COVID 19 Resource Guide for small businesses

Updated as of April 15, 2020

Working Solutions is closely monitoring the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, and we are here to support our clients and others in the small business community who are being impacted. Below is a collection of resources designed to help small businesses during this crisis.

Please reach out to us if you need assistance for your business, so that we can discuss your particular situation and figure out ways in which we can help. We are available at merchantservices@strikerpayments.com and (916) 542-0753.

This crisis will require multiple phases of response, and we aim to be here for our community both now and in the coming months as we continue to feel the effects on our small business community.

Current resources available

GRANTS:

• Hello Alice is offering grants of $10,000 to impacted small businesses. Learn more here.

  1. Facebook will soon be offering Small Business Grants to impacted small businesses. The application process is expected to open in mid-April 2020. Learn more here.

     1. Salesforce will soon be offering Salesforce Care Small Business Grants of $10,000 to impacted small businesses. The application process begins in mid-April 2020. To get notified when the application process opens, sign up here.

     2. Verizon and LISC are making grants of up to $10,000 to small business owners impacted by COVID-19, especially to entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses, and other enterprises in historically under-served places who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. Learn more and apply here. NOTE: The first round is closed, but you can register to learn more about another round, expected to begin mid-April.

  2. Loans:

     • Overview of COVID-19 relief programs offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA):

       • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Created as part of the CARES Act, this loan program provides forgiveness for retaining employees during the COVID-19 crisis. NOTE: Funding will be available on a first come, first served basis. You can find an eligible lender near you at this site. You can also reach out directly to the bank where you have a business bank account to see if they are accepting applications. Working Solutions is an approved SBA Microlender, but is not currently an administrator of new SBA products created from the CARES Act. UPDATE: PayPal and Intuit Quickbooks announced on April 10th that they are now approved to make PPP loans.

       • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) with a Loan Advance: You can apply directly to the SBA for a very low interest, fixed rate loan. The CARES Act also created the opportunity to get up to a $10,000 advance on an EIDL. This Advance may be available even if your EIDL application was declined or is still pending, and will not need to be repaid. Learn more here.

       • SBA Express Bridge Loans: Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. Working Solutions is not currently an SBA Express Lender or an SBA 7(a) Lender. Learn more here.

     • The City of San Jose offers a summary of the CARES Act in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, including FAQs, eligibility requirements, a list of SBA-approved lenders, and more.

     • This article outlines the differences between the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

     • San Francisco Chronicle article: “Bay Area coronavirus shutdown: here’s where to seek financial help”

     • For San Francisco Businesses: The San Francisco Hardship Emergency Loan Program (SF HELP) is providing small businesses with up to $50,000 in zero interest loans. These loans will have a flexible repayment schedule and the terms will be determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. Applications are now available online here.

  3. Paid Leave Options:

     • California Employment Development Department (EDD) resource page

     • California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Summary Chart of Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

     • California Labor Commissioner's Office FAQ

     • California Employers Association resource page

     • Pacific Community Ventures article

     Tax Filing Extensions:

     • The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California Franchise Tax Board have both extended personal tax filing deadlines until July 15.

     • Due to an executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration is offering a 90-day extension for tax returns and tax payments for all businesses filing a return for less than $1 million in taxes. This means that small businesses will have until the end of July to file their first-quarter returns. Learn more here.

     FREE Educational Resources and Webinars:

     • Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 AM: Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention – Two Sides of The Same Coin? Register here.

     • Wednesday, April 15 at 11:00 AM: Legal Considerations for Small Business Amid COVID-19 – Session 2 of the 2020 Small Business Week(ly) Webinar Series. Register here.

     • Wednesday, April 15 at 12:00 PM: Rethinking Your Strategy and Moving to eCommerce (hosted by GoDaddy). Register here.

     • Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 PM: Join Contra Costa County District Representative Aparna Madireddi and Small Business Majority to learn about federal financial assistance available to small business owners in the Bay Area. Join the meeting here.

     • Thursday, April 16 at 10:30 AM: Join the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the SBDC Northern CA Network for "COVID-19 - Recursos para Pequeños Negocios," hosted in English and Spanish. Register here.

     • Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 AM: Making a Digital Marketing Strategy for Unpredictable Times. Register here.

     • Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 AM: Staying Emotionally Healthy and Resilient During a Crisis. Register here.

     • Wednesday, April 22 at 11:00 AM: Social Media is a Power Player (hosted by GoDaddy). Register here.

     • Thursday, April 30 at 11:00 AM: Crisis Management Training: Protect Your Business from Predators and Fraud. Register here.

     • Ongoing: The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is hosting a series of free virtual events for small business owners on topics ranging from bookkeeping to supply chain contracting. See their full list of upcoming classes here.

  4. Other Resources and Tips:

     • Medically Necessary COVID-19 Testing: Governor Gavin Newsom directed all commercial and Medi-Cal plans to offer free COVID-19 testing when medically necessary. Learn more here and here.

     • Utilities: PG&E has placed a moratorium on service shutoffs due to nonpayment.

     • Banks Offering Relief: Forbes has prepared a list of banks offering relief to customers.

     • Fraud Protection: See this article by the Head of Small Business Bank Fraud and Deposit Risk at Capital One: “Avoiding Business Fraud in Uncertain Times”

     • Survival Tips for Small Businesses: Read about how to protect your small business during the COVID-19 crisis in this article.

     • Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guidance for Businesses and Employers

     • California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) resource page

     • California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO) resource page

     • Sonoma County Economic Development Board resource page

     • Small Business Majority: Daily Updates for Small Businesses

     • Small Business Majority: “Policy solutions to immediately support America’s job creators”

     • CAL Insurance: “Important Layoff Logistics Information”

     • Square resource guide