Small-business funding in California

11 verified programs that small businesses in California may be able to use, including grants, rebates, tax credits and loans. Each links to its official source. Criteria change — confirm current details before applying.

• Accion Opportunity Fund Loans

  CDFI financing · Businesses in California

  A nonprofit CDFI offering term loans, SBA 7(a), and equipment financing to underserved entrepreneurs — including women-, minority-, and immigrant-owned businesses — in 45 states.

• CalCAP for Small Business

  CDFI financing · Businesses in California

  A state credit-enhancement program that gives participating lenders a loss-reserve so they will lend to California small businesses that otherwise struggle to qualify. You apply th…

• California Competes Tax Credit

  Tax credit · Businesses in California

  A negotiated California income tax credit for businesses growing or expanding in California, awarded competitively on job creation and investment during periodic application window…

• California Small Business Centers (CalOSBA / SBDC network)

  Technical assistance · Businesses in California

  A statewide network of 150+ no-cost advising centers (including SBDCs) offering free, multilingual business consulting — with tracks for women, veterans, and government-contracting…

• California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program

  Government loan · Businesses in California

  A state loan-guarantee that reduces lender risk so California small businesses can get credit for start-up costs, construction, inventory, working capital, or expansion. Applied fo…

• California Utilities Supplier Clearinghouse (WBE/MBE/DVBE)

  Certification · Businesses in California

  Certifies women-, minority-, and disabled-veteran-owned businesses to be counted toward the supplier-diversity goals of California's major utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, SoCalGas).

• CDC Small Business Finance Loans

  CDFI financing · Businesses in California

  A nonprofit community lender offering SBA 504 real estate loans and general small business loans ($30K–$350K) with flexible, story-based underwriting for underserved borrowers.

• Employment Training Panel (ETP)

  Training reimbursement · Businesses in California

  A state program that reimburses California employers for the cost of training current workers to upgrade their skills. The employer designs the training; ETP funds it.

• Main Street Launch Microloans

  CDFI financing · Businesses in California

  An Oakland-headquartered CDFI making small-business loans up to $350,000 across California, with a mission of equal-opportunity lending in low-to-moderate income communities.

• Pacific Community Ventures Loans

  CDFI financing · Businesses in California

  A California nonprofit CDFI offering affordable small business loans focused on low-to-moderate-income communities, plus specialized climate-resilience and LA fire-recovery funds.

• Working Solutions CDFI Microloans

  CDFI financing · Businesses in California

  A Bay Area nonprofit CDFI offering $5,000–$100,000 microloans plus free business consulting, including to newer or pre-revenue businesses — no minimum credit score, revenue, or col…

FundBridge Navigator LLC is independent and privately operated, not a government agency — every program listed here links to its official source.