Coronavirus Resources for Small Businesses
Federal Resources
The CARES Act provides immediate relief for small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. For the most up-to-date information, be sure to monitor resources and guidance directly from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) here.
Payment Protection Program Loans
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a loan designed to help your small business maintain payroll. SBA will forgive PPP loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
How to Apply
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating in the program.Contact your lender to ask if they are participating, or for more information, click here.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) can provide up to $2 million of financial assistance (actual loan amounts are based on the amount of economic injury) to small businesses or private, non-profit organizations to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance
Small business owners are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. To access the advance, you must first apply for an EIDL and then request the advance.
Applications and additional information for both an EIDL and an EIDL advance can be found here.
SBA Express Bridge Loans
Express Bridge Loans allow small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork while applying for a direct Economic Injury Disaster Loan. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for decision and disbursement on Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan.
Find an Express Bridge Loan Lender by connecting with your local SBA District Office
SBA Debt Relief
Borrowers will receive immediate relief for current SBA 7(a), 504, and microloans. For a period of six months, SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of these existing loans. This relief automatically applies to existing loans under these programs and those issued before September 27, 2020.
Click here to learn more about SBA's debt relief under the CARES Act and to find out if your loan qualifies for automatic relief.
FAQs
How can I prevent laying off my employees?
In addition to SBA's resources, if you are experiencing a slowdown in your businesses or services as a result of the coronavirus impact on the economy, you can apply for California's UI Work Sharing Program
Who can apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan
All businesses – including nonprofits, veterans organizations, Tribal business concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors – with 500 or fewer employees can apply. Businesses in certain industries can have more than 500 employees if they meet applicable SBA employee-based size standards for those industries (click HERE for additional detail).
For this program, the SBA's affiliation standards are waived for small businesses (1) in the hoteland food services industries (click HERE for NAICS code 72 to confirm); or (2) that arefranchises in the SBA's Franchise Directory (click HERE to check); or (3) that receive financialassistance from small business investment companies licensed by the SBA. Additional guidancemay be released as appropriate.
How can I apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan?
You can apply through any existing SBA lender or through any federallyinsured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institutionthat is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they areapproved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating. Find a lender participating in the PPPHERE.
What types of non-profits are eligible for a Paycheck Protection Program loan?
All 501(c)(3) non-profits with 500 employees or fewer, or more if SBA's size standards forthe non-profit allows. Please visit https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/ to find out yournon-profit's SBA size standards by the number of employees. For example, churches andmuseums with fewer than 500 employees are eligible. You will need the 6-digit NorthAmerican Industry Classification Code for your business.
What are the allowable uses of a Paycheck Protection Program loan?
- Payroll costs (as noted below)
- Costs related to the continuation of group health care benefits during periods ofpaid sick, medical, or family leave, and insurance premiums
- Employee salaries, commissions, or similar compensations (see exclusions above)
- Payments of interest on any mortgage obligation (which shall not include anyprepayment of or payment of principal on a mortgage obligation)
- Rent (including rent under a lease agreement)
- Utilities
- Interest on any other debt obligations that were incurred before the covered period
What costs are eligible for payroll under a Paycheck Protection Program loan?
- Compensation (salary, wage, commission, or similar compensation, payment of cashtip or equivalent)
- Payment for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave
- Allowance for dismissal or separation
- Payment required for the provisions of group health care benefits, includinginsurance premiums
- Payment of any retirement benefit
- Payment of State or local tax assessed on the compensation of employees
How do I determine if my business is considered "essential" and permitted to stay open?
Please see the list of Essential Infrastructure Workers (PDF).
- If your business is on the list of exempt sectors, it may still operate.
- This list is subject to updates.
Your city or county may have additional guidance. Additional information for LA County can be found here.
Where can I get help applying for SBA loans and finding additional resources?
Resource Partners, such as SCORE offices, Women's Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers are available to assist you. Use the SBA's Local Assistance Directory to locate the office nearest you.
How Can I Help?
- Businesses that have medical supplies or equipment to donate, click here.
- Businesses that want to sell medical supplies or equipment to the federal government, please email specifics to covidsupplies@fema.dhs.gov.
What tax relief is available to me?
State and federal tax filing deadlines have been extended. As shared by the State Franchise Tax Board, tax file and pay deadlines have been extended to July 15, 2020.
- The Employee Retention Credit is a fully refundable federal tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent of qualified wages (including allocable qualified health plan expenses) that Eligible Employers pay their employees. Visit the IRS to learn more.
- COVID-19 updates from the Franchise Tax Board.
- Visit the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website to apply for special assistance, including filing and payment extensions, and/or relief from interest and penalties.
- Employers experiencing a hardship may request up to a 60-day extension from the Employment Development Department to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest.