San Francisco
San Francisco Internet Marketing and Business Services
San Francisco Internet Marketing and Business Services
Small businesses often lack the time, resources and expertise necessary to complete critical business functions. But to be competitive, small businesses need the same quality of services traditionally accessible to only larger enterprises. PlusStuff helps small businesses grow by simplifying the execution of critical business functions such as launching an integrated marketing campaign, leveraging technology and providing cost effective resources to enhance small businesses opportunities for success.
We are committed to providing the business services and constant support necessary to transform great ideas into even better companies.
How can we help?
Popularity: 3% [?]
SURETY BOND & FINANCE PROGRAM
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO SURETY BOND & FINANCE PROGRAM
OBJECTIVE:
The City and County of San Francisco is committed to giving local small and emerging contractors access to contracting opportunities on City construction projects.
The Surety Bond & Finance Program facilitates this objective by providing you, the contractor, with the tools needed to become competitive in public works construction.
Recognizing that bonding and working capital are the common barriers contractors face when bidding and completing contract, the program addresses these challenges.
The Program benefits both contractors and the City’s economy in a positive way by reducing public works construction costs and increasing job opportunities available to local contractors. Securing the employment of more local contractors results in a stronger local economy and keeps money cycling within the City.
Program Services Include:
- Bonding and Financial Consultation
- Bid, Performance and Payment Bond Guarantees
- Contract Financing Guarantees
- Accounting Assistance and Referrals
- Individual Counseling and Group Workshops on Contractor Related Topics
For More Information on the Program Contact:
Nancy Owens
Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services
417 Montgomery Street, Suite 200
San Francisco , CA 94104
Phone: 415 986-3999
www.imwis.com
Popularity: 2% [?]
San Francisco Procurement Ordinance
The Small Business Commission Seeks Public Comment Regarding Local Business Enterprise (LBE) Ordinance on Monday, April 6th at City Hall in Room 400 at 5:30 pm
Board of Supervisor’s President David Chiu introduced legislation to support LBE Contracting with the City..
- require departments to set aside contracts worth $400,000 or less for the Micro-Local Business Enterprise Set Aside Program;
- create a pilot Graduated Local Business Enterprise program that will enable graduated firms to receive a 5% bid discount; and
- allow bidders and proposers the flexibility of meeting the participation goal by either achieving adequate good faith efforts or by meeting and/or exceeding the participation goal based on the availability of MBEs, WBEs, and OBEs.
(http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/committees/materials/090320tdr.pdf)
On Monday, April 6th, the Small Business Commission will discuss components of a complimentary ordinance to place mandatory goals on prime vendors to purchase goods and services from LBE’s. Since a majority of the prime vendors doing business with the City are located outside of San Francisco and few LBE’s are not currently contracting with the City, an ordinance should be put in place to move some of the dollars spent with prime vendors into the local economy. We can learn from corporate best practices and implement a measurement that would mandate a minimum spend of contract into LBE’s without negatively impacting administration. . A corporate supplier diversity executive will present to the Commission and tell how they increased small business participation and how the City can benefit from a similar plan.
This can be a groundbreaking ordinance for our local business community.
Popularity: 9% [?]
San Francisco and State Enterprise Zone
San Francisco and State Enterprise Zone
If your business is located within the Enterprise Zone, you may be eligible for significant tax deductions and tax credit. Businesses within the Enterprise Zone could be eligible for Hiring Tax Credit, Sales Tax Credit, Business Expense Deductions, and Net Operating Loss Carryover. To see if your business is located within the amended boundaries of the Enterprise Zone, please refer to this address listing (PDF). Click here to learn more.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Chatting with Just For You Owner – Arienne Landry
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with NAWBO-SF’s new policy chair Arienne Landry. Arienne is a small business owner in San Francisco who owns Just For You Café.
How did you get into business?
I purchased Just For You Cafe nineteen years ago with a business partner, Julie Campbell. I eventually bought out her portion of the business. The restaurant was then located on eighteenth street on Potrero Hill. We kept the original menu but expanded on it. It was a tiny place, what people in New Orleans call a “shotgun” (because of the length and width ratio). During the dot com era we were basically pushed out because of high rent. In 2002 I was able to move the location to where it is now, on 22nd St. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with an emphasis on Southern and American style cooking. Some of our specialties include; New Orleans style doughnuts called Beignets, New Mexico (Hatch) green chili huevos rancheros, grits, creole crab cakes and awesome Reuben sandwiches. We have an extensive menu with daily pasta and fresh fish specials. We try to use as much organic produce and locally made meat products as cost allows and our eggs are produced locally in Petaluma. All of our food is prepared in house from scratch, with the exception of chili con carne, Acme rye bread and Royal bakery French rolls.
Why did you want to get into business for yourself?
I went into business for myself because I think that I am an entrepreneur to the core. I like risk taking, I get bored easily, and in this type of business there is never a dull moment. The responsibility is intense, but I like calling the shots.
What is your biggest challenge?
I think the biggest challenge of all business owners is managing people. Since I am not a natural leader this has been my most difficult challenge.
What is the greatest reward?
All of the amazing people that I have met over the years and continue to meet everyday in the restaurant. And providing employment to many people who might have had to settle for menial jobs with lesser pay.
Do you belong to business organizations?
I have participated in the Renaissance Center and belong the National Restaurant Assoc., Potrero Hill Merchants Assoc., National Association of Women Business Owners of which I am the Public Policy Chair, Small Business California and Public Policy Institute of California.
Do your employees have a nickname for you?
To my face, they call me Mommie!
What challenges do you face doing business in SF?
The challenges of doing business in S.F. are almost insurmountable and too numerous to list. I think most small businesses in San Francisco are really struggling with the frequency and costs of laws and regulations. San Francisco is one the most expensive cities, in the country in which to do business. I often wonder how long I can continue here. Many other business owners that I speak to say the same thing. San Francisco doesn’t want franchises, yet it does nothing to promote or help small businesses to thrive.
Do you have a role model?
My most important role model was my father. I learned my values, ethics and perseverance from him.
What piece of advice would you offer a newby restaurateur?
Find a mentor and learn everything you can about food and how a professional kitchen works. Focus on the Food. This is your product and it’s one the basic necessities of life. People bring a lot of emotion in with them when they eat, actually expectation, and your number one goal is to try to match or exceed those expectations.
Popularity: 2% [?]
SAN FRANCISCO’S LOCAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE
The Mayor’s office has released a press release relating to a SF local economic stimuls package.
While we applaud these efforts – we hope that City Hall adds in a layer of accountability. While it’s nice to say all the nice things you will do for local businesses, it is equally important to track the progress of the programs be implemented. How many businesses are being assisted? What percent of procurement contracts are being awarded to local businesses? This is not an area the City Hall has historically managed well. But as Harvey Milk would say “You Gotta Give ‘Em Hope!” – Here’s hoping City Hall gets it . . .
and of course – it has to get past the Board of Supervisors – that should be interesting.
The updated strategy details, and in some cases expands, the City’s efforts to implement those key strategies. These implementation strategies both build on existing economic development programs and launch a number of major new initiatives, including:
- Granting local businesses a New Jobs Payroll Tax exemption for two years. Businesses will not have to pay payroll tax on any increase in non partnership payroll over 2008 levels for two years. This means new businesses coming to San Francisco in 2009 and 2010 will not pay any local payroll tax until 2011;
- Amending the City’s Public Works Code to further expedite billions of dollars of already funded local infrastructure projects and to make it easier for local companies to work on those projects;
- Directly providing over $23 million in no-interest loans to local businesses;
- Granting local businesses a tax credit on new, locally purchased equipment;
- Providing an offset for qualifying small businesses who are participating in Healthy SF;
- Launching a business assistance strategy specifically directed to Spanish-speaking businesses;
- Building on the success of “Homeless Connect” by launching a series of new “Job Connect” events that include job fairs and workforce assistance and counseling;
- Opening the a “one-stop” workforce center for the unemployed in the Western Addition;
- Expanding the City’s “Bank on San Francisco” program to include financial literacy;
- Expanding the scope of the “Working Families Tax Credit” program;
- Expanding the successful “Shop SF. Get More” and “Staycation” holiday marketing campaigns;
- Expanding the City’s successful Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative (“NMI”) and Community Benefit District (“CBD”) Programs to support even more neighborhood commercial corridors;
- Expanding the scope and reach of existing state and federal tax credit programs;
- and Providing free space to local artists in vacant storefronts.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Scott Hague – Small Business California
We recently had a chance to sit down with Scott Hauge – President of Small Business California. Scott Hauge is president and owner of CAL Insurance & Associates, Inc. located in San Francisco. CAL Insurance specializes in providing insurance for small to medium sized businesses. The company was founded in 1927 and currently has 30 employees.
Mr. Hauge has been a leading advocate in paving the way for small and medium sized businesses. He has introduced government legislation that has affected business on local, state and national levels. He is considered one of the insurance industry’s leaders in setting guidelines and has received numerous awards and countless commendations for his efforts. Most recently Mr. Hauge was named Small Business Advocate of the Year 2007 by the National Small Business Association (NSBA).
Why did you get involved in Business Advocacy? I got involved for three reasons. First I have always been interested in public policy. I am a product of the 60s and the student protest at that time.
I got involved in small business advocacy because it fit my public policy interest and gave me the vehicle to get out of the office forcing my staff to make decisions on their own. This also benefited my business because I wanted to differentiate CAL from other insurance agencies. We can honestly say we represent small business not only on insurance related issues but in local, state and federal government small business concerns.
What has been your greatest success? This may be a disconnect but being involved in Volunteers in Medicine. I am the Vice Chair of the Volunteers in Medicine Institute. We help communities set up free clinics for the working uninsured We take retired health professional who provide free health services to the working uninsured. We take no government money. We currently have 71 clinics in 22 states are working on a clinic in SF and I am Vice Chair of Volunteers in Medicine SF.
If you want political the defeat of Proposition K in SF. This was a gross receipts tax on top of all the other taxes imposed on SF businesses. Our position was opposed by the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, nonprofits, labor and big business. It really showed the potential power of small business.
What has been your biggest challenge? Getting small business people to not feel like victims. We have incredible power if small business people will get involved in the political process and contribute financially to organizations that promote the small business agenda.
Do you have a role model? Not currently. When I got involved in small business advocacy in 1984 I had two people that gave me advise. I listened to them and it helped me be successful in my advocacy. I think that small business people that are not active need to reach out to leaders in the community who they respect and follow their advise.
Have you ever run for office? No and I never will. My wife would divorce me if I did.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing small and local businesses? There are a whole host of things. Health insurance cost, regulations, access to capital, workers compensation cost, taxation, etc. These are issues but the biggest challenge is to get government people to listen to our concerns. We are ignored.
Tell us about Small Business California. I founded SB Cal because I did not think grass roots small business people had a voice in Sacramento. There are organizations that say they represent small business but they in my opinion do not. For example the California Chamber is a great organization but at the end of the day they represent big business. The National Federation of Independent Business also is a great organization but they are to identified with the Republican party.
What will SBC focus on in 2009? We are currently doing our survey to determine our agenda. In 2008 it was health issuance cost, education and workforce development, infrastructure, regulation, energy, taxation and workers compensation cost.
When do you sleep? I do sleep about 5 hours but I am always thinking about small business. A few years ago I spoke at a California National Association of Woman Business Owners Association Conference. It was in Sacramento and honestly it was exhausting. I drove home to San Rafael and fell asleep watching TV. I woke up the next morning and my wife told me when she tried to bring me to bed that I told her I couldn’t come to bed unless all the small business people came also. She told me she said that was not possible but I persisted. She said that she finally agreed and I went to bed.. I think I may be a little over the top.
What should small and local businesses ask of their legislators? The question here is not so much what they should ask but that they should talk to their legislators. We have massive numbers and very few small business people ever correspond with their representatives. If small business people would spend just a few minutes a month sending emails, calling and writing their government people about their concerns we could really impact policy.
Popularity: 1% [?]
San Francisco Bookkeeping and Business Services
Real-Time Bookkeeping
Our team of bookkeepers can handle all your daily financial paperwork – alleviating the need to hire a bookkeeper. We offer customized bookkeeping services that are designed to improve your productivity and customer satisfaction, while decreasing your expenses.
Other business services include Notary Public, interim CFO/Contoller, QuickBooks and Quicken set up, financial modeling and projections, and buiness conulting.
Popularity: 1% [?]
