Business Resources - City of Alhambra

• Development Services Department, 111 S. First St., First Floor, Alhambra, CA 91801
  626-570-5030; Fax: 626-458-4201 - The Development Services Department assists business owners and developers through the City's review and approval process, as well as works to encourage business growth and development.
    
• City of Alhambra––Business Licenses
  Finance Dept. (existing business licenses), 626-570-5019
  Development Services Dept. (new business licenses), 626-570-5034 
    
• City of Alhambra––Alhambra Civic Center Library - 101 S. First St., Alhambra, CA 9180; 626-570-3212 - The Alhambra Civic Center Library offers a wealth of resources, guides and information on all aspects of business. 
   
• Alhambra Courthouse - 150 W. Commonwealth Ave., Alhambra 91801, 626-308-5309
    
• Alhambra Chamber of Commerce, 104 S. First St., Alhambra, CA 91801, 626-282-8481; Fax: 626-282-5596 - Provides members with numerous services including seminars, clinics and other marketing opportunities. Local chambers can help you boost business by helping professionals network and promote themselves in new ways. 
   
• Alhambra Downtown Association - 626-282-5767; email: alhtown@pacbell.net 
   
• Alhambra Banks and Financial Institutions - Click here for a list of banks located in Alhambra.

Business Resources - County of Los Angeles

• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation - The LAEDC's mission is to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs in the regions of LA County. Need Business Assistance? Call 888-4-LAEDC-1 or bap@laedc.org. The LAEDC Business Assistance Program offers a wealth of services to help you stay competitive including permitting, incentives, workforce development, financing assistance, and project management and connections to public/private resources, cities and regional EDCs. The LAEDC Choose L.A. County (San Gabriel Valley) website provides information on why the San Gabriel Valley is a good place to do business.
   
• Los Angeles County Strategic Plan for Economic Development (2010-2014) - The L.A. County Strategic Plan includes five aspirational goals, 12 broad objectives, and 52 specific strategies for ensuring a more vibrant, diverse and sustainable economy. The five aspirational goals are: (1) Prepare an Educated Workforce; (2) Create a Business-Friendly Environment; Enhance our Quality of Life; Implement Smart Land Use; Build 21st Century Infrastructure. Prepared by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).
   
• Energy Upgrade Commercial PACE Program - owners of non-residential commercial properties in Los Angeles County have access to an innovative financing mechanism to fund up to 100% of the cost of building performance upgrades - Property Assessed Clean Energy (or PACE) financing. / PACE Program Facts
   
• Los Angeles County Health Department - West Covina Health Center, 1435 West Covina Parkway, West Covina, CA; (626) 813-3379 - Contact the County Health Department for a license if your business is in any way concerned with public health: food/restaurant, wholesale or retail markets, vending machines, catering trucks, etc. It also licenses day-care centers, board and care facilities, hotels and motels, and retirement homes. Other businesses under its control include laundries, clothing factories, animal keepers and swimming pools.   
   
• Los Angeles County Online 

Business Resources - State of California

• Cal Gold  - provides businesses with on-line information concerning business permits and other requirements of California agencies at all levels of government, including addresses, telephone numbers, and links to agency Internet web pages.
   
• California Franchise Tax Board - Local Office: 300 S. Spring Street, Suite 5704, Los Angeles, CA 90013-1265; 800-852-5711 (inside the U.S.) - Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., except state holidays. See also California Tax Service Center.
   
• California State Board of Equalization, 12820 Crossroads Parkway South, City of Industry, CA 91715; 310-908-5280 - Contact the Board for a license for any type of wholesale or retail selling. They will want to know the size and type of business and the expected monthly gross and volume of sales. To be licensed you need a valid California Driver's License and Social Security card. 
   
• CalJOBS - A no-fee Internet service created and maintained by the California EDD to help employers find qualified job applicants.
   
• Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development - California’s single point of contact for economic development and job creation efforts. The "GO-Biz" website provides information on a range of services for business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. 
    
• Secretary of State, 1230 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814 - Business Portal provides a
  wealth of information about starting a new business, including types of business
  entities, name searches, etc. 
   
• State Compensation Insurance Fund, 125 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, CA 91007; 626- 574-2600 - Contact this office for Workers' Compensation Insurance. You can also purchase such insurance through private insurance firms. 
   
• State of California Website 

Business Resources - Federal 

• SBA.gov (U.S. Small Business Administration) - Provides a wealth of information about starting and managing a business, loans and grants, contracting, as well as counseling and training. Local Office: Small Business Development Center, 330 N. Brand Avenue, Suite 190, Glendale, CA 90203 ; 818-552-3321.
   
• Internal Revenue Service - Local Office: 9350 East Flair Dr., El Monte, CA 91731;
  626- 312-5138. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
   
• Federal Trade Commission
   
• Federal Citizen Information Center 1-888-8 PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256).
   
• Social Security Administration 
   
• Mymoney.gov - U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education.

Additional Business Resources

• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership - 4900 Rivergrade Road, Suite B130, Irwindale, CA 91706, 626-856-3400  Fax 626-856-5115  Email: info@valleyconnect.com. Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. A not-for-profit corporation committed to the successful economic development of the San Gabriel Valley. Free business assistance program including site selection; community profiles, economic/demographic information, taxes and fee abatements; incentive zones; labor market information, job training resources; utility and transportation services; permit assistance and licensing; and public financing programs. The Visit San Gabriel Valley.com website was developed by the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership to promote the leadership and resources of the San Gabriel Valley.
   
• Asian-American Economic Development Enterprises, Inc., 216 W. Garvey Ave., Suite E, Monterey Park, CA 91754; 626-572-7021; Fax: 626-572-6533; Info@aaede.org
  Serves the Asian American community and others through training in entrepreneurship, small business and personal development, supplies management and technical assistance to new and fledgling businesses, delivers financial support for growing ventures and enhances other worthy educational and community service activities.
     
• Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, 1145 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017; 213-977-7500; Fax: 213-977-7595 - The APALC was established in 1983 as a non-profit and has become the largest organization in Southern California that provides Asian and Pacific Islander and other communities with multi-lingual cultural sensitive services and legal education. 
   
• SCORE-Counselors to Small Business - Los Angeles Chapter, 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 190, Glendale, CA 91203; (818) 552-3206 - Online site provides resources, including workshops, for new and existing entrepreneurs.
   
• California Chamber of Commerce - 1215 K Street, Suite 1400, Sacramento, CA 95814 / P.O. Box 1736, Sacramento, CA 95812-1736; 916-444-6670; Fax 916-325-1272 - The largest, broad-based business advocate, working at the state and federal levels to influence government actions affecting all California business.
    
• Center for International Trade Development - The El Camino CITD serves the greater Los Angeles region by providing free or low-cost programs and services, including one-on-one technical assistance and consulting, market research, training and educational programs, trade leads and special events for companies conducting international business operations.
      
• Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Center (PCR) - provides financial, educational and consulting services to help the small business owner succeed. See also: California Small Business Development Center 
   
• California Academy for Economic Development - A Center for Economic Development Training, Education, and Research
    
• Free Online Business Training from Free-Ed.Net - Offers a variety of free online business courses, including  entreneurship, small business management, business management, sales and marketing, office skills and administration, sales and selling, as well as business law and ethics
   
• Southern California Minority Business Development Council - a non-profit organization that aims to strengthen economic ties between large, public-, private- and foreign-owned corporations and minority men- and women-owned business enterprises.
   
• Innovative Downtown Businesses: This online resource provides examples of innovative downtown businesses in a variety of retail and service categories.
   
• National Association for Self-Employed - offers entrepreneurs a wide range of resources and tools to help you run your business successfully. Value-added services include legal help; healthcare insurance plans (including major medical, prescription drug, plus dental and vision plans), home office insurance; credit cards; office supplies; website design;
  travel services (including rental car fees and hotels).
   
• Pasadena Star News - 911 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91109; 626-578-6300, ext. 2451 - The Star News publishes the Fictitious Business Name Statement once a week for four weeks. Contact them for a fictitious name form. The Star News sends a copy to the County Clerk who files the request, and sends a copy back to the Star News and to the applicant.

• Location - seek a good location with customer-friendly parking
• Space - determine if the space is adequate for current needs and  foreseeable growth. Investigate traffic patterns; tour the building; find out who the previous tenant was and why they left. Evaluate the physical location and if the space is a good fit for  your product line. Be realistic and don't over-commit.
• Identify competitors - check out neighboring businesses for complementary products and/or services. Is there an established cluster economy?
• Seek professional assistance - hire a real estate attorney who specializes in lease negotiations who understands your area and type of business.
• Identify your responsibilities - determine if you will need to maintain the heating, air-conditioning and other systems, as well as keep up the parking lot and building exterior.
• Affordability - determine if the rent will be affordable.

• Beneficial product with flexible pricing.
• Flexible inventory that appeals to clients' changing tastes (Anticipate customer’s needs before they even realize them).
• Advertise regardless of economic times (Companies that advertise in a down market have a competitive advantage over businesses that don't advertise frequently).
• Teach your employees how to be more effective at what they do.
• Partner the talents and ideas of 'fresh thinkers' with your proven talent.
• Recognize that every customer is potentially a repeat customer.
• Cross-promote and share customers with other local businesses.
• Offer more in-store events to attract new and repeat customers.
• Attract customers from wider distances.
• Pay attention to quality and grow your top line.

USEFUL BUSINESS TOOLS

• Prepare a Business Plan. The purpose of creating a business plan is to help you think through all parts of your business, establish a solid foundation, and put you in a strong position for business growth. For more information about preparing a business plan, visit SBA.gov, or take a free online class in Strategic Planning and Execution.
   
• Determine the type of business structure for your business - Sole Proprietorship,
  C corporation, S corporation, Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Liability Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Company, Series Limited Liability Company.
   
• Business calculators:
  - Amortizing loan
  - Breakeven analysis
  - Business debt consolidation
  - Business valuation
  - Cash flow
  - Commercial loan
  - Debt consolidation
  - Discounted cash flow
  - Equipment buy versus lease
  - Equity line of credit
  - Financial ratios
  - Inventory analysis
  - Investment offering
  - Investment return
  - Profit margin
  - Repossession of personal property from a deferred payment sale
  - Repossession of real property
  - Starting costs
  - Stock options 
  - 1040 Tax Estimator
  - Working Capital Needs
   
• Small Business Loans - know the common types:
  - SBA Business Loan - Loans provided to small businesses from private-sector lenders (banks, etc.) that are guaranteed by the SBA. CDCs work with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide the financing.
  - Secured Working Capital Loans - Convert company or personal assets into working capital. They provide a security in the form of an asset(s) in exchange for cash.
  - Unsecured, Working Capital Loan - Loans for working capital that are unsecured, only based on the credit worthiness of the applicant.
  - Commercial Real Estate Loans - Commercial real estate loan with fixed or variable terms.
  - Accounts Receivable Factoring - Accounts receivable serve as collateral for short-term working capital loans that you can obtain fast and cost effectively.
  - Merchant Account Cash Advance - Up to a $50,000 advance against regular occurring monthly merchant credit receipts.
  - Start-up Loans - Loans for start-up businesses
  - Franchise Start-up Loan - Specialized financing reserved for the franchisees of recognized, typically nationally known, franchises.
  - Business Acquisitions - Loan to acquire an existing business
  - Lines of Credit - A pre-arranged amount of credit based upon existing inventory, A/R and POs or up to $200,000 in business credit based upon credit worthiness with no collateral.
  - Professional Loans - For Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers, CPAs, etc.
  - Equipment Financing - Loans to purchase equipment, with the equipment to be used as the collateral on the loan.
  - Equipment Sale-Lease Back - If you have existing equipment, you sell it and then lease back the equipment. Essentially you get cash for your equipment and then you lease it back from the lender.
  - Equipment Leasing - An easier way to find financing for your equipment needs and obtain tax benefits at the same time.
  - Construction Financing - Loans for home or commercial construction.
  - Residential Equity Lines - Lines of credit secured by the equity in your residence.
  - Residential Mortgage Lending - Loans for residential homes at the current interest rates in the market place.
  - Hard Money Equity Loans - borrower receives funds secured by the value of a parcel of real estate typically issued by a private investor or company. Interest rates are generally higher than conventional commercial or residential property loans because of the shorter loan durations associated with hard money loans.
  - Multi-Family Real Estate Loans - Loans for real estate investors.
  - Business Only Loans
  For more information on loans: View Money How-To Guides (Entrepreneur.com)
  Click here for over 4,000 sources to help you finance your business. 
   
• Building a Better Credit Report  (FTC) - Learn how to legally improve your credit report and read tips on dealing with debt. 
   

• Legal Resources -  Law HelpCalifornia.org (an internet site to help Californians find legal aid referrals & self-help resources). See also: LegalZoom.com - (Answer a few questions online and your documents will be prepared within 48 hours). Business Law Guide/Lawyer Search