Business Resources
Santa Barbara County
EDC is dedicated to providing resources for business startup, growth and expansion. Click the links below for information to assist with your
business needs.
Need more help? Call today to set up an appointment with one of our business advisors.
805.409.9159
Start-Up Assistance
Business Statistics & Industry Searches
ReferenceUSA and First Research are searchable databases that contain economic industry profiles and directory information of US businesses and households. Check online or the reference librarian at your local branch for access to both.
Trademark Search
Conduct trademark searches through the US Patent and Trademark Office's searchable database (TESS).
Sample Business Plan
Be sure to write a business plan before you begin! The SBA provides a guide to write a plan quickly and efficiently with business plan templates.
Financial Spreadsheets
Financial planning and cashflow management spreadsheets (Excel) from are available through the EDC Loan Program.
Santa Barbara County Business License and Permit Guide
All Businesses operating in Santa Barbara County are required to have a business license for the jurisdictions they operate within. Follow the links for a comprehensive guide to obtaining a business license within Santa Barbara County.
Coming Soon in English & Spanish
Tax Assessor’s Office
If you are starting a new business, you will need to check what applicable taxes your business is responsible for. Be sure to confirm with the County Tax Assessor’s Office to remain in compliance.
Business Zoning Information
Make sure you know where your business can be located based on zoning laws.
Tax Assistance
California Tax Service Center
The California Tax Service Center works to provide one-stop tax help through taxpayer resources and educational programs.
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration is the governing body that manages sales and use tax in addition to issuing seller's permits. Check their website for free sales and use tax seminars offered quarterly to answer tax questions related for your business.
Permit Assistance
County Permit Assistance
The county websites offer a comprehensive list of permits, licenses and regulations for businesses located in the unincorporated areas who are looking to expand or enhance their property.
State of California Permit Assistance
The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development offers comprehensive permit and regulatory compliance assistance to all businesses in California, helping business owners identify the permits needed to start a new business or expand an existing one.
No-Cost Business Consulting
NO-COST Human Resources Hotline for Businesses in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board is excited to offer businesses in Santa Barbara County a no-cost Human Resources (HR) Hotline. The California Employees Association (CEA) is providing the services and works with many other counties throughout California. The HR Hotline is available Monday - Friday between the hours of 8 AM - 5 PM with a live person to answer questions regarding COVID-19, hiring, firing, disciplinary, employee handbook, etc. Call 888.252.2297, Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM.
Economic Development Collaborative
The Economic Development Collaborative's Small Business Development Center (EDC SBDC) offers no-cost technical consulting services in every area of business need. With over 30 consultants on staff, the EDC delivers business consulting and access to capital to support the regional economy.
SCORE Santa Barbara County
With a membership of over 60 Experts and the national backing of the SBA, the Santa Barbara County Chapter of SCORE has the talent and resources that will help your business endeavors become a fulfilling reality.
Access to Capital
EDC LOAN
The EDC offers a variety of targeted lending opportunities designed to assist businesses start and expand and provide opportunities to those that may not qualify for a loan from a traditional bank. The purpose of the EDC loan program is to stimulate job creation and economic activity by providing access to affordable capital.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA helps set guidelines for loans and reduces risk for lenders, allowing more lenders to provide small business loans. Loans guaranteed by the SBA range from small to large and can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital.
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV)
WEV's Loan Program's goal is to diversify and expand the local economy and create new jobs by providing start-up and expansion capital to small businesses that do not qualify for conventional bank financing.
California Enterprise Development Authority
The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) established the California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA), a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), to address gaps in Economic Development financing. Specifically, CEDA’s goal is to issue industrial development bonds (IDBs) for small- to medium-sized California manufacturers.
IBank
The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank offer financing programs to assist small businesses, public agencies and nonprofits.
Subsidized Employment
Momentum WORK, Inc.
Momentum WORK, Inc. is a provider of personalized job development and job placement services for workers with disabilities along the Central Coast. They work to increase community integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities by enabling them to become active, productive members of their local workforce. Contact our job developer, Jake Lowry, to discuss hiring individuals through our employment services by email at jlowry@momentum4work.org.
New Employment Credit (NEDC)
Will your business be hiring hourly workers paid at 1.5 to 3.5 times the state minimum wage? If you are also located within a Designated Geographic Area (DGA), you are likely eligible to apply for New Employment Credit (NEC) of up to $56,000 per employee over 5 years. Per-employee reservations are made online at any time.
Subsidized Employee Training
Workforce Development, Education and Training Resource Guide
The Workforce Development Board of Santa Barbara County offers resources for employers and job seekers. Resources include: subsidized workforce training, recruitment services, business consulting and the following comprehensive guide for business owners, employers and workers of education and training opportunities available in Santa Barbara County.
Employment Training Panel (ETP)
The ETP program helps to ensure that California businesses will have the skilled workers they need to remain competitive. ETP reimburses the cost of employer-driven training for incumbent workers and funds the type of training needed by unemployed workers to re-enter the workforce.
Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL)
California’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) provides customer-focused employment training resources for adults and dislocated workers. The statewide list includes qualified training providers who offer a wide range of educational programs, including classroom, correspondence, online, and apprenticeship programs.
Career One Stop Business Center
Career One Stop Business Center, sponsored by the Department of Labor and in partnership with America's Job Center, provides employers with recruitment and hiring resources along with subsidized training and employee development opportunities.
Business Development and Learning
EDC SBDC
The Economic Development Collaborative's Small Business Development Center (EDC SBDC) offers no-cost technical consulting services in every area of business need. With over 30 consultants on staff, the EDC delivers business consulting and access to capital to support the regional economy.
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV)
Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) offers short-term and long-term business consulting to assist businesses with recovering from Covid, improve QuickBooks understanding and pivot their business. Free business-related webinars are regularly held in English and Spanish.
SCORE Santa Barbara County
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. SCORE provides volunteer mentors who share their expertise across 62 industries, free business tools, templates and tips online, free, confidential business mentoring, and inexpensive or free business workshops.
LinkedIn Learning
Formerly Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers the most in-demand business, tech and creative skill and learning resources from industry experts. Free access is available through the Camarillo Public Library.
Creative Live
Creative Live hosts creative classes taught by industry leaders worldwide and is one of the best resources available for ongoing training in creative arts and business development for creatives.
Virtual Business and International Advisor
Virtual International Advisor offered through the SBDC, provides step by step guidance to businesses interested in building organizational export capabilities and ensuring export and import compliance.
SBA Learning Center
The SBA offers a variety of online courses to help you start and run your business.
WorkforceGPS
WorkforceGPS is a free membership that offers access to a collection of resources, online communities and networking between members to help you start and grow your business.
California Business Incentives
California Business Investment Guide
Check out the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) California Business Investment Guide, a resource for businesses to help identify relevant state funding resources to locate, expand and thrive in California.
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE)
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is a Community Choice Energy agency established by local communities to source clean and renewable electricity for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties and now parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties while retaining your utility provider’s traditional role delivering power and maintaining electric infrastructure as well as billing. Santa Barbara County businesses can take advantage of (1) Rebates, grants and incentives to support commercial switches to all-electric transportation, agriculture and building infrastructure, (2) Low interest financing to support backup generation for public sector businesses and essential services (3) and Stable and competitive electric generation rates, including the option to opt-in to 100% renewable energy supply offering.
California Business Incentives
The State of California offers a variety of incentive and financing programs to encourage business development in California through the California Business Portal.
California Business Grants
California consistently creates more business and economic opportunity that any other region in the world. If your business is considering expanding or relocating to California, the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development office provides no-cost, confidential services for incentive and grant navigation. Their team of business consultants will guide you through the available tax credits, grants, and financing assistance options that are available to your business.
California Competes Tax Credit
The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to come to California or stay and grow in California.
California Research and Development Tax Credit
Is your business conducting research? The California research and development tax credit can help you do it for less.
State and Federal Labor Departments
Employment Development Department (EDD)
The EDD works to connect millions of job seekers and employers in an effort to build the economy of California. They work to enhance California’s economic growth and prosperity by collaboratively delivering valuable and innovative services to meet the evolving needs of employers, workers, and job seekers.
California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners and helps their employers comply with state labor laws.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
The DOL fosters, promotes, and develops the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States, by improving working conditions, advancing opportunities for profitable employment, and assuring work-related benefits and rights.
Go-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) was created by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. to serve as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit assistance, regulatory guidance, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more.
Colleges & Universities
Allan Hancock College (AHC)
AHC serves just over 11,000 students each year across their four campus locations in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez Valley, and the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Known for their English as a second language program, AHC is the perfect place to earn an associate degree, start a bachelor’s degree, and advance your career.
Antioch University Santa Barbara (AUSB)
Grounded in experiential learning, committed to community, and connected worldwide, Antioch College supports 17 four-year programs students across Santa Barbara. AUSB provides their students with experiential based learning opportunities to develop the advanced skills, leadership experience, and understanding of the world needed to be successful. With their “Design Your Own Degree” program, AUSB’s private education inspires students to own their own education.
Santa Barbara City College (SBCC)
Santa Barbara City College is a comprehensive community college serving the south coast of Santa Barbara County. Established in 1909, SBCC is provides access to affordable, student-centered associate degree programs and achievement and skill award programs.
School of Extended Learning
The School of Extended Learning through the Santa Barbara City College offers a variety of unique classes and workshops to help advance the Santa Barbara adult population. Most of the Extended Learning Programs are offered tuition free and cover a diverse range of topics, including adult high school GEED, career skills, home economics, health and safety, and parenting.
Santa Barbara Business College – Santa Maria
With over 125 years of experience in executing their mission of contributing exceptional employees to the local workforce, the Santa Monica campus of the Santa Barbara Business College has been an integral part to the local community’s development. Hands-on career training in healthcare, business and HVAC work, provides students with the skills they need.
University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)
The University of California Santa Barbara is the county’s four-year public university. With over 200 majors, degrees, and credential options, UCSB leads the way in creating innovative leaders with the skills and ideas they need to serve the community. Over 90 businesses have been started using technology that was created at UCSB.
Westmont College
Westmont College is a private, Christian based four-year university in Santa Barbara. Offering over 26 programs, a nationally renowned athletic program, and high community service, Westmont strives to create thoughtful, community engaged scholars.
Libraries
Santa Barbara & South Coast Public Libraries
With 4 local branches, a vast online collection of downloadable eBooks, an adult literacy program, and resources for all ages the Santa Barbara Public Library serves residents all across the county. Some of Santa Barbara Public Library’s excellent services include virtual story time, computer coaching, and one-on-one career skill consultations in English and Spanish.
Co-Working Spaces
| Name | City | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lompoc LAUNCHpad | Lompoc | - |
| The Sandbox | Santa Barbara | 805.770.8177 |
| Synergy Business and Technology Center | Santa Barbara | 805.452.9542 |
| Workzones | Santa Barbara | 805.966.3722 |
| Impact HUB Chapala Center | Santa Barbara | 805.284.0078 |
| Impact HUB Funk Zone | Santa Barbara | 805.284.0078 |
| Impact HUB Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 805.284.0078 |
| Impact HUB Waterline | Santa Barbara | 805.284.0093 |
| Atrium Santa Maria | Santa Maria | 805.323.8300 |
Business Incubators
| Name | City |
|---|---|
| Central Coast MIT/Enterprise Forum | Santa Barbara |
| California Coast Venture Forum | Santa Barbara |
| California NanoSystems Institute | Santa Barbara |
| Central Coast Makerspace | Santa Maria |
| FATHOMWERX | Port Hueneme |
| Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet (GEM) | Goleta |
| Matter Labs | Camarillo |
| Noospheric | Santa Barbara |
| RC Makes | Camarillo |
| Santa Barbara Hacker Space | Goleta |
| Shared Instrumentation | Santa Barbara |
| StartupSB | Santa Barbara |
| Technology and Industry Alliances Startup Support Program | Santa Barbara |
| UCSB Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Santa Barbara |
| Union Street Marketplace | Santa Barbara |
| Ventura Biocenter | Newbury Park |
| Wilcox New Venture Incubator | Santa Barbara |
Business Associations
| Name | City | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality Santa Barbara | Santa Barbar | 805.965.3023 |
| American Institute of Architects | Santa Barbara | 805.966.4198 |
| Santa Barbara Contractors Association | Santa Barbara | 805.884.1100 |
| Downtown Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 805.962.2098 |
| Milpas Community Association | Santa Barbara | 805.689.5170 |
| Coast Village Association | Santa Barbara | - |
| Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants Association | Santa Barbara | - |
| Stearns Wharf Merchants Association | Santa Barbara | 805.564.5530 |
| National Association of Women Business Owners Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 805.229.9119 |
| The Santa Barbara Rental Property Association | Santa Barbara | 805.687.7007 |
