Tired of working for someone else? Thinking of hanging out your shingle as a contractor? Or perhaps you have an idea for an underserved market.
Below you'll find links to resources (some are free!) to help send you in the right direction.
Business To Business Services
We have solutions for businesses just starting out--at rates that will no doubt thrill you. From advertising and signage to free experts!
What Makes Santa Clarita a Great Place to Own a Business?
It's a Great Place to Live!
The City of Santa Clarita continually receives awards for being one of the best places to live in the nation. In 2007, the City of Santa Clarita was named
One of 100 Best Communities for Young People.
and
CNN Money Magazine
rated Santa Clarita as one of the top 20 places to live in the U.S.
If it's a great place to live, it's a great place to work!
Most Business-Friendly City
In September, the City of Santa Clarita was named one of the top five most business-friendly cities in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission (LAEDC) for 2007.
Santa Clarita Named as a New California Enterprise Zone
The Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone encompasses 97 percent of all commercial, business and industrial-zoned land in the city. Businesses located in the Zone may be eligible for substantial tax credits and benefits. For example, with each qualified employee hired, a company may earn $36,000 or more in state hiring tax credits over a 5-year period of time. Individuals, partnerships, and limited liability companies may claim a credit equal to the sales and use tax paid or incurred on the first $1 million of qualified machinery purchased. For corporations, the limit goes up to $20 million.
For information on the newly-designated Enterprise Zone, contact the Economic Development Division at 661-255-4347 or visit the City of Santa Clarita's website at
santa-clarita.com
Santa Clarita Boasts High Hotel Occupancy Rate
Santa Clarita is unquestionably a popular tourist and business traveler destination as evidenced by recently released hotel occupancy rates. Specifically, Santa Clarita City's growing popularity has fueled this upward trend. In 2000, Santa Clarita's hotel occupancy rate averaged 84 percent, which was up from 75 percent in previous years.
(Excerpted from "Successful Connections Fall/Winter 2006," City of Santa Clarita.)
Government Links
Business.gov
The official business link to the U.S. Government.
Business Owner's Toolkit
Total know-how for small business. It's an online guide from everything to starting your own business to hiring, managing, and retaining the people who work for you.
California Business Portal
When starting a new business, there are many important decisions to make and many rules and procedures that must be addressed. While there is no single source for all filing requirements, the steps on this site have been developed to assist you in starting your business.
City of Santa Clarita
You'll find the steps you need to follow when beginning a business in the City. (Many of the steps apply to the unincorporated areas as well.) Also, a list of phone numbers are provided to send you in the right direction.
Ficticious Name/DBA in Los Angeles County
You'll hear it from a hundred sources: "File a DBA." This link will explain how to do it.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for Federal government grants.
Los Angeles County Office of Small Business
Los Angeles County Office of Small Business (OSB) is a source of information on procurement opportunities, certification, financing, and technical assistance. OSB also serves as the County Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to help small businesses get contracts with prime defense contractors.
Small Business Administration
The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. You'll find links to just about everything you might need: Financial Assistance, Counseling & Assistance, Contract Opportunities, Disaster Assistance, Laws/Regulations, and online Training.
Community Resources
COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS
Small Business Development Center
Whether you are an early stage entrepreneur or an established business, the COC staff can provide you with business counseling in business plan development, basic accounting and bookkeeping, marketing and sales, and technology. They can also provide you with assistance in accessing capital, state and federal government contracting, understanding Quickbooks, the latest employer rules, and much more--either free or at a greatly reduced rate!
How do they do this? They are funded by College of the Canyons, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the California Economic and Workforce Development Program.
Legal Information
FindLaw.com
Whether you want to look up some general info on how to start a business, the difference between Sub S and and an LLC, or employee issues such as the current minimum wage and employee rights, you'll find it all here. The site is supported by lawyers' advertising.
