Free advising, nonprofit and SBA-affiliated lenders to consider, training, hiring help, contracting programs, and startup resources for California's Sacramento, Fresno, and San Francisco regions — browsable in one place. Every listing links to the organization's own official page so you can verify details at the source.
Free to browse. No account needed. Your filters stay in your browser.
Choose your region, pick as many needs as you like, search by name, or bring organizations with a particular focus to the top of the list.
Not sure where to start? Two quick questions point you toward organizations to consider.
34 organizations listed for Greater Sacramento, California
Listed alphabetically — being listed is not an endorsement or a referral. Details change, so verify services, eligibility, and costs with each organization on its official pages before you rely on them.
Free weekly Wednesday-morning gatherings where founders present and the community helps solve problems — the Sacramento chapter of the national 1 Million Cups program.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A nonprofit CDFI lender with a Sacramento office — ask about microloans of $50,000 and under, and larger small-business loans, across Central California when a bank says "not yet."
Helps withLoan products — discuss current terms with the lender
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
UC Davis's innovation district in Sacramento — wet and dry lab space, flexible space for emerging companies, and university partnership programs.
Helps withVaries by program
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A nonprofit SBA-certified Certified Development Company with a Sacramento office — consider discussing SBA 504 loans for buying a building or major equipment, plus its community lending programs across California.
Helps withLoan products — discuss current terms with the lender
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A Sacramento nonprofit with a Women's Business Center, the California State Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, and an APEX Accelerator for government-contracting help under one roof — consider it for counseling, workshops, and small-dollar loans.
Helps withFree services; loans are repaid like any loan
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A statewide CDFI built for farmers, ranchers, and fishers — consider discussing its loans and its land-access program, including one-on-one assistance finding land.
Helps withFree services; loans are repaid like any loan
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
The state's small business office — current state grant listings, a network of 150+ technical assistance centers, and disaster preparedness and recovery resources.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Networking and business development for Black-owned businesses since 1984 — formerly the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce — with member programs, contract and bid listings, and job boards.
Helps withPaid membership; some events are open to everyone
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Sac State's entrepreneurship hub, open to the community as well as students — bootcamps, virtual office hours, and host of 1 Million Cups Sacramento.
Helps withVaries by program
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
The city's business front door — a Business Solutions Center for entrepreneurs, the Locate & Grow program, innovation grants, and a small business guide for navigating city processes.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A support network for clean-tech and climate entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region — mentoring, the Power Series events, and connections to capital.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A nonprofit accelerator for women-led tech businesses, founded in Sacramento and partnered with Sac State's Carlsen Center — annual cohorts with applications each spring.
Helps withStructured program — application required; costs vary
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development offers no-cost consultations on permits, site selection, and expansion; its CalGold tool looks up the licenses and permits a business needs in one search.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Employer services for Placer, El Dorado, and Alpine counties — job postings with resume screening, pre-employment testing, and on-the-job training wage reimbursement while you train a new hire.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
The region's economic development organization — complimentary help for businesses considering expanding, relocating, or staying in Greater Sacramento: site selection, incentives navigation, custom research, and partner introductions.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Business coaching and an SBA Women's Business Center based in Mount Shasta, serving far-northern California communities north of the Sacramento Valley.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
UC Davis's entrepreneurship institute, home of the annual Big Bang! business competition and entrepreneurship programs.
Helps withVaries by program
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A Folsom-based venture capital fund investing in early-stage business software companies — equity investment for high-growth startups, not small-business lending.
Helps withEquity investment, not a loan
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A Sacramento CDFI specializing in microlending for newcomer communities — consider discussing microenterprise loans, small business consultations, and mentorship, particularly for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs.
Helps withFree services; loans are repaid like any loan
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
SBA-funded, no-cost business training and confidential advising for veterans, service members, and military spouses — the regional center covering Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
A long-running angel investor group backing early-stage companies across Northern California — consider its application process if you are seeking equity investment rather than a loan.
Helps withEquity investment, not a loan
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Business programs and networking for AAPI and diverse entrepreneurs, plus a Regional Small Business Utilization Center with procurement-readiness training, certification support, and contracting consultations.
Helps withPaid membership; some events are open to everyone
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Networking, training, and advocacy for Latino-owned businesses — Buenos Días meetups, the Emprende Sacramento program, and business workshops.
Helps withPaid membership; some events are open to everyone
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Regional chamber of commerce — advocacy, networking events, leadership programs, and small business programming, with membership tiers for small businesses.
Helps withPaid membership; some events are open to everyone
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Free market-research and business databases, including Small Business Source for business-plan help and reference tools, available with a free library card.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Free, confidential, SBA-funded business advising and training for Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba county businesses — help preparing financials and loan packages before you approach any lender.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
No-cost hiring help for employers from the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency — post jobs, get applicants screened and referred, and ask about on-the-job training funds and layoff-assistance services.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Free federal help with SBA loan programs, federal contracting certifications, counseling referrals, and local events — the district office serves 21 northeastern California counties, including the Sacramento region.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Free volunteer business mentoring, in person or online, serving Sacramento, Capital Corridor, and Sierra foothill communities, plus low- and no-cost workshops. Ask a mentor to review your plan before you take it to a lender.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Advising and small-business support for Sierra Nevada communities east of Sacramento — it hosts the Sierra SBDC, part of the Northern California SBDC network.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Monthly events connecting Sacramento founders with local operators and investors — the Sacramento chapter of the global Startup Grind community.
Helps withVaries by program
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Sacramento startup news, events, and resources — founder office hours, happy hours, and an events calendar for the startup community.
Helps withFree
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
An SBA 504 Certified Development Company with a Roseville office serving the greater Sacramento area — consider discussing owner-occupied commercial real estate and major equipment purchases.
Helps withLoan products — discuss current terms with the lender
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Federal export help from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Sacramento office — market research, international buyer connections, trade events, and counseling on shipping and regulations for first-time and established exporters.
Helps withVaries by program
Visit official websiteSource we checked · Verified 2026-08-01
Every listing was checked against the organization's own official site; last reviewed August 2026.
This navigator starts with three California regions, and more can be added over time. For every U.S. state and territory, the Free Help Finder lists the four national free-advising networks, and SBA's official finder searches all local assistance by ZIP code.
When you know what you're after, these tools go further than a directory:
We list these organizations because they serve Sacramento-region businesses — never because anyone paid us. No organization pays to be listed, and none has endorsed this site. This website is independent: it is not an SBA program and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SBA, any government agency, any lender, or any organization listed here. Being listed is not an endorsement or a referral, and details change — always verify with the organization itself.