Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship remains at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in California. California’s 3.9 million small businesses employ seven million people, which amounts to about half of the private workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
On June 16, Small Business Majority wrote a letter to California legislators in support of AB 1444, which would support small restaurants by ensuring that food delivery platforms and online directories provide accurate business information, prohibit third-party platforms from charging restaurants for calls that do not result in orders and require the disclosure of any possible fees charged to a restaurant when placing an order.
On June 10, 2021 Small Business Majority wrote to California State Senator Richard Roth in support of AB 915, which would ensure that a fair share of procurement spending is directed and dedicated to small and minority-owned small businesses.
While the worst part of the pandemic may seem to be in the rearview mirror, small business owner Brandon Lindley and his husband Raphael Polito say it depends on the location of your business. As licensees of the world-renowned flip-flop brand Havaianas, Brandon and Raphael own two locations in the United States: One in downtown Palm Springs, Calif. and the other one in Scottsdale, A.Z.
Many California small businesses would like to offer retirement options to their employees—to help attract a talented workforce and boost employee morale—but can’t afford the overhead and administrative costs. The state now requires that all businesses with five or more employees facilitate employee participation in CalSavers if they don’t already have a retirement plan in place. Businesses are being phased into the program over time based on their number of employees.
When Shalini Khanna immigrated to Northern California, she found that the majority of jobs available to Indian immigrants were in tech and IT. Uninterested in sitting behind a desk all day, she knew entrepreneurship was for her.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know many entrepreneurs she could turn to for advice and had no hands-on experience running a business despite having an MBA, so she decided to take the route of franchising.
She says, “I didn’t have anything in the bank or any experience, but I knew I wanted to own my own business.”
Josaline Cuesta manages the execution of Small Business Majority’s programs and initiatives throughout the state of California in collaboration with the California team. Additionally, she directs the organization's Southern California office and develops and fosters strong relationships with business organizations, community organizations and policymakers.
California small business owner Dr. Wendy Talley and her team are redefining “essential worker” with their much-needed support services throughout the pandemic.
With unprecedented times come great amounts of uncertainty and mental stress. Not only are we reckoning with a devastating public health crisis, but we are also still adapting to a new normal that can be isolating and overwhelming. It’s no wonder Dr. Talleys waiting list at Thelese Consulting Group is longer than ever before.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the California Assembly Health Committee Chairman Jim Wood in support of AB 1132, which will discourage anticompetitive behaviors in the healthcare industry. This bill will strengthen oversight over hospital mergers and consolidation by the Attorney General, a key measure to control healthcare costs and affordability for small business owners.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter to Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez in support of AB 2149, which will protect small restaurant owners and their customers at a time when small business owners are most vulnerable.
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