California has over 4.25 million small businesses. That’s 99.8% of all companies in the state. Starting or growing a business here costs more than almost anywhere else in America.
High rents hurt. Competition crushes. Costs pile up fast.
But California invests in its entrepreneurs. State programs, local initiatives, and national grants open to California businesses provide real money for founders willing to do the application work. Here are 10 small business grants that California entrepreneurs need to know about in 2026.
1. LA County Small Business Mobility Fund
Deadline: February 13, 2026 at 11:00 PM Award Amount: $5,000-$10,000 (Launch Grants); $2,000 (Entrepreneurship Academy Grants) Who Gets It: Entrepreneurs and small businesses in unincorporated LA County areas Apply: emi.lacounty.gov
The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity makes opening brick-and-mortar businesses easier in unincorporated areas. Launch Grants provide $10,000 for retail storefronts and $5,000 for non-retail commercial spaces like offices and warehouses. Priority goes to businesses displaced by recent wildfires or opening near fire-affected areas, plus those creating jobs in high-unemployment zones. The funding covers tenant improvements, facade work, signage, and building permits.
There’s also a $2,000 Entrepreneurship Academy Grant for graduates of DEO’s 8-10 week training programs. These smaller grants help you take action on what you learned.
Why apply: LA County actively rebuilds and strengthens local business districts, especially post-disaster areas.
2. Restaurants Care Resilience Fund
Deadline: Varies (applications open periodically throughout the year) Award Amount: $5,000 to $10,000 Who Gets It: Independent California restaurants, caterers, and food trucks Apply: restaurantscare.org/resilience
The California Restaurant Foundation runs this ongoing grant program to build resilience in California’s restaurant community. Since 2021, they’ve awarded $11 million in grants to 2,087 independent restaurants, caterers, and food trucks across California. The program supports burger joints, taquerias, bakeries, and more that are the heart of local communities.
Recent funding focused on LA County restaurants impacted by fires ($10,000 grants) and general resilience building for independent restaurants and commercial caterers ($5,000 grants). Eligible businesses must have fewer than five locations and less than $3 million in revenue. Priority goes to minority and women-owned businesses.
Why apply: Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000 with no repayment required. Built specifically for California’s independent food businesses.
3. Intuit QuickBooks x Mailchimp Small Business Hero Program
Deadline: February 14, 2026 Award Amount: $20,000 Who Gets It: U.S. small businesses (including California) demonstrating resilience and integrity Apply: quickbooks.intuit.com/offers/small-business-hero-program
Three businesses win $20,000 each quarter. Nominations are open to everyone, including self-nominations. Winners get cash plus resources to scale their business. Intuit looks for businesses that show courage, perseverance, and integrity. In translation: businesses that refuse to quit despite the odds.
California has one of the most competitive small business environments in the country. If you’ve survived and thrived here, you have the resilience story Intuit wants to hear.
Why apply: Someone needs to nominate you, and that someone should be you.
4. San Francisco Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund
Deadline: Rolling (check current availability) Award Amount: Up to $5,000 Who Gets It: Women-owned small businesses in San Francisco Apply: Contact OEWD or visit oewd.org
This mini-grant program targets women-owned small businesses in San Francisco. The money funds projects and improvements that enhance your business’s growth potential. Think marketing initiatives, financial system upgrades, new equipment or technology, employee training programs, or networking opportunities.
The fund comes from a collaboration between MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency) and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. If you’re a woman founder in SF dealing with the absurd costs of doing business in the city, this grant helps offset specific growth expenses.
Why apply: San Francisco costs are absurd, and $5,000 targeted at the right business upgrade creates real momentum.
5. California Green Business Network Electrification Mini-Grants
Deadline: Ongoing (must achieve certification by January 31, 2025) Award Amount: $1,000 Who Gets It: California small businesses transitioning to electric operations Apply: cagbn.org
California takes climate seriously. CAGBN (in partnership with Intuit) offers $1,000 grants to help small businesses go electric. You need to be a Certified-Level Green Business or in the process of certification. You need to operate with 100 or fewer employees and generate $2.5 million or less annually.
The grant covers electrification upgrades like LED lighting, EV chargers, smart thermostats, heat pump water heaters, electric bikes or cars, solar batteries, and energy-efficient appliances. Projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money get priority consideration. Plus, CAGBN provides dedicated coordinators to guide you through the process.
Why apply: Going green in California isn’t optional for most businesses, and this grant helps cover the transition costs.
6. California Paid Family Leave Grant Program
Deadline: Rolling until May 2026 Award Amount: Up to $2,000 per employee on PFL Who Gets It: California small businesses with 1-100 employees Apply: edd.ca.gov
If you have at least one employee using California’s Paid Family Leave program (on or after June 1, 2024), you get up to $2,000 per employee to offset the increased costs of having them out on leave. This grant acknowledges that small businesses take a hit when employees are on PFL. The state provides financial relief instead of empty encouragement.
You need between 1-100 employees, and the employee must have used PFL. The grant helps cover costs like hiring temp workers, overtime for remaining staff, or productivity losses during the leave period.
Why apply: California mandates PFL, and this grant helps small businesses comply without going broke.
7. Santander Cultivate Small Business
Deadline: February 2, 2026 Award Amount: $2,500 (all graduates); up to $20,000 (select participants) Who Gets It: Early-stage food entrepreneurs, focus on underserved founders Apply: santander.com/cultivate
Santander’s Cultivate Small Business program is a free 12-week virtual training for food entrepreneurs. You get MBA-style curriculum led by Babson College professors, mentorship, peer networks, and capital grants. All program graduates receive a guaranteed $2,500 grant. Select exemplary participants receive additional awards up to $20,000.
The program targets underserved founders in low- to moderate-income communities. If you’re launching or growing a food business (restaurants, food trucks, catering, food products, specialty food retail), this combines education with funding.
Why apply: Free training plus guaranteed money. All graduates get $2,500. Top performers get up to $20,000 more.
8. FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
Deadline: February 16 to March 9, 2026 Award Amount: $50,000 grand prize; 10 runners-up receive $30,000 each Who Gets It: U.S. small businesses (including California) with 1-99 employees and a FedEx account Apply: fedex.com/grantcontest
This is one of the biggest small business grants available. FedEx awards over $350,000 annually. $50,000 goes to the grand prize winner plus $7,500 in FedEx Office services and an SEO audit. Ten runners-up get $30,000 plus $1,000 in FedEx Office credit.
The requirements are straightforward: active FedEx shipping account open for at least six months, 1-99 employees, and a compelling business story. Judges evaluate your business narrative, brand alignment with FedEx values, website quality, and social media presence. You submit an optional two-minute elevator pitch video to strengthen your application.
Why apply: $50,000 transforms a small business, and even the runner-up prizes are substantial.
9. Comcast RISE Grant
Deadline: Quarterly (check current cycle) Award Amount: Marketing services + tech makeovers OR $10,000 grant Who Gets It: Small businesses owned 51%+ by women or people of color, operational 1+ year Apply: comcastrise.com
Comcast RISE offers two grant types: marketing and technology services or a straight $10,000 cash grant. You choose based on what your business needs most. The program runs quarterly. If you miss one cycle, you apply in the next.
To qualify, you need 51% ownership by a woman or person of color. Your business must have been operational for more than a year. This isn’t for brand-new startups. Comcast wants to support established businesses that need help reaching the next level.
Why apply: You get to choose between services or cash based on what helps your business grow.
10. California Employment Training Panel (ETP) Grants
Deadline: Rolling applications Award Amount: Varies (reimbursement for training costs) Who Gets It: California businesses providing employee training Apply: etp.ca.gov
The California ETP provides grants to businesses that train their employees. This isn’t a traditional startup grant. Think of this as funding to upskill your workforce. California reimburses training costs for businesses that create stable, long-term jobs post-training in industries contributing to the state economy.
You submit a training proposal through ETP’s online portal outlining your training plan, costs, and expected benefits. The panel reviews applications on a rolling basis. Successful applicants get reimbursed for qualifying training expenses. This works especially well for California businesses scaling up and needing to train new hires or upskill existing employees.
Why apply: Employee training costs add up fast, and California helps cover the cost if the training strengthens the state’s workforce.
How to Find More California Small Business Grants
California offers dozens of additional grant programs through state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Here’s where to look:
California Grants Portal (grants.ca.gov) is your one-stop destination for all grants and loans offered by California state agencies. You filter by category, applicant type, and funding amount. Right now, there are 157+ active grant opportunities listed.
California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) at calosba.ca.gov administers grant programs for small businesses and nonprofits. Sign up for their newsletter to get notified when new funding becomes available.
Local Economic Development Offices: Cities and counties across California offer their own grant programs. Check with your local chamber of commerce or economic development office.
Industry-Specific Grants: California provides targeted funding for agriculture (CDFA), clean energy (CEC), and other sectors. If your business operates in a priority industry, research state agency programs in your area.
California Small Business Grant Tips
Location matters. Many California grants prioritize specific regions. Unincorporated areas, disadvantaged communities, fire-affected zones, or cities with high unemployment. If your business is in one of these areas, highlight this in every application.
Certifications open doors. Green Business certification, minority/women-owned business certification, and B Corp status qualify you for additional grants. Get certified if you’re eligible.
State priorities equal funding priorities. California cares about climate action, workforce development, equity, and disaster recovery. If your business aligns with these priorities, emphasize the connection in your applications.
Timing matters. Some grants have tight deadlines (like the LA County fund closing February 13), while others operate on rolling admissions. Apply early for competitive programs. Many close once they hit their funding limit.
Stack your funding. You often combine multiple grants. A $2,000 PFL grant plus a $5,000 SF Women’s Fund grant plus a $1,000 Green Business grant equals $8,000 in non-dilutive capital. Apply to several programs at once.
Why California Grants Matter
California’s cost of doing business is high. Commercial rent in San Francisco, LA, San Diego, and other major metros eats 30-50% of small business revenue. Labor costs are higher than most states. Regulatory compliance is complex and expensive.
Grants don’t solve all these problems, but they provide non-dilutive capital that lets you invest in growth without taking on debt or giving up equity. For many California entrepreneurs, grant funding makes the difference between barely surviving and thriving.
The state, counties, and cities recognize this. That’s why California invests heavily in small business support. Over $90 billion in grants annually across all sectors, with significant funding directed toward small businesses and economic development.
Get Your Applications In
California entrepreneurs face unique challenges, but you also have access to some of the best small business support programs in the country. The grants in this article represent real funding opportunities available right now to California businesses across industries, stages, and geographies.
The businesses that win these grants aren’t smarter or more talented. They’re more persistent about applying. They read the requirements carefully. They tell compelling stories about their businesses. They meet deadlines. They follow up.
Most importantly, they don’t let the application process intimidate them into not trying.
Bookmark this article. Calendar the deadlines. Start applying. California’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is built on founders who refuse to let obstacles stop them. You’ve survived starting a business in one of the most expensive, competitive states in the country.
Applying for grants is easier compared to doing business in California.
Go get your funding. Your California small business deserves the support.
*For more information find our database with over 300+ Grants here
