorporation process and the forms you need to submit to the state and IRS for Non-profits.
Cabrillo College Extension: Starting Your Own NonProfit
Additional resources:
- GrantSpace: A service of Foundation Center: Skills, insights, and connections for a stronger social sector, from the foundation up.
- GrantSpace: How do I start a nonprofit organization?
- CompassPoint helps leaders, nonprofit organizations, and movements committed to social justice realize their full power.
They are a national nonprofit leadership and strategy practice based in Oakland, - IRS Setting up a 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Status
- Grow Santa Cruz Loan Program: Flexible Term Loan Financing for City of Santa Cruz Businesses. The City of Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency and the National Development Council (NDC) have established and capitalized Grow Santa Cruz to assist eligible small businesses within the city of Santa Cruz to obtain the financing from $50K to $300K for working capital, equipment, construction, land or buildings.
- Cabrillo College Student Employment: If you would like to register and post as an employer willing to hire local students.
- Cabrillo College Internship and Work Experience Program website: If you are willing to host an internship for local college students.
