San Francisco Sun

The holiday season presents an opportunity for consumers to support small businesses by shopping locally. San Francisco is hosting a variety of neighborhood events, pop-up shops, and block parties. The Office of Small Business will host a pop-up shop at the San Francisco Centre featuring nearly 70 local makers this Friday and Saturday.

A new federal reporting requirement mandates that many small businesses file Beneficial Ownership Information by January 1, 2025. Non-compliance could result in fines or imprisonment. Sole proprietors and non-profits may be exempt from filing. Advisors from the SF Small Business Development Center are available to assist with the process.

The Downtown San Francisco Vibrancy Loan Fund has been introduced by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and Main Street Launch. This $3.6 million program aims to provide capital to underserved markets, offering loans up to $100,000 at a 4% interest rate and a $25,000 grant for qualifying businesses.

San Francisco will host the NBA All-Star game, partnering with local businesses through a Rewards Program accessible via the NBA Events App. Participating businesses can offer prizes or specific offers to fans.

The Presidio Trust seeks mobile food vendors for its Presidio Pop Up program, focusing on diverse Bay Area cuisines at approachable prices.

As tax season approaches, small business owners are advised to be vigilant against scams involving false promises of large refunds or threats demanding immediate payment.

SF Travel encourages submissions from local businesses about events or promotions that might interest visitors. These can be added to SF Travel's Events page or shared via social media using #onlyinsf.

The Super Bowl LX Procurement Program offers opportunities for local businesses ahead of the event in 2026. The program includes access to educational resources and networking opportunities with key partners like BAHC, 49ers, and NFL.

BayREN's Refrigerant Replacement Program will open in 2025, aiming to help food and floral businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing harmful refrigerants with environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Entrepreneurs aged 50+ can apply for a free business training program starting January 27, 2025. This initiative guides older adults through launching their business ideas over ten weeks.

Tax preparedness workshops hosted by the SF Small Business Development Center will take place in early 2025 in multiple languages to assist with federal tax return filings.

Upcoming webinars include topics such as commercial leasing rights under SB 1103, financial management strategies for small businesses, cottage food laws for home-based food production, and one-on-one advisory sessions offered by the SF Small Business Development Center.

Shop Dine SF continues its campaign supporting San Francisco's small businesses through various initiatives detailed on sf.gov/shopdineSF or social media platforms.