California Small Business Owner Highlight

Terry Norris

When Terry Norris left the Marine Corps, he needed a part-time job. He soon found one at a calibration lab working with the government on aerospace initiatives. On his first day there, he met his now wife. Just a few months later, they opened their own calibration lab in Palmdale, California. 27 years and 17 employees later, Precision Labs Calibration serves a variety of customer bases, including the medical, aerospace, agricultural and film industries. 

California Events

Thursday, October 10, 2024 | 2:00pm ET

Federal and state contracting and subcontracting opportunities are critical pathways for small businesses looking to expand their operations and tap into new markets.

Webinar | National
Thursday, October 17, 2024 | 2:00pm ET

While you might still be considering how your small business can take advantage of Secure 2.0, lawmakers are already thinking through new ways to further increase access to retirement savings and coverage. Does this mean a Secure 3.0 is on the horizon?

Webinar | National
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 2:00pm ET

Rural small businesses face unique barriers in their efforts to start and grow - from a lack of access and awareness to capital and resources to struggles maintaining a qualified workforce.

Webinar | National
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 2:00pm ET

Through their suite of lending and technical assistance programs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has helped millions of small businesses access the capital and resources needed to thrive and grow.

Webinar | National

California Policy

Browse our latest state-based regulatory comments and legislative testimony in this area below, or click the button to view all records.
Friday, March 1, 2024

Small Business Majority is enacting a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is recognized as the lifeforce of a thriving and inclusive economy in California. Our state’s 4.1 million small businesses employ 7.5 million people, which amounts to nearly half of the private workforce.  

Monday, September 18, 2023

More than 80 small business owners and advocates signed on to Small Business Majority's letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom in support of passing SB 33, which preserves a cornerstone of SB 1235 by requiring APR disclosure for all commercial financing products.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

On April 11, Small Business Majority's California Policy Director Bianca Blomquist testified before the Assembly Committee on Arts, Tourism, Sports and Entertainment in support of AB 1669, legislation that would establish the California Historically Significant District Program, an important program that can revitalize and support historically and culturally significant commercial cor

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

On April 4, Small Business Majority's California Policy Director Bianca Blomquist submitted a letter in support of AB 1392, legislation that would require large hospitals to submit a plan to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to increase procurement from minority, women, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises.

California Research

Published:
Wed, 07/12/2023
Mother and child working

As the California Legislature considers updating the state’s small business paid family leave and sick day policies, a new poll shows that small businesses owners strongly support expanding family leave protections and other benefits to their employees, including increasing the amount of paid sick days that employees can take. 

Published:
Tue, 08/31/2021

California lawmakers are weighing a proposal to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for customers at consumer-facing businesses and to similarly require employers to mandate vaccinations or negative COVID-19 tests for employees. New opinion polling from Small Business Majority reveals that small businesses in California are supportive of proposals to mandate vaccinations and testing at places of business to help ensure local economies can operate safely, amid setbacks from the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

Published:
Tue, 02/23/2021
Banking online

Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic that has strained California’s economy and public health system, small businesses across the state continue to experience significant financial setbacks. A new survey of California small business owners reveals that their struggles are being exacerbated by challenges accessing capital, and they strongly support policy solutions that would deliver the financial relief they need to survive this year-long crisis.

California Resources

California’s Paid Family Leave program (PFL) provides wage replacement benefits to workers who need to take time off from work to bond with a new child or to care for a seriously ill family member.

This document is intended to answer any questions small employers might have about California’s PFL program and its effects on small business owners and their workers.

California’s paid sick leave law allows employees to take time off from work to address their health or a family member’s illness without losing a paycheck.

This document is intended to answer any questions small employers might have about California’s paid sick leave law and its effects on small business owners and their workers. 

The CalSavers Retirement Savings Program is a portable workplace retirement savings program for private sector workers whose employers do not offer their employees a way to save for retirement. CalSavers is run by the state and funded by modest employee contributions, so it involves minimal requirements for employers. You can learn more by watching this introduction video

As a small business owner, we know you wear many hats—from running the day-to-day operations of your business, to managing employees, building a brand and much more. One thing many entrepreneurs feel unequipped to deal with while starting or running a business is how to handle business finances and maintain a healthy workforce.