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Business Resources

Business Online provides links to offsite references as well as our onsite materials. Please e-mail us if you have suggestions for business-related links or if a link listed here is out-of-date. All of these links will open a new browser window.

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2009 Tax Incentives for Businesses

Extension of Bonus Depreciation

Election to Accelerate Recognition of Historic AMT/R&D Credits

THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 - FEBRUARY 12, 2009 FULL SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS FROM SENATE FINANCE, HOUSE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTE(pdf file)

  • Extension of Enhanced Small Business Expensing
  • 5 -Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses for Small Businesses
  • Delayed Recognition of Certain Cancellation of Debt Income
  • Incentives to Hire Unemployed Veterans and Disconnected Youth
  • Small Business Capital Gains
  • Temporary Small Business Estimated Tax Payment Relief
  • Temporary Reduction of S Corporation Built-In Gains Holding Period from 10 Years to 7 Years
  • Repeal of Treasury Section 382 Notice
  • Treatment of Certain Ownership Changes

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Resources for Starting a Business

Santa Cruz County Online Resources:

 

Monterey County Online Resources:

 

General Online Information:

 

How-to Online Information:

  • Business Plan Guide from the Central Coast SBDC (pdf file)
  • Business Plan Outline from the San Joaquin Delta College SBDC
  • 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)

License and Permit Information for Monterey County (pdf file)

City of Santa Cruz: Licenses and Permits for Businesses and Business License Tax

City of Monterey: Business License Information

 

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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
  • Monterey County Revolving Loan Funds

Read: How To Qualify For A Loan

2009 SBA Lenders in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties (14k PDF file)
(Free Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

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Grow Santa Cruz

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.
In order to qualify for these loans, a business must be:

~ A for-profit existing business
~ Financially healthy and in need of expansion capital

For more information and an application package please contact:

SANTA CRUZ REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Peter Koht, Economic Development Coordinator
337 Locust Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420- 5154
pkoht@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us

or

The City of Santa Cruz

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Agencies

Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration, established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.

California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program
The Economic and Workforce Development Program provides a variety of solutions for business development and workforce training needs. It delivers everything from basic jobsite skills to advanced biotech training. It assists thousands of people – from small business to aerospace giants. To stay ahead of that “technology curve,” successful ventures, both public and private, realize the value of promoting education and enhancing employee skills. They need customized education, training, and onsite learning as well as information and sound advice for the planning and marketing of goods and services. Delivered through California Community Colleges, the Economic and Workforce Development Program strengthens on-the-job performance and business competitiveness, making California’s economy stronger. The program has a track record of success and brings in outside investment. It responds to regional economies and provides access for California Community College student.

Cabrillo College
The mission of Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County, California is to deliver quality education responsive to the needs of the community and to facilitate open access and achievement for all students.

Community Education and Corporate Training at Cabrillo College
Community Education and Corporate Training provides a wide variety of classes and programs to the general public and also to companies for the exclusive benefit of their employees.

America's Small Business Development Center Network
Use this resource to locate other SBDC offices throughout the U.S.

Government Agencies:

  1. Worldwide Government Information Servers
  2. Local Government:
    Capitola City Government
    Santa Cruz County Government
    Santa Cruz City Government
    Doing Business with the City of Santa Cruz
    NEW! Santa Cruz City Business Gateway
    Scotts Valley City Government
    Watsonville City Government
    Monterey County Government
  3. State Government:
    California State Government
    State Government Agencies: an alphabetical list of state agencies on the Internet.
    California State Legislative Information
    California State Senate: includes link to user's guide and tutorial on how to find legislative information; also provides a link to legislative bill searches.
    California Electronic Government is a comprehensive list of California governmental Web sites (e.g., budget, DMV, California Air Resources Board, etc.) and California municipalities, including descriptions of what is available at each site and links to out-of-state sites.
    California Employer Advisory Council - specifically geared to helping employers.

Other Agencies:

 

 
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Chambers of Commerce

 

 
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Helpful Links

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

 

EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

 

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

Federal Resources

State Resources

Local Resources

 

GROUP ACTIVITIES: TRADE SHOWS, SEMINARS, EVENTS

 

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

International Trade

Checking the Creditworthiness of Buyers

Financing Exports and Receivables

International Trade Issue Support

Potential International Buyers

The International Trade list was created by KRAMER KONEXIONS INTERNATIONAL, LLC and is maintained and updated by the Central Coast Small Business Development Center

 

INTERNET BUSINESS TOOLS

Find anyone!

Online yellow pages:

Money Tools:

Internet Search Engines:

 

 

JOB TRAINING AND SEARCH

 

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

 

MARKETING AND FINANCE

 

MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS

  • DIV2000.COM is the official site of Diversity 2000, the online hub for supplier diversity. The heart of this website is its informative database of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE's) and contacts within Fortune 1000 companies. DIV2000 also facilitates your ability to remain abreast of activities and news that affect M/WBE's and Blue Chip Companies.
  • Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) is a service organization for women building and leading high-growth technology and life science companies. FWE’s mission is to accelerate women's opportunities to start, manage and invest in market-leading companies.
  • SBA's Online Women's Business Center - information specific to women in business.

 

REFERENCE SOURCES

 

STATISTICS

 

 
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