Los Angeles County is dedicated to ensuring that small businesses have the support they need. Unlock financial support for your business by discovering the wealth of financial resources provided by Los Angeles County for small businesses.

The Department of Economic Opportunity has various financial support programs to empower your business's growth and stability:

• Are you a Mom-and-Pop shop that needs mortgage relief? Non-corporate rental property owners that meet specific income criteria can access up to $30,000 to alleviate pandemic-induced mortgage or utility debt (excluding City of LA property owners)

• The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) offers a spectrum of financial solutions, including small business loans, equity investments, personal financial services, and education. Numerous CDFIs operate within Los Angeles County. Visit their CDFI Locator | OFN for more information.

• Are you in need of a large loan? You can check out the Working Capital loans from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 – tailored for commercial and small businesses, alongside other loan products.

At large, The Department of Economic Opportunity also collaborates with community groups and institutions that offer loans specifically designed to support small businesses:

• Long standing business empowerment group and partner of the county, PACE, hosts its own Small Business Grant Program. This is for Small businesses in Unincorporated Areas of LA County Supervisorial District 1 who can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Applications are currently open and being accepted on their PACE Business Development Center Site.

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers various loan programs that cater to small businesses, ranging from microloans up to $50,000 to bank loans up to $5 million, all guaranteed by the SBA. Apply online or contact SBA’s Customer Service Center for disaster assistance information.

• The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) offers specialized loan programs for California businesses impacted by disasters, such as the Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program (DRLGP) and the Jump Start Loan Program.

• The California State Treasurer’s Office (CalCAP) hosts the California Capital Access Program, providing coverage up to 100% on losses from specific loan defaults. You can participating lenders and application details on the Treasurer’s Office website or call 916-653-2995

• Although the last cycle of grants just ended, make sure to be on the lookout for the County’s continuous grant programs for small businesses here.

Explore the financial opportunities above to fuel the growth and resilience of your business.

Los Angeles County wants to work with you!

Contracting with a government agency might feel daunting, but it's a game-changing opportunity for your business's revenue growth. The Office of Small Business is here to guide you through the process of becoming a government contractor.

They make discovering and securing opportunities with LA County simpler than ever! Explore the Office of Small Business’ live listing of open bids and solicitations categorized by commodity description, County department, bid title, and number. Vendors who register with Los Angeles County can participate in access to open county bids and be placed on bid lists generated by county departments that could lead to being matched with potential bids that fit your services

To access these opportunities, small businesses need to register in the County’s vendor registration system. This quick and easy electronic registration process requires only Internet access.

If you need comprehensive contract navigation assistance, the Office of Small Business APEX Accelerator is your go-to resource. Join APEX for tailored assessments, the latest contracting opportunities, and access to services like personalized counseling, workshops, and networking events. If you have more questions or concerns, schedule an appointment with an APEX Counselor today.

Certification is key! If your business isn’t certified, LA County’s Certification Program Portal provides the necessary steps to get certified hassle-free.

Not having access to the internet should never hinder your businesses growth. Gain access through any public library or check out laptops available for use within LA County libraries. If needed, borrow laptops to take home to further explore these opportunities.

Obtaining a library card grants access to these resources and more. Apply for an LA County Library card via the Library Website to harness the wealth of opportunities available to support your business growth.

Are you looking to be a sidewalk vendor with the county? The Department of Economic Opportunity has also allocated $5M to facilitate legal pathways for sidewalk vendors. This funding aims to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and enhance access to affordable, compliant food carts. Learn more about Sidewalk Vending.

The Department of Economic Opportunity, in partnership with various county-linked business centers, provides hands-on programs and direct consulting services aimed at supporting business growth. These services cover a wide spectrum including business and financial planning, HR and legal framework structuring, marketing strategies, and government contracting.

• The Office of Small Business offers an array of personalized workshops, counseling, legal assistance referrals, financing aid, contracting certifications, and government contracting technical support via the APEX Accelerator. Call (844) 432-4900 or visit the APEX Accelerator Portal.

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) has 200 consultants that provide free business consulting and comprehensive training programs covering diverse aspects such as operations, management, marketing, financing, and business planning.

• Los Angeles’ Business Source Centers provide cost-effective tools and services like one-on-one consulting, entrepreneurship training, business courses, financing options, tax incentives, and workforce development for startups and small businesses.

• The LA City Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) specializes in aiding entrepreneurs navigating L.A. City's business-related bureaucracy, ensuring legal compliance, and providing access to city resources.

Other resources offered through the county and affiliates include:

• The Virtual Small Business Concierge service offers free consultations and support for business development and government contracting. To schedule an appointment, please visit the following links:

  • If you need assistance with opening a business or general assistance, visit here.

  • If you need assistance with government contracting visit here.

• The Financial Empowerment Program through the Department of Consumer & Business Affairs that can help you with your taxes, banking, budgeting, and other financial needs through the

• Need assistance or relief in regards to a legal issue? The County offers free Legal Aid for small business owners – from basic guidance to attorney representation. Contact them through this form or call 866-375-951.

• The East Los Angeles Entrepreneur Center, staffed by the Office of Small Business (OSB) team, is equipped and ready to provide a variety of FREE services to help your small business. You can contact them via phone (844) 432-4900 or visit their physical office at 4716 East Cesar E Chavez Ave., Bldg. B Los Angeles, CA 90022

• ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, a non-profit organization offers credit counseling.

The Department of Economic Opportunity is also dedicated to helping employers navigate the many nuances that go along with running a business.

America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC) and Worksource Centers provide recruitment help, training, layoff aversion, and hiring incentives. Their staff is comprised of job developers and Business Services Representatives (BSRs), who can help your organization gain a competitive edge. Here is a breakdown of what they have to offer:

AJCCs offer subsidies for training of employees from specific backgrounds. Benefits include:

• On-the-Job Training: Covers up to 90% of initial wages for new hires' training.

• Incumbent Worker Training: Helps upskill existing full-time employees.

• New Training Programs: Covers costs for training in new technology or green practices.

• Youth@Work: Subsidizes 100% of wages for qualifying youth aged 14-24 for temporary work.

• Tax Credits: Employers can receive credits ($1,200 to $9,600) for hiring disadvantaged groups.

AJCCs also provide layoff aversion programs:

• The California EDD Workshare Program helps prevent layoffs and aids in quick recovery for businesses .

• The Business Assistance Program (BAP) is a DEO program that offers consulting services to explore alternatives to layoffs.

• The county also offers rapid response services for the City of LA and LA County – for needs in LA county, please reach out to RapidResponse@opportunity.lacounty.gov

For access to legal assistance and mediation:

• Bet Tzedek's Legal Aid Program for Small Businesses: Eligible small businesses can connect with legal experts and access ongoing webinars, one-on-one counseling, and legal academies at no cost. Click here. Or call 866-375-9511.

• LA County Mediation Services: If you want to settle a dispute outside of court, mediation is a great alternative. Los Angeles County offers free mediation services, both community and court-connected, to the residents and businesses of Los Angeles County.

Additionally, the AJCC’s office offers industry trend reports, support navigating workforce challenges, talent acquisition, and compliance with employment laws. They also offer workforce services and incentives for businesses, including talent recruitment, tax credit guidance, and compliance assistance. For LA County resources and questions visit the AJCC website.

We’re here to help small businesses succeed. Having an online presence is a big step in effectively marketing your business. Being listed online as an official business and even selling your products online can make a huge difference in consumers accessing your services.

We will be launching a new program for helping small businesses get online in 2023 but in the meantime, need help getting your business online? If so, check out some of the resources we’ve found below:

• If you need help selling your products online, check out Google’s “Introduction to Build an Online Business”.

• To get listed on search and maps through Google, check out this video that gives you a step by step tutorial .

• Yelp also has an easy to follow page that helps you claim your business page and manage it online. Want the short play by play?

• If you are already listed on Yelp, then search your businesses page at biz.yelp.com

• If you’re unsure of what you need, “Grow Your Business with Google” has a list of tips that teach you how to grow your online presence and ways to build interest and visibility from your customers.

Do you feel disconnected to your consumers? We’ve found a number of tips that can help your business engage with shoppers to make your brand of services more effective and engaging, creating a more memorable experience for your customers.

Hubspot notes that creating a memorable experience for your customers sets you apart from your competitors.

Here are a few tips that can help!

• Monitor and respond to feedback on your social media channels

• Ask questions and attend events in your industry (need help finding these? Check out our events calendar!

• Reach out to your customers with small notes of appreciation and asking for feedback

• Create a customer loyalty program

What’s a customer loyalty program?

It’s a great way to know your customers by understanding what products they like and an easy way to make them feel special by engaging with YOUR specific commerce. A prime example would be a rewards program, like offering free items with a certain number of purchases or offering coupons for specific items. You can send these through direct mail or create an in house method, or even by partnering with another merchant who handles sales transactions.

Need an easy start? You can generate a customer loyalty program with Yelp in a few of the creative ways listed below!

• Use check-in offers (insert photo that yelp blog has on this page to give more context or give step by step) – when a customer checks in, they can share with their network, encourage interest from new visitors and most of all, they can show you to get a reward!

• Host a photo contest with parameters that get your customers engaged and raving about your business – best photo wins a prize!

If this all feels new to you, that’s okay! Work directly with our campaign? and track #ShopLocalLA then reward your customers for posting reviews!