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City & County of San Francisco
Office of Small Business Presents
SMALL BUSINESS BULLETIN
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D E C E M B E R , 2 0 1 1
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Dear Friend,
After
the excitement of this year's Small Business Saturday, where President
Obama and the first daughters showed their support by shopping at their
local bookstore, we hope the "Shop Small" momentum will carry over into
December's busy holiday season. Several of our local nonprofit
organizations who support small businesses throughout the year will hold
their annual Holiday Gift Fairs to showcase and support their clients. Working Solutions & Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center's Gift Fair will feature unique, hand-crafted and urban made products such as jewelry, scarves, clothing, and various gift items; La Cocina's Gift Bazaar is San Francisco's premiere event for anyone with a food lover on their list; and SFMade's Holiday Fair
will feature 50 SFMade members selling their locally made gift items
including: jewelry, bags, chocolate, home items, apparel, body products,
children's wear, pet gear, and stationary. Please show your support by
attending one or all of these gift fairs to shop small and local!
The Small Business Commission and Office of Small Business would like to wish everyone a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
Sincerely,
Regina Dick-Endrizzi,
Executive Director, Office of Small Business
   
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News & Announcements |
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• Mayor Lee Signs Legislation to Increase Access to Health Care & Protect Jobs and Issues Executive Directive
On November 22, 2011, Mayor Edwin M. Lee signed the Small Business Commission recommended ordinance
that makes needed changes to the Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO),
while protecting jobs and small businesses. This ordinance affects
employers with 20 or more employees that utilize Health Reimbursement
Accounts (HRA's) to satisfy the requirements of the HCSO. Effective
January 1, 2012 the following requirements apply to HRA accounts:
* Contributions to HRA's must remain available to the
employee for two years on an accrual basis. Funds in accounts as of the
end of 2011 must carry over to 2012.
* Contributions to HRA's must remain available to the
employee for 90 days after end of employment. Employers must notify the
employee within three days of separation with the balance of HRA funds
in the employee account.
* Requires that employers imposing surcharges on customers
use the full amount collected under the surcharge for employee health
care expenditures
* Adds employee notification requirements so that employees
are aware of the accounts and how to spend the funds, including
quarterly notifications of the account balance, how to withdraw funds
and expiration dates of funds in the account.
The Mayor also issued an Executive Directive upon signing the
ordinance. The Executive Directive directs the Office of Labor
Standards Enforcement (OLSE) to collect additional data on an ongoing
basis from employers covered under the HCSO. OLSE and the Office of
Small Business will conduct employee outreach to educate workers and
small business owners about HCSO obligations. The Department of Public
Health, with OLSE, will educate workers about how to effectively utilize
the broad range of health services that can be used with a HRA, and the
availability of subsidized health care services and focus on the
benefits of primary and preventative care. The Mayor's Office will
conduct a qualitative research effort of covered employees to understand
and act on real or perceived barriers to accessing HRA funds.
For more information on the Health Care Security Ordinance
and how to comply with the new requirements, contact the Office of Labor
Standards at (415) 554-7892 or visit their website.
• Mayor Lee Launches New Mobile Application to Increase Government Service Access
Mayor
Edwin M. Lee recently launched a mobile application that can be used to
quickly access key City information and services on a smartphone
anytime, anywhere. The SFGov mobile app simplifies and streamlines City
agency published online content.
The SFGov mobile app offers simplified access to information and services, including:
· Access to news and updates about City government policy initiatives;
· Finding information about City services and connecting to the City's 311 Customer Service Center;
· Connecting directly with City government through social
media channels (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) for regular updates;
· Streaming audio and video content of archived meetings,
Mayor's events and key programs produced by the SFGovTV government
channel; and
· Access to a broad variety of information such as the City's
event calendar, programming schedules, and linking to both the State of
California and Federal government.
SFGov
Mobile is available on both Apple iPhone and Android platforms and can
be downloaded from the Apple iTunes App Store and from the Android
Market, respectively. This is only the first release and subsequent
versions continue to enhance content and upgrade and develop more
functionality on mobile devices. However, access is not limited to Apple
and Android platforms; all other users can access the SFGov mobile
website by entering the following URL in their browser of choice: http://m.sfgov.org.
• Small Business Saturday Roundup
Millions of shoppers across the nation celebrated the 2nd
annual Small Business Saturday on November 26 by patronizing their local
small businesses. The event was not only supported by eager shoppers
but also the First Family. President Barak Obama took his daughters,
Malia and Sasha, along on a shopping run to a bookstore a few blocks
from the White House. He says he made the visit because it's "small business Saturday" and he wanted to support a small business.
Locally,
San Franciscans took to our neighborhoods on this important occasion to
shop at local businesses. Mayor Ed Lee proclaimed November 26, 2011 as
Small Business Saturday in San Francisco because he recognizes that
small businesses, a key component of the Mayor's economic jobs plan, are
the backbone of our local economy and the glue that holds our
communities together. Supervisor Eric Mar stopped by Al's Attire in
North Beach to present a Proclamation from the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors to officially honor and recognize the event, while the
Mayor's Proclamation was presented by Regina Dick-Endrizzi, Director of
the Office of Small Business.
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SBAC Connection |
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• Business License Renewal Due December 31 - Health Dept, Police Dept, and Fire Dept.
Various business licenses and permits are due on December 31, 2011. Click here for details, or contact the Treasurer & Tax Collector's Office at (415) 554-4400.
• Office of Small Business Reduced Holiday Hours
Due
to the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector's reduced
holiday schedule, the Office of Small Business will only be open for
pre-scheduled appointments, phone calls and emails on December 27 - 30.
The office will be closed during regularly scheduled legal holidays on
December 26 and January 2. Regular office hours will resume on January 3, 2012.
• SFPark.org Helps Ease Holiday Shopping Parking Woes for Your Customers
Do your customers ever complain of not being able to find a
parking space near your small business, especially during the busy
holiday shopping season? If you are in the Marina, Fisherman's Wharf,
Fillmore/Japantown, Hayes Valley/Civic Center, Financial District, SOMA,
or the Mission, your customers can use their iPhone or Android
to download a free app that predicts parking availability in these
neighborhoods. SFpark is a federally funded pilot project run by the
SFMTA and uses new smart parking management technologies and pricing
policies to make it easier and faster to park in San Francisco. If this
SFpark is available in your neighborhood, be sure to announce it to your
customers through your website, e-newsletters, mailings, etc. Click here for details on SFpark.
• Independent Contractors vs. Employees
Independent contractors and employees are not the same, and
it's important to understand the difference. This distinction will
affect how you withhold a variety of taxes, and misclassification of an
individual may result in a number of costly legal consequences. Find out
how to distinguish the difference between independent contractors versus employees.
• Small Business Assistance Center Regular Office Hours
Services are available by phone, walk-in, and by appointment, M-Th, 8am-5pm, and by appointment only on Fridays.
• Small Business Financing Resources
Please click HERE for a list of nonprofit small business lenders.
• Small Business Resources & Workshops
Please click HERE for a list of small business resources and workshops.
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Small Business Commission Legislative Liaison |
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• Disability Access Improvement Legislation to Help Small Businesses Comply with ADA Laws
Introduced
by President Chiu, Board of Supervisors File No. 111047
[Administrative, Planning, and Campaign and Governmental Conduct Codes -
Disability Access Improvements for Small Businesses and Landlord
Obligations] amends various codes to 1) bring ground floor entrances to,
and exits from, the building into compliance with applicable state and
federal disability access laws; 2) inform small business tenants of the
potential legal and financial liabilities for failure to comply with
those laws; 3) include in any new or amended leases a provision
addressing the respective obligations of the landlord and small business
tenant to bring the leased premises into compliance with those access
laws; 4) require the City to give priority to building permit
applications for work to bring space leased to small business tenants
into compliance with those access laws; 5) allow small self-service
restaurants and retail coffee stores to exclude the square footage of
floor area required for disabled access from the calculation of maximum
allowable square footage. This ordinance is scheduled to be heard at
the Commissions December 12 meeting.
• Plastic Bag Ban and Checkout Bag Charge
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi has introduced amendments to his
proposed "Checkout Bag" ordinance. Board of Supervisors File No. 101055
[Environment Code - Checkout Bags and Checkout Bag Charge] will ban the
use of plastic bags at retail and eating establishment and require at
fee to be charged for compliant bags, which include paper and
compostable products. The proposed requirements include:
· Beginning July 1, 2012, no
store shall provide plastic bags. No store shall provide a recyclable
paper bag or reusable bag to a customer at the point of sale unless the
store charges a checkout bag charge of at least 10 cents.
· Beginning July 1, 2013 the
above regulations shall apply to all food establishments (restaurants)
and will include a 10 cent fee on compostable bags in addition to paper
bags.
· Beginning July 1, 2014 the 10 cent fee will be increased to 25 cents per bag.
· Detailed specifications apply for paper bags, composted bags, and reusable bags.
The Small Business Commission recommended approval
of this ordinance at our November 14, 2011 meeting with a
recommendation that the 10 cent fee be reviewed before the 25 cent fee
is increased. The Board of Supervisors adopted this recommendation.
This ordinance is scheduled for a first vote at the December 6 Board of
Supervisors meeting after being continued at the November 22 meeting.
• License Fee Consolidation Project
For
the past 18 months, the Tax and Treasurers Office (TTX) has been
undertaking a project to consolidate the payments of various licenses by
businesses. The proposed changes will facilitate the administration of
annual license renewals by consolidating all TTX administered license
fees onto a single bill due once per year. In addition to consolidating
bills for single locations, businesses with multiple locations will
also be consolidated onto a single bill. Over the next few months,
businesses will be receiving letters from the TTX consolidating and
summarizing current permits so that businesses can review their accounts
and ensure they are being properly billed. Upcoming applicable
licenses will then be prorated in the next year so that they will all
renew on March 31, 2013.
· Licenses with an expiration
date of December 31, 2011 will be prorated for three months to expire on
March 31, 2012. A 12 month bill will then be charged.
· Licenses with an expiration date March 31, 2012 will continue to have 12 month duration.
· Licenses with an expiration date of August 31, 2012 will be prorated for 7 months to expire on March 31, 2013
· Licenses with an expiration date of September 30, 2012 will be prorated for 6 months to expire on March 31, 2013
· Beginning on April 1, 2013
all applicable licenses will be on a 12 month schedule and will expire
and be due once yearly on March 31.
Board
of Supervisors File No. 111101 [Administrative, Business and Tax
Regulations, Fire, Health, and Police Codes - Business License Fees]
introduced by President Chiu, take legislative steps to implement this
new policy. This ordinance was heard at our November 14, 2011 meeting
and the Commission recommended approval. Click here
for the Commission response. The ordinance passed with positive
recommendation out of the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance
Committee and will be scheduled at the full board in the upcoming weeks.
• Payroll Expense Tax Exclusion for Compensation Paid to Individuals With a Felony Conviction
Board of Supervisors File No. 111102 [Business and Tax
Regulations Code - Payroll Expense Tax Exclusion for Compensation Paid
to Individuals With a Felony Conviction] introduced by Supervisor Ross
Mirkarimi will provide companies with a payroll tax exclusion for
compensation paid to individuals who have a felony conviction. Subject
to eligibility requirements, including that the felon must be employed
for six or more months, the payroll tax exclusion can amount up to
$10,000. This ordinance was heard at our November 14, 2011 meeting and
the Commission recommended approval. Click here for
the Commission response. The ordinance was passed with positive
recommendation by the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee
with an amendment that to be eligible, the hired felon must have been
released from prison within the past three years.
• Proposed Licensing of Dog Walkers
Board of Supervisors File No. 111104 [Health Code -
Regulating Commercial Dog Walkers on Park Property] introduced by
Supervisor Wiener proposes to license and regulate commercial dog
walkers while on park property. In order to become licensed, commercial
dog walkers who are new to the business or have been registered with
the City for less than three years must undertake 20 hours of classroom
and hands-on training or complete 40 hours of practical experience
working with another dog walker. Licensed dog walkers must carry $1
million of liability insurance and additional regulations and
applicability requirements apply. The Commission heard this ordinance
at our November 14, 2011 meeting and the Commission recommended approval
with modifications, including increasing the number of permitted dogs
from 7 to 8. Additional recommendations include delaying the
implementation date, allowing a non compensated personal dog per
licensed dog walker and removing a requirement that permits be visible
& that only licensed dogs may be walked.
For more information on all of the above ordinances, including legislative digests and the text of each ordinance, go to our Legislation for Small Business Commission Review Page. We appreciate your comments.
• Proposed Changes to Restaurant Zoning
Over the past six months we
have brought you updates on a Planning Department proposal to update
zoning for restaurants and bars. The department's goal is to simplify
the Planning Code and make compliance easier for businesses. The
Planning Department has a web page with more specifics, including a
draft ordinance. Please click here to
view the page and find out complete details on the proposal. The
proposal received a positive recommendation by the Small Business
Commission and passed unanimously at the Planning Commission's November
17 meeting. The ordinance will next be heard at the Board of
Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee at a date TBD.
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Small Business Commission Corner |
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• Next Small Business Commission Meeting (12/12/11, Room 400)
The Small Business Commission will meet on Monday, December 12, at 5:30PM in Room 400. Agendas will be available on the Commission website by the Wednesday prior to the meeting.
• Small Business Commission Recognizes Inspector Dave Falzon from the ABC Liaison Unit
On Monday, November 14, 2011, the Small Business Commission
was proud to acknowledge the contributions that Inspector Dave Falzon of
the San Francisco Police Department has made to the San Francisco Small
Business Community as part of his work heading the ABC Liaison Unit.
Inspector Falzon consistently provides excellent service to small
business owners trying to navigate the complex alcohol related
regulations in San Francisco and the State of California. His timely
responses, detailed research, and helpful guidance have allowed numerous
small businesses to successfully open or expand in San Francisco, while
ensuring safety in our neighborhoods. The Office of Small Business
staff notes that Inspector Falzon applies liquor related conditions
fairly, works diligently to resolve disputes and that he truly works
hard to help businesses meet their full potential. The Commission also
recognizes Inspector Falzon's leadership in directing the ALU, a unit
that has helped centralize alcohol licensing, allowing for uniformed and
streamlined permitting of licenses.
• Small Business Commission Recognizes Lofrano & Son
On
Monday, November 14, 2011, the Small Business Commission was pleased to
acknowledge the contributions that F. Lofrano & Son, Inc. Collision
Centers have made to the vitality of San Francisco. A family owned and
operated collision repair shop open since 1974, over the past 37 years
the company has grown from a father and son operation into a full family
affair with seven family members in the business. Employing over 80
employees across three repair facilities, the family attributes their
success to maintaining the original concepts they believed in when
Father Frank and Son Tony opened their first shop: Quality repairs,
good customer service and honest relationship with insurance companies,
vendors and customers. The Lofrano family is also dedicated to
community. Participating in ventures such as the "Recycled Rides"
program this San Francisco business demonstrates how local small can
contribute to the social fabric of the City. The Small Business
Commission and Office of Small Business wish the Lofrano family success
for generations to come.
*Please contact Chris Schulman, Small Business Commission Secretary by email at chris.schulman@sfgov.org, or by phone at 415.554.6408 with questions, comments, or feedback regarding legislations and how they affect your small business.
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RFPs & Contracting Opportunities |
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• NEW! Request for Proposal: Parklets
Would you like to install a Parklet in front of your
business? RFPs are open once again for a new round of Parklets to be
installed in SF. Interested parties should email the address listed in
the RFP. It's
possible that the Planning Department will continue to accept
applications beyond the deadline based on the response. You may also
ask to be added on the mailing list for future Parklet RFPs. Click here for details.
• Request
for Proposal: Rec & Parks seeking a qualified operator to manage
the food and beverage concession, gift store, and elevator at Coit Tower
Click here for details.
• Concession Opportunities at San Francisco International Airport
Click here for details.
• SFPUC Contracts and Bids: Various Opportunities with the SF Public Utilities Commission
Click here for details.
• Learn How To Do Business with the City of SF! Free Weekly Workshops Presented by the SF Human Rights Commission
The workshops are FREE and held EACH WEDNESDAY of the month
at 1485 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94124. Reservations are not
required, but highly recommended. Click here for details.
• City and County of San Francisco Contracting Opportunities
Visit www.sfgov.org/oca and click on Bids and Contracts Database and Required Vendor Forms.
• City and County of San Francisco Surety Bond & Finance Program
For
more information, contact: Nancy Owens, Merriwether & Williams
Insurance Services, 417 Montgomery Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA
94104. Phone: 415 986-3999 www.imwis.com
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Upcoming Events |
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• MON. 12/12 - Small Business Commission Meeting
5:30 PM, City Hall, Room 400. Click here for the Meeting Agenda
• THU. 12/1 - Working Solutions & Renaissance Center's Annual Holiday Gift Fair
Support
local entrepreneurs and our non-profits by shopping for fabulous gifts
from more than 30 local microentrepreneur clients of Working Solutions
and Renaissance. Shop for jewelry, scarves, and clothing, sample
delicious treats available for purchase, browse affordable gift items
for the hard-to-shop-for, and enjoy live music, wine and other
refreshments, and a photo booth! December 1, 5pm - 8pm, 101 Second
Street at Mission, San Francisco. This event is free and open to the
public. Click here for details.
• WED. 12/7 - Free Legal Office Hours
Urban
Solutions, Hanson Bridgett and Legal Services for Entrepreneurs present
Legal Office Hours for entrepreneurs. Through Legal Office Hours,
clients can make an appointment with Urban Solutions for a free
40-minute session with a lawyer from Hanson Bridgett and Legal Services
for Entrepreneurs. Legal Office Hours sessions take place December 7.
Call (415) 553-4433 x 101 or email janelle@urbansolutionssf.org with questions or to reserve a spot. Space is limited, reserve your appointment today!
• THU. 12/8 - How to Conduct Effective Interviews and Assess the Best Candidates for Your Growing Business
When: 5:00pm-7:00pm
Where: Plaza Adelante (19th St and Mission St.)
By: Vince Caminiti, HR Consultant
This FREE workshop will cover best practices in interviewing and evaluating 3rd-party referrals for candidates.
Please RSVP by Monday, December 5th to tiffany.garcia@sfgov.org, or call 415-581-2322.
• FRI. 12/9 - La Cocina Holiday Gift Bazaar
The holiday season is fast approaching. If thinking about all
that holiday shopping is making your head spin, don't despair. We've
got a solution: drop by the third annual La Cocina Gift Bazaar - San
Francisco's premiere event for anyone with a food lover on their list.
When: 5PM - 9PM
Where: Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94110
Click here for details.
• SUN. 12/11 - SF Made Holiday Fair
Mark your calendar folks, because holiday shopping just got easy. SFMade, in partnership with the Fort Mason Center, presents the:
SFMade Holiday Gift Fair
on Sunday, December 11th
From 10 am- 5pm at the Fort Mason Fleet Room
Featuring 50 SFMade members selling their locally made gift
items including: jewelry, bags, chocolate, home items, apparel, body
products, children's wear, pet gear, and stationary. Click here for details.
• MON. 12/12 - SFHRC Presents: Maximize Your Success with Public Works Contracts
The San Francisco Human Rights Commission works to protect
small and local businesses by offering special programs and incentives.
Join us for an informative all day event and discover the tools
available to your business to help you succeed in these challenging
times. Meet with agency representatives, explore new contract
opportunities, and receive assistance with local, state, and federal
certification applications. RSVP Online http://sfhrc.eventbrite.com
or by phone at 415.252.2500. Registration begins at 9am. Please plan to
arrive early to go through Federal building security. Location: San
Francisco Federal Building, 90 Seventh Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Time: 10AM - 5PM Click here for details.
• TUE. 12/13 - FREE Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar
You will learn:
* California payroll reporting requirements, including forms,
employer obligations, reporting, and payment requirements.
* About independent contractor reporting requirements.
* Electronic filing and payment requirements and options.
* Federal payroll reporting requirements, including Forms 940, 941, 1099, W-2, W-4, W-9, and alternative filing.
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. U.S. Small Business Administration,
455 Market Street Sixth Floor, Training Room, San Francisco, 94105. Click here to register.
• WED. 12/28 - Free Legal Help for Small Businesses (Assistance in English and Chinese) 免費小商業法律諮詢服務
Legal assistance in English and Chinese available for any
business related matter except litigation and bankruptcy. 4th Wednesday
of every month, 5:30 pm to 7:30pm. SF Small Business Development Center,
300 Montgomery Street, Suite 789, San Francisco, CA 94104. For
appointments, please contact Lawrence Liu, lliu_sfsbdc@yahoo.com, 415-841-4056 or 650-296-0480.
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Remember to Shop Local in San Francisco!
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Contact Us:
Small Business Assistance Center
City Hall, Room 110
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
Monday through Thursday 8AM to 5PM, Friday by Appointment Only.
Phone: 415-554-6134
Website: http://www.sfgov.org/sbac
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