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Economic Development

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1. Do I need to register my small business with your office?

All persons or companies conducting business in San José must pay the business tax, whether or not they have offices located in San José. The payment of business tax is required prior to the commencement of business in San Jose and is renewed annually.

The City of San José's Finance Department is responsible for collecting the business tax. The business tax form is located on the Finance Department website or may be picked up at:

City of San José - Finance Department
200 E. Santa Clara St.
Tower First Floor, Windows 1,2
San José, CA 95113

2. Can you tell me about office space in San José?

You can conduct your office space research using our site selection tools.

3. How can I find employees?

The work2future organization has training programs to benefit companies by educating employees in the latest skills, and employees benefit from being able to offer a wider range of valued skills to their employers. Additionally, by using work2future's employment service network, employers can take advantage of:

• Job fairs
• Job training, retraining and up-training
• Labor market and wage survey information
• Online job postings
• Prescreened applicants
• Recruitment for specific employment needs
• Tax credits
• Wage subsidies
• Workforce reduction assistance

4. How can I schedule a meeting of foreign business / government delegations with City officials?

The San Jose Office of Economic Development meets frequently with business and government officials from throughout the world. To schedule a meeting, please send a list of the officials participating in the meeting, issues of interest, and the date of the visit to San Jose. Schedule permitting, we will attempt to accommodate meeting requests.

If you require more information, please contact Economic Development at (408) 535-8181.

5. How do I become a certified Woman or Minority-Owned Business for federally funded projects?

The Valley Transit Authority (VTA) is responsible for certifying Women and Minority Business Enterprises and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for certain federally funded projects. If you are interested in becoming certified, please contact them at (408) 321-5962 for a certification application. You can also find information at http://www.vta.org/osdb

6. How large is San Jose?

• Incorporated Area: 179.2 square miles.
• Population: 1,023,083. San Jose is the third largest city in California, following Los Angeles and San Diego. It is the 10th largest city in the U.S.

7. Where can I get a list of all the companies in San Jose?

All persons or companies conducting business in San Jose must pay the business tax whether or not they have offices located in San Jose. The City of San Jose's Finance Department can provide you with a list of all registered business at a nominal fee.

The special request business tax form is located on the Finance Department website or may be picked up at:

City of San Jose-Finance Department
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 1st Floor, Windows 1,2
San Jose, CA 95113

8. Where can I get information about regulations that would relate to the business I am starting in San Jose?

The City of San Jose welcomes your business to our City. We will provide you with information regarding certain federal, state, county, and city requirements. However, this is provided as an information and referral service and does not constitute final or complete interpretation of legal requirements which must be obtained from the appropriate administering agency. In addition, you may wish to consult with an attorney to insure that your business meets all legal requirements.

The City of San Jose's Finance Department can provide a comprehensive list of agencies you should contact before starting your business.

9. Where do I pay the business tax?

All persons or companies conducting business in San Jose must pay the business tax whether or not they have offices located in San Jose. This tax is required prior to the commencement of business in San Jose.

The City of San Jose's Finance Department is responsible for collecting the business tax. The business tax form is located on the Finance Department website or may be picked up at:

City of San Jose-Finance Department
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 1st Floor, Windows 1,2
San Jose, CA 95113

10. Why should I choose San Jose as a location for my business?

Located in Northern California, San Jose is the largest City in the San Francisco Bay Area, third largest city in California, and the 10th largest city in the United States.

San Jose is the world's center of innovation, a global crossroads of talent. The City is committed to remaining a top ranked place to do business, to work, and to live. The community offers what innovative people and companies need today in order to succeed.

The City of San Jose has the nation's best public safety record of any metropolitan area, is rich in ethnic diversity and enjoys a beautiful climate. With temperatures varying from an average of 50 degrees in January to an average of 70 degrees in July, the City of San Jose boasts an average of more than 300 sunny days per year.

11. How do I buy Real Estate from the City?

City of San Jose properties listed for sale can be found at Real Estate's home page