Free small business help in California
58 office and chapter listings serving California. Choose an office below and confirm its service area before making an appointment.
Ask for free counseling or mentoring. Some workshops and other services have fees; confirm the cost before registering.
Sources reviewed .
Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Centers help owners start, manage and grow businesses, including business planning and financing questions. State and regional network offices can connect you with a local adviser.
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Northern California Regional SBDC
Arcata, California
State or regional network office
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Orange County/Inland Empire Regional SBDC
Fullerton, California
State or regional network office
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Los Angeles Regional SBDC
Long Beach, California
State or regional network office
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Central California SBDC Network
Merced, California
State or regional network office
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San Diego & Imperial Regional Network
National City, California
State or regional network office
SCORE mentors
SCORE connects small business owners with volunteer mentors for advice on starting and running a business. Mentoring is available online as well as through local chapters.
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SCORE Capital Corridor
Citrus Heights, California
Service area: Serving Sacramento, Capital Corridor, and Sierra foothill communities, including Chico, Woodland, Redding, Auburn/Roseville, Placerville, Grass Valley/Nevada City, and surrounding rural areas
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Central Valley
Fresno, California
Service area: Serving California’s Central Valley and Central Coast
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Long Beach/South Bay
Long Beach, California
Service area: California
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE San Francisco & East Bay
Oakland, California
Service area: Serving San Francisco, the East Bay, and Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity Counties.
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Inland Empire
Riverside, California
Service area: Serving the Inland Empire, Coachella Valley, High Desert, and surrounding Southern California communities
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE San Diego
San Diego, California
Service area: Serving San Diego, Imperial Valley, and the California Border Region
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Silicon Valley
San Jose, California
Service area: Serving Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including San Jose, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Mateo, and communities across Silicon Valley
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
Service area: Serving California’s Central Coast and Southern Central Valley
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Orange County & Hawaii
Santa Ana, California
Service area: Serving Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, businesses across Orange County, all Hawaiian Islands, and the Pacific Region.
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Ventura County
Simi Valley, California
Service area: Serving Ventura County, the West San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara, and Goleta.
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
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SCORE Los Angeles
Tujunga, California
Service area: Serving Los Angeles County and surrounding communities
Listed by SCORE chapter directory , SCORE CA chapter directory
Women’s Business Centers
Women’s Business Centers provide business advice and training, with a focus on women starting or growing businesses. Ask about business plans, financing and local programs.
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Mission Community Services Corp. Women’s Business Center
Bakersfield, California
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NEW Women’s Business Center
Canoga Park, California
(213) 483-2060 ext. 401 -
Mendocino Women’s Business Center
Fort Bragg, California
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Central Valley Women’s Entrepreneur Center
Fresno, California
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Orange County Women’s Business Center
Fullerton, California
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Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (WBC)
Los Angeles, California
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NEW Women’s Business Center
Los Angeles, California
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PACE Women’s Business Center
Los Angeles, California
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VSEDC WBC
Los Angeles, California
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Women’s Business Center at Jedi
Mount Shasta, California
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San Diego & Imperial Women’s Business Center
National City, California
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AnewAmerica Women’s Business Center – Oakland
Oakland, California
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Coachella Valley WBC
Palm Desert, California
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NEW Women’s Business Center
Palmdale, California
(213) 483-2060 ext. 401 -
Pasadena Women’s Business Center
Pasadena, California
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Women’s Business Center at Jedi
Redding, California
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Inland Empire WBC
Riverside, California
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The California Capital Women’s Business Center
Sacramento, California
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Inland Empire WBC
San Bernardino, California
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Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
San Francisco, California
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AnewAmerica Women’s Business Center – San Jose
San Jose, California
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Mission Community Services Corp. Women’s Business Center
San Luis Obispo, California
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Women’s Economic Ventures
Santa Barbara, California
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Inland Empire WBC
Temecula, California
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Mendocino Women’s Business Center
Ukiah, California
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NEW Women’s Business Center
Van Nuys, California
(213) 483-2060 ext. 401 -
El Pajaro Community Development Corporation
Watsonville, California
Veterans Business Outreach Centers
VBOCs offer business counseling, training and referrals for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. Many centers serve several states.
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SoCal Veterans Business Outreach Center
Cardiff, California
Service area: Southern California
Listed by SBA Resource Partners and VBOC directory
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PNW Regional VBOC
Clovis, California
Service area: Northern California (all counties north of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino), Oregon, and Washington
Listed by SBA Resource Partners and VBOC directory
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Los Angeles Regional Veterans Business Outreach Center
Long Beach, California
Service area: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties
Listed by SBA Resource Partners and VBOC directory
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PNW Regional VBOC
Sacramento, California
Service area: Northern California (all counties north of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino), Oregon, and Washington
Listed by SBA Resource Partners and VBOC directory
APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs)
APEX Accelerators help businesses pursue government contracts, including registrations, finding opportunities and preparing bids. Native American APEX programs focus on Native-owned businesses.
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American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – California
Huntington Beach, California
Native-owned business assistance
Service area: CA, AZ, UT, NV, WA, OR, ID (Pacific, Western, Northwest BIA Regions)
Listed by NAPEX Native American APEX directory , American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – California official directory profile
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American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – HQ
Los Angeles, California
Native-owned business assistance
Service area: AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA (Pacific, Western, Northwest BIA Regions)
Listed by NAPEX Native American APEX directory , American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – HQ official directory profile
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American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – Washington
Richland, Washington
Native-owned business assistance
Service area: AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA (Pacific, Western, Northwest BIA Regions)
Listed by NAPEX Native American APEX directory , American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – Washington official directory profile
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American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – Oregon
Roseburg, Oregon
Native-owned business assistance
Service area: AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA (Pacific, Western, Northwest BIA Regions)
Listed by NAPEX Native American APEX directory , American Indian Chamber Education Fund APEX Accelerator – Oregon official directory profile
SBA district offices
SBA district offices explain SBA programs and connect businesses with local counseling partners, lenders and other assistance. Contact the office serving your county.
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SBA Sacramento District Office
Citrus Heights, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA Sacramento District
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SBA Fresno District Office
Fresno, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA Fresno District
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SBA Los Angeles District Office
Los Angeles, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA Los Angeles District
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SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District Office
Palm Desert, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District
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SBA San Diego District Office
San Diego, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA San Diego District
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SBA San Francisco District Office
San Francisco, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA San Francisco District
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SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District Office
Santa Ana, California
Listed by SBA district office directory , SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District
Get free help applying
Ask whether the center can help with your application, business plan or financial projections. APEX Accelerators focus on government contracts. Services depend on your business and the center’s service area.
These listings come from official directories and organization websites. SBDC entries include state and regional network offices. Women’s Business Center and APEX office listings are a selection; use the official locators for additional offices. Confirm contact details and county coverage before visiting.