Business 101: 2024 Small Business Week

Next week, May 6 through May 10, 2024 San Leandro is celebrating Small Business Week. During this week, we recognize and support our small businesses and encourage them to take advantage of a number of free trainings and webinars by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and others to help them grow and improve.

Small businesses constitute two out of three jobs in America. In San Leandro there are more than 2,700 businesses employing 25 or fewer people, and many of these are minority- and women-owned.

On a national level, America has experienced the first, second, and third strongest years of new business applications filed on record, with 17.2 million new business applications filed during the Biden Administration. A record 12.1% of federal procurement dollars were awarded to small disadvantaged businesses in fiscal year 2023.

The SBA is on pace to nearly double Small Business Administration 7(a) small dollar loans as compared to 2020, as well as deliver more than $250 billion to small businesses through the SBA’s lending programs by the end of the decade.

The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the City of San Leandro to host a number of free and public workshops (all businesses can participate whether or not they are members of the Chamber). Follow the links to learn more and to register:

• May 6, 2024, 5:30PM – Using AI in Your Business – Dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and discover how it can propel your business forward! Learn from an industry expert from Oracle and discover practical ways to implement AI strategies for business growth and stay ahead of the curve!
• May 7, 2024, 10:00AM-2:00PM – One-on-One Free Advising – The East Bay Small Business Development Center is partnering with the City and the Chamber of Commerce to provide no-cost, in-person advising sessions to help San Leandro businesses start, grow, and thrive.
• May 7, 2024, 5:30PM – Business 101 – Launch, relaunch, or boost your business with this review of business fundamentals from Renaissance Entrepreneurship. A new or refreshed business plan is just the start!
• May 8, 2024, 5:30PM –  Accounting 101 – Learn about Profit and Loss (follow along with your own P&L Balance Sheet), how to set up a Chart of Accounts, Accounts Receivable/ Payable end of month reconciliations, common Quick Book Online mistakes to avoid, end of year 1099 forms, and more.
• May 9, 2024 10:00AM  – How to Do Business with the Government – Discover the opportunities and requirements of doing business with the government. Norcal APEX Accelerator will help you determine if selling to the government is right for you and teach you the basics of how to get started and be successful.
• May 9, 2024, 2:00PM – Access to Capital – Join industry leaders for a panel discussion on funding your business from startup to matching your dreams. From startup to thriving business, speakers from Working Solutions, TMC, and Fremont Bank will help you understand what they offer and how to prepare to apply to borrow the money you need to grow your business.

More information about the ongoing small business workshops offered by the City of San Leandro may be found at Technical Assistance Workshops | San Leandro, CA.