When you're thinking of starting your own business, you've got a lot of options. You could sign up to manage a branch of one of the franchises in Canada. You could start your own small business in your home town, or you can move somewhere entirely different and start a new life as your own boss. Cities always try to attract the members of the latter category, often by offering incentives to choose their city over the others. If Oakland, California is on your list of possibilities, here are some of the incentive programs you may be able to take advantage of.
Visa Program
Oakland, California wants you, whether you're an American already or not. Oakland's leaders realize that it's in the city's best interests to encourage the immigration of enterprising people who will open up businesses that put the city on the SR & ED (scientific research and experimental development) map or create jobs for unemployed Californians. If your business will employ ten or more locals, Oakland will help you get your EB-5 Visa.
Tax Credits
Companies who are willing to relocate to Oakland get a break on the taxes that would normally have to be paid by an Oakland septic tank pump trucks service. If you have 20 or more employees, you'll get 50% of your city sales and business taxes back for 3 years. There are also state business tax credits available for people whose businesses are located in the Oakland Enterprise Zone. There's no time limit on these - you can get them whenever you do something good, like hire a new employee, make your business greener, or help out low income people.
Loans
Very few people have the capital in hand to start a new business. This is especially true of machinery heavy businesses where the initial outlay for pneumatic conveying systems is high. If you're willing to move to Oakland, you can get more favorable loan terms from the city than from your bank. You can get up to $300,000 towards the startup costs of your business if you're willing to rehabilitate a Brownfields site, then receive further cleanup money from the revolving loan program run jointly with the EPA. Smaller loans (under $249,500) are also available through the Oakland Business Development Corporation to businesses who don't qualify for bank loans.
Grants
What's better than a low interest loan with favorable terms? A loan you don't have to pay back. They're called grants and you can get them through the Facade Improvement or Tenant Improvement programs if you're located in a targeted redevelopment zone. You could use it to put up a new horse fence or install a new shop window.
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