OPERATIONS RESOURCES
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DEVELOPMENT | HR & MANAGEMENT | SCALING | LOGISTICS | PERMITS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Strategic PLANNING, AdvisING, MENTORS
toolkits
How to Develop a Strategic Plan for Business Development — [Free Template] Hubspot
VIDEOS/PODCASTs
Building an Advisory Board for your Business — [Video] Dan Martell
Martin Reeves: Your strategy needs a strategy — [Video] TedTalk
Strategic Planning for Small Business — [Video] Small Business Solver
Workplace Podcast — [Podcast] Small Business Solver
articles, BLOGS, BOOKS
Collaborate to Grow: New Research Reveals the Power of Partners
13 Business Brainstorming Strategies to Encourage Innovation
Tips For Building a Business Plan
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
The Alameda County SBDC
Provides free consulting and seminars, along with connections to additional resources, to local business owners.
Alameda County Training Center
Individual coaching for managers and executives.
The Alliance for Community Development
Dedicated to increasing access to support for local, underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Anew America
In-depth business incubator for women.
BusinessAdvising.org by Pacific Community Ventures
Advising and mentoring platform matches business owners who are beyond the startup phase with pro bono business coaches and mentors who provide tailored, hands-on advising.
Centro Community Partners
Volunteer MBA advisors.
DreamBuilder
Empowering women through free online entrepreneurial training in English and Spanish.
East Bay SCORE
Free business mentoring, workshops, and webinars in multiple languages.
Inclusivity Project
Connects Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned small businesses with the mentorship they need to start and grow their business and bring about the meaningful economic impact to NorCal’s Black and African American marketplace and surrounding communities.
Inner City Advisors
Provides coaching, connections, and capital investments to grow your business.
La Cocina
Business advising and assistance for low income entrepreneurs in the food industry.
Main Street Launch
Entrepreneurs-In-Residence program for Black business owners.
Minority Business Development Agency
Provides technical assistance for minority-owned manufacturers to get government contracts, and programs that help minority-owned businesses access capital, business match-making, global business development, and more.
Nonprofit Finance Fund
Financing, consulting, partnerships, and knowledge-sharing.
Oakland Black Business Damage Fund
Oakland Black Business Fund provides capital, technical assistance, and growth strategy to Black businesses in Oakland.
Onward Oakland by Unity Council
An 18-month program for small business owners East of the Oakland’s Lake Merritt communities and the greater Bay Area who’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19. Small business owners are connected with the necessary tools and resources to help their business grow and thrive.
SBDC
One-stop shop for accelerating small business success.
SF LGBT Center
Business advising, workshops, and support for the LGBTQi+ community.
Small Business Grants for Native Americans
Provides technical assistance in small business skills development to Native entrepreneurs.
The Unity Council
Small Business Help Line in multiple languages for financial resource navigation, marketing and promotion, business management/operations advising, tax, accounting, HR, and legal services referrals.
Uptima Bootcamp
Long-term business advising and bootcamps.
MANAGEMENT: Leadership, HR, PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT
HOTLINE
Human Resources Hotline (Free)
TOOKITS
Finding Balance Stress Management Toolkit — [Toolkit] Kaiser Permanente
Healthy Meetings Guide — [Toolkit] Kaiser Permanente
VIDEOS/WEBINARS
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification Overview — [Video] Norcal PTAC
Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace — [Video] East Bay SBDC
2021 California Employment Law Update for Small Employers — [Video] East Bay SBDC
Welcome to the New Workplace— [Video] Verizon Business
Leveraging Peer Coaching at Work — [Video] Alameda County Training Center
Time Management Strategies for Small Business Owners — [Webinar] Small Business Majority
Why Most Entrepreneurs Are Slowly Killing Themselves — [Video] JTEDx Talks
How to Avoid Burnout as a Small Business Owner — [Video] Lauren Thurmond
How To Avoid Entrepreneurial Burnout Using These Four Tools — [Video] Dan Martell
articles, BLOGS, BOOKS
Employers Must Rethink Hiring Practices to Recruit and Retain Gen Z
5 Ways to Bring Mindful Leadership to the Workplace
Four Things Couples Must Do to Run a Successful Business Together
9 Things Companies Can Do To Make Hiring Better
9 Steps To Hiring The Right Person
9 Examples of Ethical Leadership in the Workplace
7 Tips on How To Handle Challenges and Overcome Adversity As a Black Entrepreneur
7 Tips to Avoid Burnout When Growing a Business
Small Business Owners with Children Know the Work-Life Balance Struggle
Social Recruitment: The Newest Way to Find Employees
10 Ways to Promote Innovation in A Team Environment
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
The Alameda County SBDC
Provides free consulting and seminars, along with connections to additional resources, to local business owners.
Alameda County Training Center
Individual coaching for managers and executives.
BusinessAdvising.org by Pacific Community Ventures
Advising and mentoring platform matches business owners who are beyond the startup phase with pro bono business coaches and mentors who provide tailored, hands-on advising.
California Chamber of Commerce
HR hub in California.
California Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans hiring/training programs and incentives.
Centro Community Partners
Volunteer MBA advisors.
East Bay SCORE
Free business mentoring, workshops, and webinars in multiple languages.
On-the-Job Training Program
Alameda County’s program to encourage employers to hire OJT participants; employers can be reimbursed up to 50% of the new hire’s hourly wage.
SBDC
One-stop shop for accelerating small business success.
SF LGBT Center
Business advising, workshops, and support for the LGBTQi+ community.
State of California
Training reimbursement and programs.
The Unity Council
Small Business Help Line in multiple languages for financial resource navigation, marketing and promotion, business management/operations advising, tax, accounting, HR, and legal services referrals.
Uptima Bootcamp
Long-term business advising and bootcamps.
SCALING: Expansion, International Trade, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING
TOOKITS
Learn How To Export — [Toolkit] The International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
Export/Import Resources & Links — [Toolkit] East Bay SCORE
Expand to new locations — [Toolkit] East Bay SCORE
Merge and Acquire New Businesses — [Toolkit] East Bay SCORE
Export Products — [Toolkit] East Bay SCORE
Selling to the Federal Government — [Toolkit] Venable LLP
Export/Import Resources & Links — [LINKS] East Bay SCORE
VIDEOS/WEBINARS
Behind the Curtain on Federal Small Business Set-Asides
Certifications for Veteran-Owned Businesses (to get government contracts)
Exporting Mechanics Training Video Series
How to Do Business With the Government
How to Do Business with the State of California
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification Overview (to get government contracts)
ARTICLES, BLOGS, BOOKS
How to Domesticate Your Business to Another State
How to Expand Your Small Business from the U.S. to Canada
How to Get Your Product in Stores: 9 Tips From Entrepreneurs
How to Push Inventory Across Multiple Online Channels
Is Your Brand Ready to Go Global?
Is Your Business Ready to Franchise?
Product Licensing for Beginners
7 Signs It's Time For a Business Expansion
Should You Incorporate Your Business in Another State?
12 Characteristics That Lead to Export Success
SUPPORT & ADVISING ORGANIZATIONS
BusinessAdvising.org by Pacific Community Ventures
Advising and mentoring platform matches business owners who are beyond the startup phase with pro bono business coaches and mentors who provide tailored, hands-on advising.
CalAsian Chamber of Commerce
Provides procurement assistance to help minority-owned manufacturing industry firms do business with the federal, state, and local governments as well as private corporations.
City of Oakland
City of Oakland contracting assistance and opportunities.
East Bay SCORE
Free business mentoring in multiple languages across a broad range of business issues.
International Trade Administration
Federal government assistance with international trade.
Minority Business Development Agency
Assists with government contracting for minority-owned businesses.
Northern California Procurement Technical Assistance Center
All of Government contracting guidance and one-on-one advising.
Oakland Business Assistance Center
The Business Assistance Center offers free help and referrals for small business owners and entrepreneurs located in Oakland.
Oakland U.S. Export Assistance Center
Helps new and veteran exporters in Oakland.
Port of Oakland
Opportunities and assistance with government contracting.
Project Acorn
Native American support provider that assists with government contracting.
The US Small Business Administration
Federal contracting
LOGISTICS: SUPPLY CHAIN, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, SHIPPING, ETC.
TOOKITS
Export/Import Resources & Links — [Toolkit] East Bay SCORE
VIDEOS/WEBINARS
How to Create Barcodes in Excel (The Simple Way)
How to Make Barcodes for Your Small Business
How to Package and Ship Orders
How to Push Inventory Across Multiple Online Channels
Inventory Management App for Shopify & Etsy (Top 4 Recommendations)
Inventory Management: Is It Time For A Change?
Inventory vs Asset Management: What’s The Difference?
Overbought or Overstocked: Know the Difference
10 Best Inventory Management Systems for 2022
3 Inventory Management Problems and How To Avoid Them
Time Management Strategies for Small Business Owners
ARTICLES, BLOGS, BOOKS
Supply Chain Disruptions: What Small Business Owners Need to Know
These 3 Measures Hold the Secret to Improving Your Logistics
SUPPORT & ADVISING ORGANIZATIONS
BusinessAdvising.org by Pacific Community Ventures
Advising and mentoring platform matches business owners who are beyond the startup phase with pro bono business coaches and mentors who provide tailored, hands-on advising.
East Bay SCORE
Free business mentoring in multiple languages across a broad range of business issues.
Oakland Business Assistance Center
The Business Assistance Center offers free help and referrals for small business owners and entrepreneurs located in Oakland.
PERMITS: BUILDING CODE, ZONING, ADA, PERMITS, ETc.
QUICK LINKS
Apply/Renew a Residential Parking Permit
Application for a Short Term Encroachment Permit
Business Assistance Support (City of Oakland)
Startup Services for New Businesses
SUPPORT & ADVISING ORGANIZATIONS
Alameda County
Full List of Permits issued by AC by business type.
Alameda County Permit Portal
Permitting hub for the county of Alameda.
Alameda County Food Permit
The food safety program monitors all retail food facilities in the county (excluding the City of Berkeley) to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply for the public. Food facilities include restaurants, markets, bakeries, liquor stores, bars, certified farmers' market, food service at fairs and festivals, catering trucks, hot dog carts, ice cream trucks, produce vehicles, and food vending machines.
The Americans with Disabilities Act
ADA Publications for Businesses - 2010 Regulations.
BusinessAdvising.org by Pacific Community Ventures
Advising and mentoring platform matches business owners who are beyond the startup phase with pro bono business coaches and mentors who provide tailored, hands-on advising.
California Division of the State Architect
CASp Property Inspection (ADA Compliance).
City of Oakland ADA Compliancy Resources
City of Oakland Building and Planning
Hub for the City of Oakland.
City of Oakland Disabled Parking Zone
City of Oakland False Alarm Reduction
Register your business’ alarm system.
City of Oakland Fire Department
Meet with Fire Prevention Bureau staff to ask questions or review the requirements for an Occupancy Permit application or pertaining to the Vegetation Management (VM) Program.
City of Oakland Mobile Food Vendor Permit (multiple languages)
City of Oakland Special Events Permit
East Bay SCORE
Free business mentoring in multiple languages across a broad range of business issues.
Oakland Business Assistance Center
The Business Assistance Center offers free help and referrals for small business owners and entrepreneurs located in Oakland; multiple languages.
Oakland Unified School District
Student work permits.
State of California CALGOLD
The CalGOLD online permit assistance tool can help you identify local, state, and federal permit information for your business.