Orange County One-Stop (http://www.oconestop.com)
The Orange County One-Stop Centers provide free employment and training services, including a Resource Center with access to computers, fax machines, copiers, and telephones. Other services include a resume distribution program, a career resource library, labor market information, networking opportunities, job search workshops, on-site interviews with local employers, transferable skills information, job leads, and training programs.
Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/) .
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interest of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy and nation. The SBA helps start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States. Click here to see the monthly schedule of classes offered through the SBA .
California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (http://www.labor.ca.gov)
The California Labor & Workforce Development Agency seeks to improve access to employment and training programs and to ensure that California businesses and workers have a level playing field in which to compete and prosper.
Santa Ana Regional Lead Small Business Development Center (http://www.leadsbdc.org)
The Santa Ana SBDC network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community. The SBDC program supports the growth and development of the Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino County economies by assisting in job creation and business expansion. The SBDC is funded in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), California State University, Fullerton, as well as host organizations throughout Santa Ana District. The Santa Ana District network offers clients free confidential business consulting services and low-cost training seminars.
Orange County Small Business Development Center (http://www.ocsbdc.com)
The Orange County SBDC offers no charge, personalized business assistance in a confidential, one-on-one setting, and team business consulting. The center offers valuable, low-cost seminars that cover such important topics as access to capital, QuickBooks, employment law, marketing, government contracting, web technology, and writing a business plan, which is taught by the center’s professional business consultants and industry experts.
SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business (http://www.score114.org)
SCORE is a nonprofit group composed of 11,200 volunteers who are successful entrepreneurs and executives. SCORE offers free and confidential advice to small businesses: face-to-face counseling, online counseling, online workshops and more.
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) (http://www.mbda.gov)
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. Through a network of minority business centers and strategic partners, MBDA works with minority entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses in size, scale and capacity. These firms are then better positioned to create jobs, impact local economies and expand into national and global markets. MBDA has spent more than four decades increasing the competitiveness of minority firms.
California Community College Economic Development Network (http://www.cccewd.net)
California Community College Economic Development Network provides technical assistance and training through the ED>Net program for large and small businesses. Areas of assistance include multimedia/entertainment initiatives, advanced transportation technology, applied competitive technologies, biotechnology, contract education, health care, environmental technology, international trade development, small business programs, and workplace learning.
Institute for Women Entrpreneurs (IWE) (http://www.ociwe.org)
Institute for Women Entrepreneurs (IWE) ( http://www.ociwe.org ) The Institute for Women Entrepreneurs (IWE) is a non-profit business development program of the Rancho Santiago Community College District Foundation ( RSCCD )and is located in Santa Ana, California. The IWE, which is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ( SBA ) Office of Women's Business Ownership ( OWBO ),provides its clients with support needed to start and grow successful businesses. Their program is uniquely tailored to serve women entrepreneurs and provides quality services and innovative programs for the economic advancement of the under served Orange County community. The IWE offers a full range of services, workshops, seminars and multi-week courses that will assist in developing and refining business operation practices.
CMTC: California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (http://www.cmtc.com)
CMTC is a private non-profit consulting firm that assist small and medium size manufactures in California improve their business performance. Serving the manufacturing industry’s most vulnerable sector, CMTC’s Small Business Consulting (SBC) Group understands the issues facing small manufacturers and has developed the Small Manufacturers Advantage program to address their unique business challenges. The assistance provided consists of a no fee assessment and improvement recommendations. CMTC receives federal funding to offset the cost of a CMTC team member visiting the business. Once the information is collected, the team member returns with a comprehensive notebook that includes a written report with recommendations to help attain business goals and tools to improve productivity and profitability.
Business Resource Connection (http://www.businessresourceconnection.biz)
Business Resource Connection has expertise in all areas relevant to expanding organizations with an emphasis on thorough analysis of existing operations and developing a sound marketing, financial, and operating plan to support additional growth. Business Resource Connection offers a Healthy Business Assessment that includes a survey designed to elicit information which will allow business needs to be addressed such as: re-evaluation of the business plan, legal aspects of the business, employee retention and benefit plans, increasing market share through sales growth, financial management and accounting growth, financing growth and private investments, contracting strategies, managing growth, expansion, and multiple locations.
Regional Environmental Business Resource & Assistance Center (REBRAC) (http://www.arb.ca.gov/)
REBRAC consists of assistance in environmental compliance, pollution prevention, on-site assessments, technology transfer and energy management for small businesses at low and no cost.
Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation (http://www.pcrcorp.org)
The primary mission of Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation is the promotion of community economic development, through the delivery of financial and educational services to underserved small business persons and communities. The corporation consists of technical assistance through low-cost courses, individual counseling and coordination of loan programs offered by the State.
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) (http://www.aqmd.gov)
SCAQMD consists of assisting businesses to find cost-effective ways to reduce pollution, expedite permit processing, and access emission credits. Small businesses subject to SCAQMD regulations may be eligible for loan guarantees under the Air Quality Assistance Fund to pay for air pollution controls or process changes to comply with air quality rules.
Employment Development Department (EDD) (http://www.edd.ca.gov)
The Employment Development Department (EDD) promotes California's economic growth by providing services to keep employers, employees, and job seekers competitive. EDD is one of the largest state departments with employees at hundreds of service locations throughout the state. For more than 70 years, EDD has connected millions of job seekers and employers in an effort to build the economy of the Golden State.
Federal Citizen Information Center (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/smbuss.htm)
Federal Consumer Information Center provides online versions of books on the legal issues involved in starting and running a small business.
National Association of Women Business Owners (http://www.nawbo.org)
NAWBO-OC is the premier educational and networking resource for local women business owners and professionals. NAWBO’s objective includes promoting the growth, stability, and profitability of women-owned businesses in Orange County. With over 300 members, NAWBO-OC is committed to enhancing the overall success of women business owners by providing members encouragement and support, networking opportunities, educational programs, and professional development.
Women’s Enterprise Development Corporation (WEDC) (http://wedcbiz.org)
WEDC consists of a variety of services to assist entrepreneurs (both men and women). Programs range from starting a business to how to manage a business to advanced management problem solving for CEO’s.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/)
The IRS is the US government agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement. The IRS provides information on various small business topics and resources. They provide links to major business subjects, such as Business Expenses, which provides a gateway to all related information on that subject.
North Orange County Chamber of Commerce (http://www.nocchamber.com/)
North Orange County Chamber (NOCC) is a forward-looking organization with roots established over a century ago as Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, formed to assist businesses during the late 19th century. Embracing a belief that business has no borders, the organization serves as a chamber without geographic borders supporting economic success, promoting an educated workforce, providing opportunities for women and minority-owned enterprises, and serving as an advocate for business. The organization serves as the chamber representing the cities of Buena Park, Fullerton, La Palma, and Stanton.