The City of Irvine, in collaboration with its partners, offers a range of valuable resources for small businesses. Featured below are popular programs and essential information. 

City Resources

The City of Irvine, in collaboration with its partners, offers a range of valuable resources for small businesses. Featured below are popular programs and essential information.

How to Start a Business Guide
A step-by-step overview of the requirements, permits, and resources needed to open a business in Irvine.

Outsmart Disaster Program
Download the Business Resiliency Roadmap and complete the accompanying electronic forms to develop a customized preparedness and continuity plan for your business.

Green Business Assistance Program 
Help your business implement sustainable practices and reduce environmental impact — become a Certified Green Business at no cost.

Guide to Tenant Improvements
Key information on permits and requirements for interior or exterior modifications to your commercial space.

How to Become a Registered Vendor 
Details on how to register as an approved vendor and pursue contracting opportunities with the City.

Destination Irvine 
The City’s official visitor’s bureau, is committed to supporting your organization in securing hotel accommodations, meeting venues, and event spaces throughout Irvine. Acting as an extension of your travel team, Destination Irvine provides professional sourcing services at no cost, ensuring efficiency and exceptional service throughout the planning process.

Eats, Fresh Eyes
Get a practical, customized review of your restaurant’s online presence, customer experience, local visibility, and marketing opportunities, so you can attract more diners and grow your business.

Retail Refresh
Connects your business with expert advisors who provide tactical, no-cost feedback to elevate your store presentation, customer experience, and sales performance.

External Resources

Disclaimer: The City of Irvine provides the following non-exclusive list of service providers for general public reference only. The City of Irvine does not provide legal advice, nor do we endorse or guarantee the services of any organization listed. Individuals are encouraged to evaluate and choose legal assistance that best meets their needs.

Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center  
OCIE SBDC provides free resources to entrepreneurs across Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Backed by a team of over 100 business owners and industry experts, they offer expert guidance tailored to your needs. Learn more and book a consultative appointment. Check out upcoming programs and educational opportunities.

Orange County Workforce Solutions
OC Workforce Solutions offers a wide range of no-cost services to support job seekers and businesses. Individuals can access personalized tools to explore career interests and grow their skills. Businesses benefit from customized solutions—with help in recruitment, training, layoff avoidance, and more. Connect with resources here.

Public Law Center's Small Business and Nonprofit Project (SBNP)
Public Law Center’s SBNP provides legal services to income-qualified individuals and small businesses along with other nonprofit organizations serving Orange County (regardless of income) on a wide range of transactional matters — from formation through dissolution, including entity structuring, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, contract drafting and review, and general legal counsel on risk management and best practices. For more information, please email SBNP@publiclawcenter.org or visit the SBNP's website.

UC Irvine Startup and Small Business Clinic (SSBC)
UCI Law’s SSBC provides access to legal information and, in some instances, representation for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Orange County area. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, law students help clients navigate the legal complexities of the startup and/or small business world, offering counsel on transactional matters ranging from entity formation to day-to-day operations. For more information, please visit SSBC's website.

UC Irvine Community & Economic Development (CED) Clinic
UCI Law’s CED Clinic focuses on issues of community and economic development in low- and moderate-income populations, emphasizing non-adversarial, transactional approaches to advocacy. Under the supervision of law professors who are also licensed attorneys, law students assist nonprofits and small businesses with entity formation, financing strategies, and other aspects of organizational development. The CED Clinic also promotes affordable housing opportunities, for example, by assisting manufactured housing park residents transition their parks into non-profit, affordable housing communities. For more information, please visit the CED Clinic's website.

Western State College of Law Entrepreneurship Clinic (WSCLEC) 
Western State's Entrepreneurship Clinic provides no-cost legal assistance on a wide range of transactional matters to eligible for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations. Services include entity formation, contract drafting, corporate governance, and other startup and operational legal needs. The clinic supports entrepreneurs at all stages, from idea to launch to established businesses seeking to expand or refine their operations. Staffed by law students under the supervision of licensed attorneys, the clinic operates August through December and is paused January through July. Eligibility is based on financial need and business circumstances. For more information, please visit the WSCLEC website. 

IRP Grant Recipient Programs
The City of Irvine, through the Irvine Recovery Plan, provided funding for organizations to develop training and grant programs for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Browse upcoming programs hosted by City grant recipients here.

Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Irvine Gateway
Whether you're launching a startup or expanding business operations, the Greater Irvine Chamber is your connection to a vetted network of professionals. Irvine Gateway, a Chamber program, offers one-on-one initial consultations with expert advisors across a wide range of services. Designed to help Irvine companies thrive, this complimentary resource is available to all businesses (no Chamber membership required). Learn more here.

SCORE Orange County
SCORE Orange County, a trusted resource partner of the SBA since 1964, provides free mentoring and business workshops to help entrepreneurs at every stage. Backed by a team of over 100 experienced executives, SCORE offers one-on-one guidance and practical training tailored to your business goals. Start or grow your business today. Connect with a mentor or explore upcoming workshops.

Tax Credits & Incentives

California Competes Tax Credit
The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate or stay and grow in California. Businesses of all sizes and industries may apply, with applications evaluated based on factors including job creation, wages, investment, and the project’s economic impact. The current application period is open through August 10, 2026. Future application periods include January 4, 2027 – January 25, 2027 and March 1, 2027 – March 15, 2027. Learn more and apply.

Expanded Child Care Tax Credits for Employers
Federal legislation signed into law July 2026 expands tax incentives for employers that invest in childcare benefits for their employees. The enhanced credit is designed to encourage employer participation in childcare solutions. To learn more about these benefits, contact OCBC Vice President of Business Initiatives Jesse Ben-Ron at jbenron@ocbc.org.

Southern California Edison Development Rate Program
SCE’s Economic Development Rate program offers qualifying businesses a 12% discount on their electricity bills for five years. The program is designed to help attract, retain, and expand business operations within SCE’s service territory that might otherwise locate or relocate outside California. Contact Troy Nguyen at Troy.Nguyen@sce.com for more information.