Small businesses form the backbone of San José’s economy and the City of San José is committed to help them thrive. The City's Small Business Ally Program in the Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs provides small business owners with step-by-step assistance in navigating the world of city permitting, inspections, and business tax registrations. 

The two Small Business Allies, Juan Borrelli and Anh Nguyen (pictured above), both bilingual, shepherd businesses through city requirements, such as development permits, zoning regulations, and building codes to expedite the path to opening a business.

Juan and Anh guide aspiring business owners through specific process-related steps, identifying costs, and determining timelines. This applies to a variety of business types, including traditional brick-and-mortar businesses like retail, food and beverage, office, and industrial, as well as mobile or home-based businesses, such as food trucks, home offices, childcare, and cottage food operations. The Allies' goal is to make it easier for small business owners to start their micro and small businesses in San José, and then ultimately, to help them grow, expand, and be successful in the city.

From July 2023 to June 2024, the Small Business Ally Program assisted 2,977 San José entrepreneurs—more than in any previous year since the program’s inception in 2013. This brings the total number of businesses served by the program to almost 15,000. The Allies have been particularly successful with food and beverage industry entrepreneurs, with 112 food-related businesses receiving streamlined assistance through the Building Division's Streamlined Restaurant Program.

Anh shared his perspective on the joys of working with local entrepreneurs: “Engaging with a diverse range of entrepreneurs and helping them overcome obstacles is incredibly rewarding and inspiring. These interactions make the role both dynamic and gratifying.”

A few of the common questions the Allies respond to are:

• What City (and in some cases County) permits, inspections and registration processes will my business trigger at a particular location in San José?
• How much will those City permits and other processes cost and how long will they take to get approved?
• I don't know where to start or how to submit the required plans or applications. Who can help me?

A feature of the Small Business Ally Program is its dedication to outreach. Over the past year, the Allies led or participated in 312 outreach events, workshops, and special trainings, where information was provided in multiple languages. The program’s commitment to inclusivity extends to Vietnamese and Spanish speaking business owners, who benefit from translation support to ensure they fully understand the regulatory requirements.

With personalized help, outreach, and language support, the program is a model of how cities can effectively support local entrepreneurship.

“Throughout the city we can see the tangible results of the customers we have assisted when they open their businesses, and we are delighted to know that we are helping to contribute to a thriving, robust local economy while making a big difference in the lives of the community members that we live and work with by helping them to achieve their new business dreams and goals,” Juan said.

To connect with Juan and Anh and to learn more about how the City helps small businesses open or expand, visit the City’s Getting Started in San José page.