As a community, San Luis Obispo supports, and is here to help, business succeed. Below is a list of business support organizations that help both current business owners and entrepreneurs in any stage of development.

Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties

The Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties is a private, nonprofit organization developed to monitor and report on the business practices of companies. Licensed by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, and governed by its own local Board of Directors, the Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties is a valuable resource to turn to for objective information on businesses and charities as well as consumer and business education information and dispute resolution programs.

Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College

The Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College works with private, public and nonprofit resources to build strong, sustainable and successful businesses. Through community research regarding economic impacts and by providing fee based-technical assistance to regional businesses, the Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College strives to improve the economic health of our community.

REACH

REACH is a nonprofit, economic impact organization with a mission to increase economic prosperity on the Central Coast through big thinking, bold action and regional collaboration. Led by the private sector, the organization works in partnership with business, education, government and nonprofit partners to solve the region’s most pressing economic challenges in order to establish the Central Coast as a place where current and future generations have the opportunity to thrive.

Institute for Professional Development at Cuesta College

The Institute for Professional Development at Cuesta College provides customized training for business and organizations throughout SLO County. IPD staff and trainers meet with business clients to conduct up-front analysis to determine training objectives and course content including methodology, blending theory and other practices relevant to today’s work environments.

Mission Community Services Corporation

Mission Community Services Corporation provides training, technical assistance, loans and support to unemployed, underemployed, low-moderate income individuals and businesses to expand opportunities to own, manage or operate business enterprises. Together with the Women’s Business Center, MCSC is a resource for business creation, growth and development.

Ready Business

Ready Business, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Advertising Council’s site, is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, focuses specifically on business preparedness.

San Luis Obispo Downtown Association

The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association serves its members within the business district in the areas of parking, promotions, design, economic activities and the weekly Thursday Night Farmers’ Market.  With committees and an eleven member board of directors, all comprised of local business owners, the member-directed organization cares for the wellbeing and vibrancy of our downtown.

SCORE

The San Luis Obispo County Chapter of SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is part of a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the county’s small business.  SCORE volunteers provide free and confidential business counseling tailored to meet the needs of individual small business and  offering workshops for everyone from start-up entrepreneurs to existing small business owners.

Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center

One of a network of regional small business development centers, the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides world-class, complimentary, business assistance to start-ups and established companies. With a focus on promoting the development of technology-focused ventures, the SBDC helps entrepreneurs launch companies, create and retain jobs, attract capital investment and contribute to the prosperity of SLO County.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration helps start, build and grow businesses by delivering loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses. The regional office located in Fresno provides educational opportunities, business mentoring and counseling to small businesses in Central and Coastal California.