We're glad you found us - helping SF businesses impacted by COVID-19 is our top priority. Read below to learn about city, state and federal resources. This page is updated daily.

We're here to help. Questions? Suggestions?

Call or email us at 415-554-6134 or sfosb@sfgov.org
 

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LOANS   ·   GRANTS   ·   HELP FOR EMPLOYEES   ·   HELP FOR SELF-EMPLOYED
REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE   ·   TAX RELIEF   ·   GENERAL INFORMATION

WEBINARS    ·   LOCAL PPE ·   REOPENING UPDATES

 

FINANCIAL RESOURCES


The City is making resources available to help sustain as many SF businesses and workers as possible. As of December 22, 2020 new federal legislation was passed by Congress that reopened the PPP, modified EIDL, and added additional funding and changes for programs. We are also working hard to develop additional local resources. Check back for updates.

 

 

 

 

HOW TO HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES

Have you been impacted by COVID-19 or the Shelter in Place order and continued to pay your workers?

You can get an Employee Retention Tax Credit up to $10,000 per employee. If you have 100 or fewer full-time employees, you may claim a credit for wages paid to all of your employees. If you have more than 100 employees, you may claim a credit for those furloughed or whose hours have been reduced as a result of closure or economic hardship. NOTE: Businesses that received a PPP loan were eligible to claim this credit.
 

✺ For the 2020 tax year, a business is eligible if they are affected by a government-mandated shutdown and can show a 50% drop in Gross Receipts in any quarter as compared to 2019, and a credit of up to $5,000 per employee is available. This is available in addition to the PPP loan but wages paid with PPP funds cannot be applied to the credit calculation.

✺ For the 2021 tax year, a business is eligible if they are affected by a government-mandated shutdown and can show just a 20% drop in Gross Receipts in any quarter as compared to 2019 (pre-COVID) and the credit is up to $7,000 per employee, per quarter for the first 2 quarters of 2021.

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Employers can now let workers change health plans without waiting

Under I.R.S. guidance issued May 12, 2020, businesses now have more flexibility to allow workers to make changes to their health plans outside an enrollment period. The change doesn’t require employers to offer these options; they must opt-in if they want to give their employees the added flexibility. This may be applied to health plans retroactively to January 1, 2020.

 

For example, employers can let their workers drop out of their health insurance if they have another option, or sign up if they failed to earlier in the year. Workers may also add more family members to their plan, or switch from one workplace plan to another.

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Layoffs Alternatives

There are alternatives to layoffs that can help employers keep their employees when there is a lack of work or during financial hardship.

 

✺ Do you want to keep your trained employees but still allow them to receive unemployment benefits?

The state’s Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance program allows for the payment of benefits to individuals whose wages and hours have been reduced. For more information, visit Work Sharing.

 

✺ Have you had to temporarily lay off employees or reduce their hours but expect to rehire them? 

Partial claims are for employees whose employers want to keep them when there is a lack of work. Filing a Partial Claim allows employees to receive unemployment benefits without being required to look for a new job. For more information, visit Partial Claims.

 

✺ Want to learn more about telecommuting?
Telecommuting can help your business continue operations while employees shelter in place. For more information, visit Resources for Managing Teleworkers.

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Rapid Response - Layoff Response Assistance
If you are a business considering work stoppages, layoffs, or furloughs, we offer Rapid Response virtual info sessions on the First Tuesdays of the month to inform you and your employees about Unemployment Insurance, Health Benefits, and Job Centers. Register here.

 

Questions?
For confidential assistance, contact: business.services@sfgov.org or call 415-701-4848 and ask for a Rapid Response Business Services Specialist.

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Interested in partnering with the City to pay your employees extra sick leave? * FUND LIMIT REACHED *

If you pay your SF employees for extra sick time, the City will reimburse you $15.59 per hour for extra sick leave up to 40 hours through its new Workers and Families First Program. Read Frequently Asked Questions here and our City’s step-by-step program guide, or call us at 415-554-6134​. As of April 5, 2020, this program is closed and we will begin processing reimbursements April 6, 2020. All businesses that apply going forward will be placed on a waitlist and contacted if funds become available. Apply for the waitlist.

For general information about San Francisco's Paid Sick Leave Ordinance in light of COVID-19, visit the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement's guidance on COVID-19.

 

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Tell your employees to visit our Resource Page for Employees Impacted by COVID-19

 

HELP FOR SELF-EMPLOYED, SOLE-PROPRIETORS, AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

 

Can I qualify for City small business financial relief programs?
Yes! Self-employed, sole-proprietors and independent contractors were eligible for many of the City's financial relief programs including: the Resiliency Fund, Neighborhood Mini-Grants, Women's Mini-Grants, and the City's zero-interest loan programs, SF HELP and African American Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, were also available.

 

Can I qualify for federal small business financial relief programs?
Yes!

Starting March 30, certain self-employed, sole-proprietors, and independent contractors are eligible for the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Learn more about this program on our EIDL section above.

Certain self-employed, sole-proprietors, and independent contractors were also eligible for the federal Payment Protection Program (PPP) which allowed borrowers to access fully forgivable loans up to $10M. You can learn more about this program on our PPP section above. NOTE: For a 14-day period, from Wednesday, February 24 to Wednesday, March 10, the PPP will only accept applications from businesses with fewer than 20 employees. PPP's funding formula has been revised for sole-proprietors, independent contractors, and the self-employed. Along with other changes, this ensures that the smallest businesses receive more financial support.

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Can I receive worker benefits if I am self-employed, a sole proprietor, or an independent contractor and lost work? What if I am sick, or caring for a sick family member?

New federal action (CARES Act) expands eligibility through special Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to include the self-employed, independent contractors, and people whose benefits have already run out. If you are unable to work or your hours have been reduced due to COVID-19 or you are sick or caring for a sick family member, you may also be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits under a few different scenarios. You can learn more about these benefits on our Employee Resources page.

 

 

REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE

Commercial Eviction Moratorium

The Commercial Eviction Moratorium is set to end on September 30, 2021 when the Governor’s Executive Order expires. State law controls what San Francisco and all local governments can do with respect to laws governing commercial landlords and tenants. San Francisco has been able to limit commercial evictions due to the Governor's Executive Orders, which temporarily suspends state law. On June 11, 2021 the Governor issued Executive Order N-08-21, which extended the timeframe for protections stated in the previous Executive Orders through September 30, 2021. Accordingly, the Moratorium Period began on March 16, 2020 and currently is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2021.

The moratorium has been in place since March 2020 and prohibits commercial evictions because of nonpayment due to COVID-19. It applies to any rent that was due from March 18, 2020 to September 30, 2021, and may be extended.

What should I do if I’m unable to pay my rent?

Your landlord may not evict for nonpayment of rent due during the moratorium which will end September 30, 2021. You and your landlord should use this time to develop a payment plan, which may address issues such as how much of the back rent the tenant must repay, and on what schedule.
 

What if I can’t pay my missed rent during the moratorium?
If you’re unable to pay because of COVID-19 and have not yet agreed to a payment plan with your landlord, you may still have time to repay any missed rent after the moratorium expires. Additionally, if you are a business with fewer than 10 employees, you have the option to terminate your lease  upon providing a 30 days’ written notice to your landlord. You must do so before September 30, 2021 in order to avoid any termination penalty that may exist in the lease. Please note that you are still obligated to pay any rent that was due during the moratorium period and the landlord still has the ability to recover this missed rent.

Can I get even more time to pay my missed rent? Yes. If you are a business with 49 or fewer employees, you may have additional time to repay any missed rent from March 18, 2020 to September 30, 2021. Under the Commercial Eviction Protections Ordinance, a business is provided a forbearance period, or repayment period, based on the number of employees your business had as of November 1, 2020. Please refer to the following table to see how much additional time you have:
 

Commercial Tenant	Number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTE)	Forbearance Period (Repayment Period)	Forbearance End Date
Tier 1	Fewer than 10 FTE	24 Months	September 30, 2023
Tier 2	Between 10 and 24	18 Months	March 30, 2022
Tier 3	Between 25 and 49	12 Months	September 30, 2022
Tier 4	50 or more FTE	None	September 30, 2021

 

For more information about calculating your number of Full-Time Equivalent Employees, read our detailed guidance.

Eligibility 

✺ A commercial tenant and/or subtenant
✺ Registered to do business in San Francisco
✺ Annual gross receipts at or below $25M
✺ Month-to-month or holdover tenants are eligible

 

Need Help?
✺ Read our FAQs to learn more
✺ If you still have questions, contact our Small Business Assistance Center
415-554-6134, sfosb@sfgov.org
✺ Or contact one of these San Francisco-based legal assistance providers:
Legal Services for Entrepreneurs 415-543-9444 x217, lse@lccrsf.org
SF Bar Association 415-782-8940, cis@sfbar.org

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Commercial Lease Assistance

OTHER RELIEF YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for SF businesses ━ AVAILABLE

San Francisco has secured a large shipment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). In collaboration with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), a one-month supply of PPE will be made available to local small businesses that are open and/or will reopen soon, while supplies last. Visit our PPE page for more information and to learn about how you can participate.

Shared Spaces Program ━ AVAILABLE

The City allows businesses to apply for a no-cost, expedited permit to share the sidewalk or parking lane for restaurant pickup and general retail. Apply here.

SFMTA Temporary Loading Zones ━ AVAILABLE

SFMTA is fast-tracking converting some adjacent street parking into temporary loading zones for take-out/delivery service to support merchants adapting to COVID-19. There is no fee, simply complete this form for review and processing.

 

SFMTA Color Curb Renewal Late Fees ━ TEMPORARILY WAIVED

Businesses with white and/or green zones may receive renewal invoices from the Color Curb Program. Renewals for white and green zones are invoiced every two years. If your business is closed due to COVID-19, please email ccp@sfmta.com to postpone the renewal or revoke the zone. All late fees are temporarily waived. For more information, go here.

 

Third-Party Delivery Fees ━ TEMPORARILY CAPPED

In December 2020, the City adopted legislation establishing a number of requirements for transactions between San Francisco restaurants and third-party food delivery services. These provisions include making it unlawful for a third-party food delivery service to charge a restaurant a fee per online order that totals more than 15% of the purchase price of the order, among other requirements. Read this legislation to learn more. If you believe your restaurant has experienced a violation of these requirements, please contact ben.vanhouten@sfgov.org.

SBA Loans ━ DEFERRED
The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees for current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months, as well as for new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020. For more information, visit the SBA's Debt Relief overview.

Business Registration Fees ━ DEFERRED * UPDATED *

The City is deferring business registration fees, now due April 30, 2021, instead of May 31, 2020. Learn more.

Business Registration Fees ━ WAIVED * UPDATED *

The City will provide pandemic business tax relief to certain businesses that have gross receipts of less than $25 million. You must renew your registration or file a tax return by April 30, 2021, to determine if you qualify for this relief. To learn more, view a video summarizing COVID-19 business tax relief. Learn more.

 

Business Taxes & Licensing Fees ━ DEFERRED * UPDATED *

The City is deferring business taxes due April 30, 2020 for businesses with up to $10M in gross receipts until February 2021 with no interest or penalties. The City is also deferring collection of annual small business license and permit fees until April 30, 2021. For more information, visit this SF Treasurer & Tax Collector webpage.

 

Business Taxes & Licensing Fees for Nightlife and Entertainment Businesses ━ WAIVED

Relief will be provided by waiving these businesses’ regulatory license fees and Business Registration Fees for two years and by waiving their Payroll Expense Taxes for 2020. This is a fee waiver, not a deferral, so businesses will not have to pay back these fees at a later date. Businesses will still be required to file all business tax returns. Read more.

 

Business Personal Property Filing ━ EXTENDED

The City extended the filing deadline for Business Personal Property from May 7, 2020 to June 1, 2020 with no interest or penalties. Businesses can still mail in or submit their filings online at any time. For more information, visit the SF Assessor-Recorder's webpage or email askbpp@sfgov.org for questions.

Small Business Tax Credit ━ * NEW *

A hiring tax credit is available for businesses that had 100 or fewer employees as of Dec. 31, 2019, and suffered a 50% or greater decrease in income tax gross receipts when comparing 2nd quarter 2020 to 2nd quarter 2019. Employers who satisfy those two conditions can claim a $1,000 credit for each net increase in qualified employees. It is available through Jan. 15, 2021 or until the allocated $100M available is exhausted. Learn more and apply here.

California Rebuilding Fund ━ OPEN

Loans up to $100,000 are available for qualifying businesses, with 3- to 5-year terms and fixed interest. Businesses that employed 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply. You can fill out a pre-application to get matched with a participating community lender. Learn more and apply here.

State Sales and Use Tax ━ EXTENDED

Starting March 30, 2020, all taxpayers who file a return less than $1M, had an additional three months to file. Check this table for the new due dates. If you qualify for this extension, it is automatic, you do not need to apply. If your return is more than $1M, you can still request an extension and it will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Starting April 2, 2020 small business taxpayers with less than $5M in taxable annual sales can qualify for a 12 month, interest-free payment plan. Learn more and apply here.

State Payroll Taxes & Reports ━ EXTENDED
The California Employment Development Division (EDD) is granting a 60-day extension to file state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest for employers experiencing hardship from COVID-19. A written request for an extension is required. For the most up-to-date information, visit CA EDD’s COVID-19 resource page.

 

Property Tax Payment ━ DEFERRED
The City is deferring the due date for the second installment of property taxes to at least May 15, 2020 without penalty. If you're unable to pay by this date for reasons related to COVID-19, you can request a penalty waiver online (note: these waiver requests will not be accepted until after the property tax deadline). As a result of the Governor's Executive Order N-61-20, if you are approved for a waiver and you were unable to pay your property taxes for your primary residence or small business because of the COVID-19 crisis, you will have until May 6, 2021 to pay your bill without incurring any late payment penalties.
 For more information, read Frequently Asked Questions about the Property Tax deadline along with the SF Treasurer & Tax Collector's COVID-19 page.

State Income Taxes ━ EXTENDED
California business and individual tax filers affected by COVID-19 have an extension to file and pay state income taxes. For more information, visit the State’s Franchise Tax Board page.

Federal Income Taxes ━ EXTENDED
On March 21, 2020, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. For more information, visit the IRS COVID-19 page.

Water Shutoffs & Late Fees  ━ SUSPENDED
The City has suspended water shutoffs and late fees during the local COVID-19 Emergency. For information, read the Mayor’s Press Release here.

Water & Sewer Bill Discount  ━ AVAILABLE
Small businesses or nonprofits experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 may be eligible for a 20% reduction for six months on their water and sewer bill. The deadline to submit an application is December 31, 2020. However, SFPUC may cease taking applications earlier if funds are exhausted. For more information and to apply, go here.

PG&E Electricity Shutoffs ━ SUSPENDED
PG&E will not disconnect power due to non-payment until further notice and will offer flexible payment plans for those impacted by COVID-19. For more information, visit PG&E’s COVID-19 webpage.

Commercial Garbage Collection ━ SUSPENSION AVAILABLE
Recology is allowing businesses impacted by COVID-19 to suspend their service. Enroll here.

Low-Cost Internet - AVAILABLE
Please find information for free or low-cost Internet here.

GENERAL INFORMATION & DOCUMENTS


Use trusted resources to stay up-to-date with accurate COVID-19 information:
 

✺ Guidance for all businesses during Shelter In Place orders. Check our Reopening Page for more information.
✺ Check if your business can be open
✺ Multilingual COVID-19 flyers, graphics, and fact sheets
✺ Up-to-date state resources for businesses
✺ California SBDC COVID-19 resources and FAQs
✺ California ABC Guidance by Liquor License Type and COVID-19 updates
✺ CDC COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses & Workplaces
✺ Right to Reemployment Following Layoff Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

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✺ Webinars to learn best practices and tips:

OEWD hosts Rapid Response/Layoff Response Assistance webinars for workers affected by COVID-19 with the CA Employment Development Department (EDD) on the First and Third Tuesdays of the month, 2:00 - 3:15 PM. Click the First Tuesdays or Third Tuesdays to register.

SBA's San Francisco Office hosts a series of COVID-19 webinars to answer questions and provide an overview of Disaster Loans and Non-Disaster Loan Programs:

Multiple Dates register here

NorCal Small Business Development Center hosts a series of COVID-19 Loan Q&A webinars four times per week until the end of May. See upcoming webinars and previous webinars.

English: Mon, Wed 10:30 AM join here

 

Small Business Majority hosts a series of COVID-19 webinars for small businesses. To see previous webinars, go here.

The SF Chamber of Commerce hosts a series of COVID-19 webinars for small businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in a zero-interest loan up to $50,000? * CLOSED *

The City’s Latino Small Business Fund, an extension of the San Francisco Hardship Emergency Loan Program (SF HELP), rapidly deploys loans up to $50,000 at 0% interest. Funds can be used to pay payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and more. The loan will have a flexible repayment schedule, with terms determined on a case-by-case basis, based on each borrower’s ability to repay.

 

SF HELP Eligibility

✺ Be a for-profit business located in SF and in good standing

✺ Have a total annual revenue under $2.5M

✺ Demonstrate a 25% drop in revenues since January 1, 2020

✺ Self-employed, sole-proprietors, and independent contractors are eligible

✺ Immigration status does not affect eligibility

 

Apply * CLOSED *

Learn more and apply

 

Need Help?

✺ Contact any of these San Francisco-based Technical Assistance Centers:

Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) 415-282-3334 | English, Spanish

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Business applicants must: 

✺ Be a for-profit in good standing

✺ Have a valid San Francisco Business License

✺ Have a business bank account (or be prepared to open one)

✺ Demonstrate an annual revenue of less than $2,500,000

✺ Be located or returning to the City of San Francisco unless recently relocated due to COVID-19 and relocation occurred on/or before February 2020

 

Apply * CLOSED *
As of 8/4/20, the African American Small Business Revolving Loan Fund is closed.

 

Questions?

✺ Email admin@sfaacc.org


 

Interested in a zero-interest loan up to $50,000? * CLOSED *
The City’s San Francisco Hardship Emergency Loan Program (SF HELP) rapidly deploys loans up to $50,000 at 0% interest. Funds can be used to pay payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and more. The loan will have a flexible repayment schedule, with terms determined on a case-by-case basis, based on each borrower’s ability to repay.

♡ Give2SF This program is funded by generous donations to the Give2SF COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, a public-private partnership. Contribute here.

SF HELP Eligibility

✺ Be a for-profit business located in SF and in good standing
✺ Have a total annual revenue under $2.5M
✺ Demonstrate a 25% drop in revenues since January 1, 2020
✺ Self-employed, sole-proprietors and independent contractors are eligible
✺ Immigration status does not affect eligibility

 

Apply * CLOSED *
Learn more and apply here

 

Need Help?

✺ Contact any of these San Francisco-based Technical Assistance Centers:

Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) 415-282-3334 | English, Spanish

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 415-937-7232 | Chinese, English

Renaissance Center 415-348-6227 (SOMA), 415-647-3728 (Bayview)

Southeast Asian Community Center 415-885-2743 | Chinese, Vietnamese
SCORE 415-764-4964

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Payment Protection Program (PPP) * CLOSED *

$284 Billion has been added to the PPP and program terms have been updated. Learn more about the new PPP.

NOTE: The deadline to apply for the PPP has been extended to May 31, 2021 or until funds are exhausted. However, SBA is only offering loans originated by participating community financial institutions including Certified Development Companies, Microlenders, Community Development Financial Institutions, and Minority Depository Institutions. Find an eligible lender for PPP.

 

PPP Eligibility

✺ Small businesses and nonprofits with 300 or fewer employees that were in operation before February 15, 2020, now including 501(c)6 and certain other organizations
✺ Certain self-employed, sole-proprietors, and independent contractors
✺ Demonstrate a loss of 25% of gross receipts in any comparable quarter between 2019 and 2020
✺ No collateral or personal guarantees are required
✺ Loan size is based on your typical pre-COVID-19 monthly payroll times 2.5, not to exceed $10M. Accommodations and Food Services may receive a loan amount up to 3.5 times their pre-COVID-19 monthly payroll.
✺ For Second Draw PPP loans, the same employee and loss of gross receipts requirements apply, and you must have used, or will use, the full amount of your first PPP loan for authorized uses.
✺ Non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply. * NEW *

 

Apply * CLOSED *
First-time borrowers download the First Draw Application and submit it to a qualified lender.

Second-time borrowers download the Second Draw Application and submit it to a qualified lender.

Need Help?

✺ SBA Customer Service: 1-800-659-2955 or answerdesk@sba.gov

✺ Or contact one of these San Francisco-based Technical Assistance Centers:

Score 415-764-4964

Small Business Development Center 415-937-7232

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center 415-541-8580

Berkeley Center for Law and Business sign up here

View a webinar on best practices for applying to the PPP also available in Cantonese, Russian, or Spanish.

 

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Want to access the federal SBA Payment Protection Program (PPP) to keep your employees on the payroll? * CLOSED *

PPP Eligibility

✺ Small businesses and nonprofits with 500 or fewer employees
✺ Certain self-employed, sole-proprietors, and independent contractors
✺ Businesses with more than 500 employees are eligible in certain industries
✺ No collateral or personal guarantees are required
✺ Businesses with alternate sources of credit are still eligible for these loans
✺ Loan size is based on your typical pre-COVID-19 monthly payroll times 2.5, not to exceed $10M

 

Note: If you do not apply or are ineligible for the PPP, you may be eligible for an Employee Retention Tax Credit up to $10,000 per employee.

Apply * CLOSED *
New funds were added on April 24, 2020. For those who missed the opportunity to apply for the PPP previously, seek out a qualified lender to determine eligibility and apply. For those who already applied but did not receive funding, check with your lender to confirm they will continue to process your application. Download your application here. Submit your application (and required documentation) to a participating lender. Additional information for borrowers can be found here and full terms here.

Need Help?

✺ Find local assistance

✺ PPP FAQs

✺ SBA Customer Service: 1-800-659-2955 or answerdesk@sba.gov

✺ Or contact one of these San Francisco-based Technical Assistance Centers:

Score 415-764-4964

Small Business Development Center 415-937-7232

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center 415-541-8580

Berkeley Center for Law and Business sign up here