Questions we hear all the time.

Yes. Our Centro de Negocios West program provides fully bilingual services in Spanish, including advising, workshops, and resources tailored to Spanish-speaking business owners.

Yes, you can apply but you will need to provide a Fictitious Business Name as part of your application.

Once you have completed the training program and have gotten your licensing and permitting in order to operate legally in California, you can apply. Grants will be disbursed on a rolling basis. All grant funds will be dispersed by December 31, 2022.

The program begins on August 3, 2022 and ends on October 5, 2022.

The training program is ten (10) weeks with a 90-minute webinar once per week. All classes will be online.

No, the business license registration must be after to July 1, 2019.

A small business means a business with 5 employees or less and $1 million or less in annual receipts.

No. In order to maximize funding, the program can only accept one application per person.

Yes. Please contact the Small Business Development Center for your area.

No. Non-profit businesses are not eligible.

No. Cannabis businesses are not eligible for the program.

Any small business that was licensed after July 1, 2019 can apply.

1. You must complete the 10 week training program,and complete a one-on-one counseling appointment with a West Center advisor.
2. You started your business after July 1, 2019 and it is still operational.
3. You must have a business license issued after July 1, 2019 plus one of the following:
   • Made a first sale
   • Spent money on business expenses, for example, legal or accountant fees
   • Obtained money to open the business
   • Hired at least one employee who gets a W2
   • Have a business bank account
4. Your business must have at least one person working there and no more than five employees (including you)
5. You agree to report on the progress of your business to the center you are working with for one year

You need either a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the program.

Grants are for $5,000 or $10,000.

You may apply for a grant by completing a business training program and meeting all of the requirements.

The California Dream Fund is a one-time $35 million grant program to encourage and fund entrepreneurship and small business creation in the State of California.

Yes. Our advisors can help you identify financing options, prepare your application, and connect you with lenders. We have helped businesses access over $14 million in capital.

Fundando mis Suenos is a 15 week online business training program designed to help business owners reach their potential and exceed their goals by providing education and resources in a collaborative environment. The program supports the creation of resilient businesses by educating participants in business planning, financial management, credit repair, permitting and licensing, and marketing and pricing strategies. Participants will have access to confidential, personalized one-on-one advising to assist them with resources for building their businesses.

To participate, applicants must have access to the internet and a computer, tablet, or phone to access the training webinars. Participants are also required to commit to attending every weekly class, have a for-profit business in any industry, and be located in Mendocino or Lake County.

This all spanish language entrepreneurship business training program includes confidential personalized one on one advising to assist you with building your business.

The training consists of 15 weekly sessions starting on June 26, 2024.

The last session (#15) will be held on Friday, September 27, 2023 5-7:30 PM and will be a Graduation Celebration.

Graduates of this program who attend all sessions receive a $1000 stipend grant.

Yes, participants have to be from Mendocino or Lake County.

Sessions are 90 minutes.

Yes, in order to receive the stipend at the end.

All sessions are 5-6:30 PM on Wednesdays.

12 business owners will be selected for the program.

Just go here: 2024 Fundando application

A business license is not required to enter the program.

Fundando mis Sueños es un programa de capacitación empresarial en línea de 15 semanas diseñado para ayudar a los propietarios de negocios a alcanzar su potencial y superar sus objetivos, proporcionando educación y recursos en un entorno colaborativo. El programa apoya la creación de negocios resilientes al educar a los participantes en la planificación empresarial, la gestión financiera, la reparación de crédito, la obtención de permisos y licencias, y las estrategias de marketing y fijación de precios. Los participantes tendrán acceso a asesoramiento confidencial y personalizado para ayudarles con recursos para construir sus negocios.

Para participar, los solicitantes deben tener acceso a internet y a una computadora, tableta o teléfono para acceder a los seminarios web de capacitación. También se requiere que los participantes se comprometan a asistir a todas las clases semanales, tener un negocio con fines de lucro en cualquier industria y estar ubicados en los condados de Mendocino, Sonoma o Lake.

Este programa de capacitación empresarial en español incluye asesoramiento confidencial y personalizado en consultoría uno a uno, también durante la sesión online los asistentes pueden interactuar libremente con el instructor.

El entrenamiento consiste en 15 sesiones semanales que comienzan el 5 de marzo del 2025.

La última sesión (#15) se llevará a cabo el jueves 11 de junio de 2025 de 5:00 PM a 7:30 PM y será una Celebración de Graduación.

Los graduados de este programa que asistan a todas las sesiones reciben un estipendio de $1000.

Sí, los participantes o sus negocios deben estar establecidos en los condados de Mendocino, Lake y Sonoma.

Las sesiones duran 90 minutos.

Sí, para recibir el estipendio al final.

Todas las sesiones son de 5:00 PM a 6:30 PM los miércoles.

Se seleccionarán 12 propietarios de negocios para el programa.

Simplemente ve aquí [insertar enlace a la aplicación en el sitio web].

West Center offers free one-on-one advising, business training workshops, and access to capital resources for small businesses in Mendocino and Lake Counties.

Yes — all advising services are provided at no cost to you. Our trainings may have a nominal fee, but many are free. We are funded through SBA and other public programs.

Yes. Our advisors can help you identify financing options, prepare your application, and connect you with lenders. We have helped businesses access over $14 million in capital.

Yes. Our Centro de Negocios West program provides fully bilingual services in Spanish, including advising, workshops, and resources tailored to Spanish-speaking business owners.

Fill out our Get Started form and we’ll match you with the right advisor based on your business stage and needs. There is no commitment required.

Your contact for the course is Laura Brooks, laura@westcenter.org.

Yes. You must complete the course by Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00pm.

Yes but you will receive only one $150 stipend.

You need to get 100% on each quiz to complete the course.

Stipends were first come, first serve. All stipends are gone as of 1/31/2024. Only the first people to complete the course, meet the criteria of living in Mendocino or Lake County, and turn in their W-9, will be receiving the limited number of stipends.

The course has four modules, each with a 30-minute video and short quiz. You must watch the video before taking the quiz.

You can take the course, but in order to receive the $150 stipend, you must live in either Mendocino or Lake County.

Our business advisors can assist you with determining the best model for your business, from a cooperative to an LLC. West Center has offered a three-part series of webinars on the topic of cooperatives that you can view here.

Call our Customer Care Specialist at 707-964-7571 who will set up an orientation call and gather details about your business and particular situation. Following that initial call, the Customer Care Specialist will direct you to a business advisor who will answer your specific questions.

The best place to start is to contact West Center at 707-964-7571! We have a team of expert business advisors who are ready to help you turn your dream into reality. In addition to one-on-one no-cost confidential counseling, our organization offers business startup training programs, referrals to specialist advisors, and guidance on where to find funding!

Our team of expert business advisors are ready to help you turn your dream into a reality! To start, go to the Get Started page and answer a few easy questions. Our team will be in touch with personalized and 1 on 1 help, tailored specifically for your needs!

There is no cost to become a client. Advising services are always free. West Center is a non-profit organization funded through several government and private agency grants, which underwrite the cost of our services. So book your orientation call today and get started with your dream business now!

West Center offers no-cost one-on-one business advice counseling, training and education in the form of webinar workshops, economic development planning and strategy services, financial advice, and more. We have business advisors on staff to work with you on getting started and running your business. We also have specialist advisors who focus on a variety of different industries. Our assistance includes:

• Starting a business
• Applying for loans
• Understanding your finances
• HR & Operations
• Expanding your business
• Marketing
• Building your brand

If you registered for a workshop but missed it, check your email for a link to the recording. This email will typically arrive within a week of the original date of the webinar. The majority of our webinars are archived and may be accessed via the Webinar Library on our website. You will need to provide an email address to access the webinar library recordings.

Currently, West Center’s webinars are no-cost. Webinars are archived on our website and may be accessed by entering your email address.

West Center has specialist advisors who can assist with helping you determine what kind of business entity will be most beneficial to you.

West Center has business advisors who can provide guidance on which e-commerce solution is best for your business. Call our Customer Care Specialist at 707-964-7571 to set up an appointment. West Center also provides trainings on all aspects of e-commerce so check our upcoming and past webinars to learn more.

Call West Center at 707-964-7571 to talk with our Customer Care Specialist who will refer you to a business advisor who will be able to assist you with hiring protocols and best practices.

Yes! West Center helps connect entrepreneurs with potential funding sources once a business plan and financial plan are in place. Our business advisors are available to help you understand, develop and create your business plan. In addition, we can help you determine the financial feasibility of your idea before any risk is taken or money is spent. To get started, book an orientation call and we’ll help you find the path to success!

West Center offers webinars on tax preparation.

To become a certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB), apply for certification through the new process on beta.certify.sba.gov or go through an approved third-party certifier. Read more about the SBA certification process here.

West Center cannot assist with helping you find employees.

Generally, any business that operates under a name other than the owner’s personal name must file a Fictitious Business Name, also called a DBA (Doing Business As), with the County Recorder and publish that statement according to local statutes. Some business structures are also required to register with the Secretary of State. In addition to affecting the name registration, the choice of business structure has several other ramifications. West Business Development Center can help you understand business structure, be better prepared to choose a structure, seek legal counsel if necessary, and properly register your business. Go to Resources

Yes! Our business advisors can help you with the fundamentals and specifics of starting a new business including developing a business plan, financial guidance, permits and planning, and more. When you decide to sell your business, our experienced advisers who know the area and its particular challenges and opportunities are ready to assist you.

West Center is unable to assist with cannabis-related businesses. However, if the products are hemp-based, West Center can offer business advice and assistance.

A business plan is a fundamental element to starting a business. Call us to set up an appointment with our experienced business advisors who can walk you through the necessary steps to set up a business plan specifically for your business type.

West Center cannot offer legal advice. Local resources are the Mendocino County Women’s Bar Association and the Lake County Bar Association.

A business license may be required by the city in which your business operates or by the county. Our Resources page will tell you who to contact for your business license. Depending on the type of business, you may need further state or federal licenses. If you have questions, please call West Center for assistance.

StartUp Mendocino is a business accelerator program that mobilizes the resources of Mendocino County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in support of start-ups and growing businesses. A business accelerator program is a fixed-term, cohort-based program that includes educational components and peer-to-peer learning and networking.

Anyone who has started a business (1-3 years) in Mendocino County, and is looking to hone their business skills and expand their opportunities. Must have internet and computer access in order to participate. Alumni cannot apply again.

No, this program is free to participants. The training is funded by West Center, local support , the Small Business Administration, and State of California Go-Biz funding.

• The capacity for your business’s growth
• The opportunity to be a part of a network of start-up innovators with opportunities to build relationships with influencers
• Formal introduction to public works/services and local organizations to advance your business
• Free publicity and community outreach for your business

Up to twelve applicants will be selected to participate in this annual program.

The program begins with an orientation session on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Instruction begins on Tuesday January 17, 2023.

The program lasts for 21 weeks beginning on Tuesday January 17 and ending on Tuesday, June 6,

The program sessions are every Tuesday at 5 pm on Zoom; sessions will generally alternate between instructional and cohort sessions. Instructional sessions are two hours long, cohort sessions are one hour long.

Attendance is mandatory. Barring an emergency, all missed classes will require advance notice to program coordinators. To ensure participants get the most out of the program, missed classes will require a makeup session. If a participant misses 3 or more classes, they will be removed from the program.

The program will be conducted as a virtual training on the Zoom platform. Exceptions are the Kick Off on Thursday, January 12, 2023 and the graduation celebration on Thursday June 18, 2023, which will be held in person. Additional in-person meetings will be determined by the group and health and safety protocols at the time. These arrangements may be subject to change.

The application portal opens at 8:00AM on Monday October 3, 2022.

The last date for applications to be accepted is 5:00PM on Monday October 24, 2022.

The final participants will be announced on Wednesday November 23, 2022.

The application form will be available at www.westcenter.org/programs/startup-mendo-2023.

Please call West Center at 707.964.7571 and request assistance with your application.

Please call West Center at 707.964.7571 x2 for Spanish language assistance.

No, this program is open to any business in Mendocino County that fits the eligibility requirements.

StartUp Mendocino is a business accelerator program that mobilizes the resources of Mendocino County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in support of start-ups and growing businesses. A business accelerator program is a fixed-term, cohort-based program that includes educational components and peer-to-peer learning and networking.

Anyone who has started a business (within 1-3 years) in Mendocino County, and is looking to hone their business skills and expand their opportunities. Must be able to commit to all of the session dates and have internet and computer access in order to participate.

No, this program is free to participants. The training is funded by West Center, local support , the Small Business Administration, and State of California Go-Biz funding.

• The capacity for your business’s growth
• The opportunity to be a part of a network of start-up innovators with opportunities to build relationships with influencers
• Formal introduction to public works/services and local organizations to advance your business
• Free publicity and community outreach for your business
• A $1000 stipend grant at graduation for attending all of the sessions

Twelve applicants will be selected to participate in this annual program.

The program begins with an in person orientation session on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Instruction begins on Tuesday March 5, 2024.

The last date for applications to be accepted is 5:00PM on Friday, January 26, 2024.

The program lasts for 18 weeks beginning on Tuesday March 5, 2024 and ending on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

The program sessions are 90 minutes every other week. On alternate weeks, the cohorts will meet for 90 minutes. Sessions start at 8:00 am every Tuesday.

Attendance is mandatory. Barring an emergency, all missed classes will require advance notice to program coordinators. To ensure participants get the most out of the program, missed classes will require a makeup session. If a participant misses 2 or more classes, they will be removed from the program.

The program will be conducted as a virtual training on the Zoom platform. Exceptions are the Kick Off on Thursday, February 29, 2024 and the Graduation Celebration on Tuesday June 25, 2024, which will be held in person.

The application portal opens at 8:00AM on Monday, January 8, 2024.

The final participants will be announced on Friday, February 16 2024 .

The application form will be available on our website on Monday, January 8 at 8:00am.

Please call West Center at 707.964.7571 and request assistance with your application.

Please call West Center at 707-964-7571 x2 for Spanish language assistance.

No, this program is open to any business in Mendocino County that fits the eligibility requirements.

StartUp Mendocino is a business accelerator program that mobilizes the resources of Mendocino County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in support of start-ups and growing businesses. A business accelerator program is a fixed-term, cohort-based program that includes educational components and peer-to-peer learning and networking.

Anyone who has started a business (within 1-3 years) in Mendocino county and is looking to hone their business skills and expand their opportunities. Must be able to commit to all of the sessions and event dates and have internet and computer access in order to participate.

No, this program is no-cost to participants. The training is funded by West Center, local support , the Small Business Administration, and State of California Go-Biz funding.

Fifteen applicants will be selected to participate in StartUp Mendocino 2025.

• The capacity for your business’s growth
• The opportunity to be a part of a network of start-up innovators with opportunities to build relationships with influencers
• Formal introduction to public works/services and local organizations to advance your business
• Free publicity and community outreach for your business
• A $1000 stipend grant at graduation (pending completion of all requirements)

The program begins with an informal (optional) meet and greet on Tuesday, January 7th 2025. Instruction begins on Tuesday January 14th, 2025 at 8:00 AM.

The program lasts for 23 weeks beginning on Tuesday January 14th, 2025 and ending on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

The program sessions are 120 minutes every other week. On alternate weeks, the cohorts will meet for 60 minutes. Sessions start at 8:00 am every Tuesday. Attendance is mandatory. Barring an emergency, all missed classes will require advance notice to program coordinators. To ensure participants get the most out of the program, missed classes will require a makeup session. If a participant misses 2 or more classes, they will be removed from the program.

The program will be conducted as a virtual training on the Zoom platform. Exceptions are the optional Meet and Greet on January 7, the mandatory Mid-Session Retreat on Saturday, April 26th and the Graduation and Pitch Presentation event on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 which will be held in person.

The application portal opens at 3:00 PM on Friday, November 8, 2024.

The last date for applications to be accepted is 9:00 AM on Monday, November 25th, 2024.

The final participants will be announced on Tuesday, December 17 2024.

The application form will be available on our website On Friday November 8 at 3:00 p.m.

Please call West Center at 707.964.7571 and request assistance with your application.

Please call West Center at 707-964-7571 x2 for Spanish language assistance.

No, this program is open to any business in Mendocino County that fits the eligibility requirements.

We offer workshops on business planning, financial management, marketing, and more. Check our Training page for upcoming sessions in Mendocino and Lake Counties.