Join Small Business Majority, Start Small and Davis Polk & Wardwell for a webinar on commercial leasing basics for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
California Small Business Owner Highlight

Elizabeth James has a soft spot for small businesses.
“I understand that the small businesses of this country are not only a place to work, but are the culmination of someone's dreams and aspirations,” she says. Elizabeth’s family owned businesses and she attended University of California’s School of Business, so starting her own company seemed like a no-brainer. After garnering a unique expertise in tax and controller services, Elizabeth decided to open up her own bookkeeping and tax prep firm, Rincon Controller and Tax Services, Inc., in 2012 in Carpinteria, Calif.
Elizabeth says, “I realized that small businesses need the services and guidance that are available to larger companies, but often beyond small business' pocket books. Tax and controller services in particular are typically exclusive corporations, and I wanted to change that.”
California Events
Join Small Business Majority for an engaging webinar designed to help small business owners navigate the world of responsible financing. Discover how leveraging capital can fuel business growth and sustainability while avoiding the risks of predatory lending.
In honor of Black History Month, Small Business Majority is spotlighting the success of its African American network members who will share their journeys to success.
Join Small Business Majority and WorkLife Law for a practical webinar on how small business owners can navigate employee leave and workplace accommodations while staying compliant with evolving laws such as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
California Policy
Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is recognized as the lifeforce of a thriving and inclusive economy in California. The state’s 4.2 million small businesses comprise 99.9% of all businesses in the state, and they employ 7 million residents–nearly half of all California employees.
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.
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
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

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.

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.

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’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.