Los Angeles County Small Business Legal Assistance (SBLA) – Pro Bono Clinic
Free consultations on business formation, contracts, trademarks, copyrights, and IP strategy.Monthly drop‑in clinic (usually first Tuesday of the month). Registerhttps://www.lacounty.gov/sbla
UCLA Law School – Intellectual‑Property Clinic
Law‑student teams, supervised by faculty, help draft trademark applications, copyright registrations, and cease‑and‑desist letters for qualifying startups. Apply online (applications open quarterly). No charge; limited slots.
https://law.ucla.edu/academics/clinical-programs/intellectual-property-clinic
California State Bar – Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) – Los Angeles Chapter
Pro‑bono legal advice for artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs (copyright, licensing, contract review). Membership is free for qualifying low‑income creators; schedule a consultation via https://www.calbarvla.org/la
USPTO ProBono Patent Program (California Regional) – LA
Free assistance with patent searches and provisional patent applications for qualified inventors.Submit a request through the USPTO portal; eligibility based on income ≤ 300 % of federal poverty level. https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/using-legal-services/pro-bono/patent-pro-bono-program
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – UCLA Extension
One‑hour free legal‑tech workshops covering IP basics, trademark filing, and protecting digital assets. Sign up for webinars at
https://www.sbdc.uclaextension.edu
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) – Micro‑Grant Program
Grants up to $10 ,000.00 for micro‑businesses in underserved neighborhoods (focus on creative & tech ventures).Application windows twice a year; see
Small Business Associatioin (SBA)
7(a) Loan Program
Working‑capital, equipment, inventory, real‑estate acquisition, debt refinancing, startup costs (if owner has equity). Up to $5 million (most common caps: $350 k – $2 M). Up to 25 years for real‑estate; 7‑10 years for equipment/working‑capital. Prime + ~2.25‑3.75 % (fixed or variable).Up to 85 % for loans ≤ $150 k; 75 % for larger amounts.
ttps://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/7a-loans
CDC/504 Loan Program
Long‑term fixed‑asset financing: commercial real estate, large equipment, leasehold improvements.Up to $5.5 million (some projects > $10 M with higher equity). Typically 10‑20 years (real‑estate) or 10 years (equipment). Fixed Prime‑plus‑margin (often 2‑3 %). 40 % from a Certified Development Company (CDC), 50 % from a private lender, 10 % equity from borrower.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/504-loan-program
Microloan Program
Startup costs, working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, equipment. Ideal for very small firms or first‑time borrowers. Up to $50 000 (average $13 k‑$25 k). Up to 6 years.Variable, tied to the lender’s base rate (often Prime + 1‑3 %). Up to 85 % guarantee (varies by lender).
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/microloan-program
Disaster Loan Program (Business & Economic Injury Disaster Loans – BIDL)
Recovery from declared natural disasters, pandemics, or other emergencies. Up to $2 million per business. Up to 30 years (depending on use).Fixed 3.75 % (for loans ≤ $25 k) or 4.75 % (>$25 k). Full SBA guarantee (no private lender involvement).
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
CAPLines
(Cash‑Advance Program)Short‑term working‑capital needs such as seasonal inventory, contract financing, or builder’s risk. Up to $5 million per line.Up to 12 months (seasonal/contract) or 24 months (working‑capital).Variable, based on the lender’s prime rate.Up to 85 % guarantee for eligible lines.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/cap-lines
Export Loan Programs
(Export Express, Export Working Capital, International Trade)Companies that sell goods/services abroad and need financing for export contracts, receivables, or production.Varies: Export Express up to $500 k, others up to $5 million. 5‑10 years (typically).Variable, linked to prime.Up to 90 % guarantee for Export Express; lower percentages for larger programs.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/export-loans
Kiva Los Angeles
Crowdfunded, 0 % interest micro‑loans up to $15 ,000.00; funds are disbursed quickly.Create a profile on https://www.kiva.org and submit a loan request.
City of Los Angeles – Business Tax Credit (BTX) Program
Tax credit for hiring local residents and investing in community‑focused projects.Apply through the LA Business Portal; eligibility requires at least 25 % of workforce from low‑income ZIP codes.
https://business.lacity.org/BTX
Women’s Business Enterprise Center (WBEC) – LA
Grants and low‑rate loans for women‑owned businesses (many are creative‑industry focused).Membership free; application via https://wbec.org
Los Angeles Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – LA County
Free one‑on‑one counseling, market‑research assistance, and workshops on business planning, budgeting, and digital marketing.Book an appointment at https://www.lasbdc.org
Score Los Angeles Chapter
Volunteer mentors (retired executives, accountants, marketers) provide monthly workshops and individualized coaching. Free; join via https://losangeles.score.org
Techstars LA Accelerator – Community Track
Free “bootcamp” style sessions on product‑market fit, fundraising, and growth hacking for early‑stage founders.Open enrollment each quarter; competitive selection.
https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/los-angeles
Creative Entrepreneurs Network (CEN) – LA
Peer‑learning circles, monthly speaker series on branding, IP, and e‑commerce for artists and makers. Membership $25 / yr (discounted for low‑income members).
Google for Startups – LA Campus
Free workshops on Google Ads, Analytics, and YouTube for creators looking to monetize content.Register on the Google for Startups site; no cost.
https://startup.google.com/locations/los-angeles
Los Angeles Public Library – Business & Entrepreneurship Series
In‑person and virtual classes on bookkeeping, Canva design, and social‑media strategy. Free with a library card (available to all LA residents).
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. – Co‑Working Grant Program
Subsidized co‑working memberships (up to 50 % off) at partner spaces such as WeWork, Indie Desk, and Cross Campus. Apply with a brief business plan; eligibility based on income and location. https://laedc.org/co‑working-grant-program
The Art Studios LA (ASC)
Low‑rent studio space for visual artists, designers, and makers; includes shared equipment (3‑D printers, CNC, photography labs).First‑come, first‑served; rates start at $150 / month for qualifying artists. https://laedc.org/co‑working-grant-program
LA Makerspace – City‑Run Facility
Access to fabrication tools, recording booths, and a small‑business incubator.Membership $75 / yr for low‑income residents; free workshops.
Public Library – Business Innovation Labs
Free desk space, Wi‑Fi, and printing credits; also offers “pitch rooms” for client presentations. Reserve online via the library portal.
https://www.lapl.org/branches/business-innovation-labs
University of Southern California (USC) – Blackstone LaunchPad LA
Free coworking desks for student‑entrepreneurs and community founders; mentorship from USC faculty.Open to non‑students on a rolling basis; apply at
Google Ad Grants for Non‑profits
Up to $10 ,000.00 per month in free Google Ads credit (ideal for promoting local services).Requires 501(c)(3) status; apply via Google for Non‑profits.
https://www.google.com/grants/
Facebook Blueprint – Small Business Courses
Free online courses on creating effective Facebook/Instagram ad campaigns, audience targeting, and analytics.
Register at https://www.facebook.com/business/learn
HubSpot Academy – Free CRM & Marketing CertificationFree CRM tools, email marketing templates, and certification courses.
Sign up at https://academy.hubspot.com
Los Angeles County Small Business Marketing Grant
One‑time $2 ,000.00 grant for developing a professional website, SEO, or video marketing.Application opens annually; see https://lacounty.gov/smallbizmarketing.
Creative Market – Discounted Asset Packs
30 % off bundles of fonts, graphics, and stock photos for low‑income creators (code: LA30). Use at checkout; no registration required.
https://creativemarket.com/discounts
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce – Small Business Council
Quarterly networking events, advocacy, and a directory of local suppliers.Membership $125 / yr (reduced rate for businesses earning <$50 k).
https://lachamber.com/small-business-council
Black Business Association of Los Angeles (BBA LA)
Peer‑support groups, pitch nights, and access to minority‑focused grant listings.Free membership for qualifying entrepreneurs.
Latino Business Action Network (LBAN)Bilingual workshops, mentorship, and connections to Latino‑owned supply chains.Free; register via https://lban.org.
Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Association (APISBA) – LA
Cultural‑specific market insights, translation services, and supplier directories.Free; open to all APISA‑identified entrepreneurs.
https://apisba.org/los-angeles
Meetup.com – “LA Creators & Entrepreneurs” Informal meet‑ups, hackathons, and collaborative project showcases.Free to join; events often have a modest coffee‑shop fee.
https://www.meetup.com/LA-Creators-Entrepreneurs/
The resources, contact information, program details, and eligibility criteria listed in the material above were compiled from publicly available sources as of December 2025. Because websites, funding programs, and service offerings can change without notice, we cannot guarantee that every item remains current or accurate. Please verify the latest information directly with the respective provider (e.g., agency website, clinic, grant administrator, or nonprofit organization) before making any decisions or taking action. If you encounter discrepancies, contact the provider’s official support channel or visit their current web page for the most up‑to‑date details.
Community Brand Guardians, PBC
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