San Francisco Small Business Network

President's Message

President's Message

Dear Colleagues

When we go shopping, we typically choose to do business where we perceive the best value for our time and money.  But in that decision have you considered the value of locally-owned small businesses? Let’s talk numbers:

• In San Francisco more than half of all employees (54%) work at a small business   That means small businesses employ more than 355,000 people.*

• Local small businesses put nearly 2 ½ times the amount of money back into the local economy when compared to national chains.*

• If small businesses income increased 10% in San Francisco, that would mean the addition of $200 million in economic activity and create 1,300 new jobs.**

Now consider the real cost of losing locally-owned small businesses – local values.  In a city known or chastised for its “values,” it’s the local business owners that support local charities, sit on local boards, elect local officials and even challenge City Hall.

And when you think of your favorite restaurant, café or shop – is it a national chain?  Not likely!  It’s the local merchant who went the extra mile.  It is the restaurant whose food and service is off the chart.  It’s the “only in San Francisco” element that makes them so special.

At the SBN, we understand the value of small businesses.  And, we understand the challenges of doing business in San Francisco.  We ask a lot of businesses in San Francisco, such as a higher living wage, mandatory sick leave and the list goes on.   At the SBN, we continue to support small business, so that they can continue to employ San Franciscans and support the standards we have demanded of them.

We actively support legislation favorable to small business and to make government more efficient. We work with the Small Business Commission and our member organizations to reduce the cost of doing business in San Francisco.  We work closely with the Mayor, members of the Board of Supervisors, and department heads to achieve our goals as well as to assist them in realizing their dreams for our beautiful city.

As your president, I pledge to support and uphold the mission of the SF SBN and to be responsive to our members’ collective will. I pledge to support and participate in a collective effort by a coalition of organizations to make this City a better place to live and do business.

I am proud to call San Francisco my home and I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your President.  We have a great staff in our office this year with our Executive Director, Pat Christensen, as well as a dedicated group of Delegates from our member organizations.  I encourage you to get to know these folks, as they can be invaluable to helping you grow your businesses. Sincerely yours,

President Mike Doherty

*SBA Statistics of U.S. Businesses and Nonemployer Statistics.
**SFLOMA May 07 Report Civic Economics research study.

The San FranciscoSmall Business Network recommendations on November Ballot Measures

San Francisco, Calif. (September 13, 2007) – The San Francisco Small Business Network (SBN) has reviewed the 11 ballot measures, including charter amendments, ordinances and policy statements slated for this November.  After approval by its delegates, the SBN has taken supporting positions on the following measures:

• Proposition B. Limiting Hold-Over Service on Boards and Commissions.
  Charter amendment requiring appointing authority to fill vacancies on boards or commissions within 60 days after a term expires. Contact  - Bruce Bonacker, 434-4300
• Proposition C. Public Hearing on Initiatives.
  Charter amendment sponsored by the Chamber and other civic organizations requiring the Mayor or sponsoring supervisors to introduce for hearing before a Supervisor’s committee, initiative ordinances and policy statements 45 days prior to ballot deadline. Contact - Bruce Bonacker, 434-4300
• Proposition D. Renewal of Library Preservation Fund.
  Charter amendment extending for 15 years the special fund for library operations, established in 1994. Contact - Art Swanson, 305-6611.
• Proposition I. Small Business Assistance Center.
  Initiative ordinance placed on the ballot by Mayor Newsom. Establishes small business assistance center under Small Business Commission, appropriates $750,000 to fund FY 2007- 08 costs. Contact - Mike Doherty, 420-3896

The SBN has taken an opposing position on Prop K – A policy to restrict advertising on street furniture and city buildings.

About The SBN:

By enhancing the City's small business climate, the SBN believes the overall economic, social and cultural health of the city and the community at-large will benefit.

For more than twenty years, The San Francisco Small Business Network (SBN) has served as a strong, clear, and unified voice of the small business community in San Francisco.

Its mission is to strengthen and unify the voice of the Small Business Community in San Francisco.

With a growing membership of 17 business organizations, we represent more than 19,000 small businesses in San Francisco currently. 

For more information about the SBN or any of its programs, please call us at 415-731-2859, or visit www.sfsbn.org.com. 

Press Contact:  Clifford Waldeck, Waldeck’s Office Supplies for a Small Planet

415-290-2008

Give Small Businesses the Support They Need

There is a Small Business Commission Special Meeting at 5:30 at City Hall, Room 400. We as small business owners; will be discussing the need for the Small Business Assistance Center. Support the SBAC by your attendance and your voice!

Small businesses are the backbone of San Francisco’s economy. Small businesses make this a unique and wonderful place to live; they also make this an economically vibrant City. Small businesses in San Francisco employ more than 355,000 people. More than half of all employees work at a small business· Local small businesses put nearly 2 ½ times the amount of money back into the local economy when compared to national chains · Small firms give to charity an average of more than 2½ times the amount per employee than do medium or large firms If small businesses income increased 10% in San Francisco that would mean the addition of $200 million in economic activity and create 1300 new jobs. The Mayor and small business leaders have joined together to create the Small Business Assistance Center. This department housed in the current small business office will give small businesses the support, advice and help they need to flourish.

Specifically the Small Business Assistance Center will:

• Create a one-stop-shop for small businesses dealing with City Government;
• Advise small businesses on structure and formation, obtaining necessary licenses, accessing financial resources, and  finding an appropriate location;
• Assist in obtaining City permits;
• Help small businesses that wish to bid on government contracts and participate in the City purchasing process;
• Make sure small businesses comply with government laws and regulations;
• Help small businesses adopt “green” and sustainable business practices.

Small businesses are vital to the health of our City; small business owners live here and have invested their time and money to make San Francisco a better place. We need your help to create a vibrant and healthy environment for small business in San Francisco. Please support the Small Business Assistance Center.

Budget Update

The Board of Supervisors heard from hundreds of San Franciscans about the need to fund-- not cut-- priorities including new police officers, street trees, safe streets and sidewalks, a small business assistance center, 311, and the promising Community Justice Center.  (A list of all threatened cuts is attached to this email)

Thanks in part to your advocacy; these cuts have not yet been made by the Board. In fact, several Supervisors have voiced support for the programs that have been targeted for cuts. Supervisor Peskin has joined the Budget Committee for the rest of its deliberations this month and has indicated that budget decisions will be made with the benefit of objective budget reports that explain the implications of cuts and, most importantly, will only consider cuts after public comment by local residents.

This Thursday (June 21) at 5PM, the Board of Supervisors is holding a public comment session to allow local residents to talk to Supervisors directly about their budget priorities. It will be held in City Hall beginning at 5PM in the Board Chambers (Room 250).  All members of the public who come to comment will be heard. This hearing is the most important -- and possibly the only -- opportunity for San Franciscans to address Supervisors directly about what should be funded in the coming year's budget. It is essential that San Franciscans come to this meeting to let the Supervisors know their support for budget priorities. The Mayor's Office is asking for your participation in this hearing to ensure that important priorities get funded in the budget.

If you are not able to attend, please contact Supervisors by phone and email and explain that while you cannot attend in person, you are communicating your continued support for budget items you care about.

Help save the services we use

Supervisor Chris Daly has introduced a motion that if adopted, would eliminate a number of programs that we strongly support without the benefit of going through the normal budget hearing process.

We need your help this Wednesday, June 13 at Noon on the Polk Street steps of City Hall, small businesses along with labor and neighborhood activists will be coming together to call on the Board of Supervisors to reject the Daly motion and follow the established budget process.

After the rally small businesses will be speaking out against these cuts at the Budget & Finance Committee: Wednesday, June 13, 1 pm, City Hall, Rm. 250. If you can commit the time, please attend the rally and the hearing but if you must choose, please come to the rally and show your opposition to Supervisor Daly's motion.

In an election year it is predictable that politics will be played out over the budget. Supervisor Daly's motion would cut from the Mayor's Budget:
 

• $500,000 for a Small Business Assistance Center
• $700,000 eliminating funding for the Community Justice Center, that deals with quality of life crimes
• $3 million to eliminate one of the police academy classes
• $6.4 million for DPW street resurfacing
• $1.7 million for DPW pot hole repair
• $2.5 million for DPW new street-tree planting
• $1.1 million for Rec & Park increase in park patrols

Nearly all of the money cut would be directed to site acquisition for affordable housing in the Mission District.  This would be in addition to the $213 million the Mayor has already allocated for affordable housing.

Please take a moment, today, and contact the Supervisors on the Budget and Finance Committee and let the them know that you oppose the proposed cuts.  In particular we are concerned about the cuts that would: 1) derail the establishment of a Small Business Assistance Center;  2) delay achievement of full staffing for the police department by cutting a police academy training class (the department is currently 300 officers short of the charter-mandated level); and, 3) eliminate the Citys programs to improve the condition of our streets. 

Contact information for the Budget Committee members:
Chris Daly (Dist. 6, South of Market, Tenderloin) 554-7970 Chris.Daly@sfgov.org
Ross Mirkarimi (Dist. 5, Western Addition, Haight, Inner Sunset) 554-7630 Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org
Sean Elsbernd   (Dist. 7, West of Twin Peaks, Lake Merced) 554-6516 Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org
Bevan Dufty     (Dist. 8, Castro, Noe Valley, Upper Market) 554-6968 Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org
Tom Ammiano (Dist. 9, Mission, Bernal Heights) 554-5144 Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org

If you care about our crime rate, the deplorable condition of our streets or reforming our city government, please act now!  None of the programs proposed for elimination should be held hostage in a political battle that is about the Mayoral election, not about the merits of the programs.

Sick Leave Ordinance Updates

Proposition F, the Paid Sick Leave Ordinance was approved by San Francisco voters on November 7, 2006 and beginning February 5, 2007, all employers must provide paid sick leave to each employee who performs work in San Francisco. The Office of Labor Standards Enforcement posted new updates on May 31, 20007: Go to either of these two sites for more information. Frequently Asked Questions - and Rules Implementing the San Francisco Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (PSLO) - For further information, call 554-6271 or e-mail PSL@sfgov.org

Supporting the backbone

In the editorial section of today's San Francisco Chronicle, small business is touted as the back bone of our city.

"Small Business Backbone - SAN FRANCISCO may be a city filled with global businesses, major department stores and sprawling malls. But it's also a town where shoppers are surprisingly loyal to the corner store. . ."

Considering the financial impact of small businesses, many are left to wonder why we don't do more to support them.

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As a small business owner, I want to thank you for pointing out the importance of small business to San Francisco's economy in your Editorial " Small business backbone" In a study done by Economist Kent Sims last year he pointed out that there are over 111,000 small businesses with 100 employees or less and that we employ about 54% of the private sector of San Francisco.

What I don't understand however is why San Francisco does not purchase more materials and supplies from locally owned businesses. The Mayor stated at the Small Business Commission meeting April 9, 2007 that he had recently seen a report that of the $194 million dollars of purchases of materials and supplies one third were from locally owned businesses. This includes both big and small businesses.

Everyone knows that San Francisco is an expensive place to do business due to City taxes, fees and regulations like the recently passed sick pay measure. Doesn't it make sense that at least the City that creates these cost make every effort to do business with locally owned businesses especially given the findings of the San Francisco Locally Owned Merchant Alliance study? Isn't it fair that we should ask that better than half the purchases be from locally owned businesses?

Scott Hauge, President

CAL Insurance & Associates, Inc.

www.cal-insure.com

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On the list of the top 10 employers in the City, the City and County is #1, the School Districtand the College District are also on that list. Yet, none of these major purchasers have policies of buying from San Francisco vendors first.

Their policy is to buy from the lowest bidder, period. This policy would be fine if everything were on a level play field. San Francisco businesses have to compete against business in other cities and states which do not have the same taxes, fees and rules. Some of the disadvantages bidders have here include minimum wage $9.14 (fed min $5.15) a 1 1/2% payroll tax (vs. nothing) and 9 days of sick leave (vs. nothing)

The argument could be made that the City "is trying to get the most for their dollar", but that is not consistent with the policy of paying prevailing wages (the highest and best) to our City workers because it cost so much to live here.

The SFLOMA study shows conclusively the great advantage for not only residents to buy here, but also the government to buy here. It is a win, win for the City and School District to have this policy.

Stephen Cornell

Brownies Hardware

Economic Diversity Study confirms value of locally owned small businesses

An economic study produced by the firm of Civic Economics out of Chicago and Austin,TX was released by the San Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance.

This is a ground-breaking study that quantifies the contribution to the City’s economy by independent businesses. The study makes the case for positive job generation by locally-owned businesses versus chain stores.

Additionally, it shows the fiscal impact of the “recycled” dollars that locally-owned businesses spend in the Bay Area versus those of chain stores.

With just a slight 10% shift in spending habits,San Francisco’s consumers can create almost 1300 new jobs and contribute millions of dollars more to the local economy.

View the entire report at www.civiceconomics.com/SF.

Small Business Awards

The Small Business Network San Francisco proudly announces its small business award winners for 2007.

The awards were  presented at the organization’s Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at the Miyako Hotel in Japantown.

The award winners are:

Small Business Owner, 25 or fewer employees: Bill English, San Francisco Playhouse, 588 Sutter Street, #318, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-677-9596. Bill was nominated by one of our delegates because she volunteered to help him with marketing. When she met him, she was impressed by his passion for his work, his 100-seat theater, and the intimate manner in which he includes his audience in the performances. Bill and his wife founded the theater in 2003, and in his words, “…based on the principles of ‘Yes’, the aim of the SF Playhouse is to provide a creative home and inspiring environment where actors, directors, writers, designers and theater lovers converge to create works that celebrate the human spirit.”

Small Business Owner, 25 or more employees: Scoma’s Restaurant, President Tom Creedon, Pier 47, San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-771-4383. Scoma’s and Tom Creedon were nominated because of their consistent and active involvement in the politics that surround the issues small businesses face in San Francisco. Scoma’s management has served on many boards of directors including the San Francisco Chamber, Golden Gate Restaurant Association and SF Small Business Network. Scoma’s can be counted on to promote a healthy business climate for San Francisco. Scoma’s, in business for more than 40 years, has become a landmark known nationwide and worldwide. Most of the restaurant’s employees are longtime members of the Scoma family.

Small Business Advocate – individual: Jim Maxwell, President, San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations, 3444 Broderick Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, 415-441-0848. Since 1991, when Maxwell first joined the Marina Merchants Association, he has devoted hours every year to create a positive business environment within our community through creative marketing campaigns and events, promoting awareness of small business issues and legislation, and fostering better relations with our neighboring communities. He has never shied away from taking on leadership responsibilities and has been successful both with the Marina Merchants and the Council of District Merchants Associations. His achievements are notable: Creation of a comprehensive on-line neighborhood business directory – MarinaMerchants.com; campaign to save neighborhood theaters; fundraising for local playgrounds and schools; bringing the Tmobile Bike Race onto Chestnut Street, and working with a wide variety of business organizations and association throughout San Francisco to forge coalitions and cooperative alliances.

Small Business Advocate – Organization: Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, 1007 General Kennedy Avenue, Presidio, CA, 415-561-7686. Contact Hut Landon. NCIBA’s mission is “To promote the vitality, diversity, and prosperity of independent booksellers as essential to the life of our communities and crucial to the dissemination of ideas in our society.” NCIBA was nominated for this award because the independent booksellers were among the first to call attention to the wave of big box stores that were threatening independents in every retail sector. NCIBA has been generous with both funding and in-kind services to the creation of the San Francisco Locally-Owned Business Alliance and its efforts to inform the public of the advantages to shopping locally. NCIBA has been a consistent ally of independents everywhere, and it has been remarkably successful in achieving its mission.

Certified Green Business Award: Orchard Garden Hotel, Damien Keller, Director of Sales, 466 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, 415-399-9807. The Orchard Garden Hotel is the first LEED® (Leadership in Environment & Energy Design)-certified hotel in California. The developer and architect considered alternative transportation, landscaping, water efficiency, renewable and alternative energy sources, and room energy control systems in order to comply with LEED® certification requirements. In addition, they have recycling systems in place and more than 5% of the materials used on the project, including concrete & steel, carpet, drapes and shower curtains, contain recycled content.

Established in 1984, the Small Business Network has successfully promoted and defended the interests of the small business community in the City and County of San Francisco.

A Blog is Born

We have launched this blog with the intent of providing you timely updates on the issues impacting small business in San Francisco. 

The San Francisco Small Business Network (SBN) serves as a strong, clear, and unified voice of the small business community in San Francisco.

Our mission is to strengthen and unify the voice of the Small Business Community in San Francisco. With a growing membership of 20 business organizations, we represent more than 19,000 small businesses in San Francisco currently.

As this is a work in progress, we welcome your comments, questions and concerns.