To our Valued Clients, Partners and Friends: 

The spirit of the season makes us especially thankful for our clients, partners, advisors and friends, and we hope that you all enjoy a safe holiday season!

Many thanks to those of you who patronized small businesses on November 25th, Small Business Saturday. Small businesses mean so much to our communities and economy, and it's important to support them. That is the mission of the SBDC, and we appreciate you sharing our information with your colleagues, family and friends. All businesses and startups are welcome, and they can learn more at this video and our website.

Finally, some admin items.... please keep an eye out for our year-end survey. Your feedback is required by our funders, and it helps us continue to provide services at no charge. Also, please note our holiday office closures.

The Office Will be Closed for the Winter Holiday: 

December 22, 2023 - January 1, 2024

Happy Holidays!

The Pasadena SBDC Team

Important News & Resources

California Minimum Wage Increase

The state's minimum wage is going up to $16.00 per hour for most industries. The fast-food industry is expected to see a minimum wage of $20/per hour beginning April 1, 2024 and the healthcare industry will see some minimum wage increases depending on the type of facility and line of work. Please keep in mind that some local cities/counties have their own minimum wage requirements that may exceed the state's minimum wage. 

California Paid Sick Leave 

All employers will be required to increase paid sick leave time from 24 hours annually to 40 hours annually along with an increase to carry-over hours. If you are a business governed by local paid sick leave ordinances, you may need to increase sick time hours to be in compliance with both California and municipality requirements. Employers should follow whichever sick leave plan is more generous to employees.  

Cannabis Use

As of January 1, 2024 off-the-job Cannabis use will become a protected category under which an employee or candidate cannot be discriminated against by an employer. The law still allows employers to conduct pre-employment drug testing and does not permit a worker to work under the influence of Cannabis nor possess, use, distribute or be impaired while on the job. 

Upcoming Webinar

There are more employment laws and employer requirements going into effect. These are just some of the highlights. Join us on January 9th, 2024 at 10:00 am for a thorough review of the latest employment laws going into effect in 2024 and how that will impact your small business. Feel free to submit any questions about HR/Employer requirements or any topics you would like to see covered to sbdc@pasadena.edu.  

*The Zoom webinar link will be sent with reminder emails before the event.

*Brought to you in partnership with SBA, the Los Angeles MBDA Business Center and

PACE Business Development Center.

Download Document

LA SBDC Network Presents: SmallBiz Talk is a weekly talk series that presents information, expertise and instruction on all things related to business success.

Each week your host, Lori Williams, covers a key business topic. The show consists of instructional information, real life situations, guest speakers and interviews. Additionally, participants can engage with specific questions pertaining to their situation.

Upcoming Shows:

December 6 A Marketing Discussion about AI

Alex Vasquez is a co-founder and principal at DigiSavvy where he oversees all aspects of the digital marketing and WordPress development including marketing, agency operations, and business development.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Alex leads his clients through the ever-evolving landscape of digital media with a no-nonsense approach utilizing best practices and unique solutions and eschewing "shiny" and useless tools and fruitless strategies.

Join us on December 6th to learn how Alex advises his clients in the use of AI

December 13 The ever-changing laws in HR

Xiomara Palma, Founder & CEO of Solvit HR, is a certified human resources professional with over 15 years of HR experience across multiple industries. Xiomara specializes in helping small businesses remain in compliance with workplace regulations. 

Join us on December 13 as Xiomara informs us about new laws and discusses some confusing laws such as AB5

Join us live every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to gain information and helpful insights for your small business success!

What is the Best Legal Structure for my Company?

What are the Tax Advantages?

Many entrepreneurs do not fully understand the differences between a Sole Proprietorship, LLC and S Corporation. This causes many to form a corporation when they may be better operating as a sole prop. Additionally, they are confused about the tax differences for each structure. They often choose a legal structure based on a perceived tax advantage that is incorrect. 

This webinar provides an overview of the various tax structures. The required documentation for the original filing and annual filings. The requirement for accounting, quarterly tax estimates and W2 salaries. 

This webinar covers:



1. Difference between a sole prop, LLC and S Corporation
2. Tax differences between the legal structures
3. Documents required for filling including annual reports
4. Tax estimates and reasonable salary requirements

Presented by: Lori Williams

Thursday, December 7th 9:00 AM

How To Sell When You're Not a Salesperson

Business owners and entrepreneurs must promote their business or products to investors, customers or clients. Often, this is something they have never done before, and they lack training to approach the challenge. To address this situation, this workshop has been built to help you learn much of what you need to know.

Topics covered include:

• The psychological barriers that could be holding you back and the tools required to overcome them.
• Understanding the components of an effective sales pitch.
• Learning the tools necessary to build an effective pitch for your business/product.
• The sales process, including how to develop a plan to address each client’s needs.

Plus much more in the Q&A session

Presented by: LBCC/PCC SBDC Advisor Mike Huntley

Hosted by : LBCC SBDC

Tuesday, December 12th 5:00 PM

Canva Magic for Small Businesses

Unlock the secrets of visual storytelling for your business with our exclusive webinar on "Canva Magic for Small Business Owners." Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, mastering the art of graphic design can elevate your brand's presence and captivate your audience.

• Introduction to Canva: Dive deep into the world of Canva, a user-friendly graphic design tool tailored for non-designers
• Templates & Tools: Explore a plethora of templates suitable for various business needs, from social media posts to business presentations.
• Branding Basics: Learn how to maintain brand consistency using Canva's color palettes, fonts, and logo placements.
• Engaging Graphics: Discover the secrets to creating compelling visuals that resonate with your target audience.
• Advanced Features: Unearth hidden Canva features that can give your designs a professional edge.
• Time-saving Tips: Efficiently navigate Canva's interface and utilize shortcuts to speed up your design process.
• Canva Magic AI: Design for Video, Presentations, Editing, Text to Image, Text to Video and much much more

Presented By: Deborah Deras, Mindful AI Expert

Thursday, December 14th 10:00 AM

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Small Business Innovation Research &

Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program

Hello NASA SBIR/STTR Community,

One of the top recommended ways to prepare for the next SBIR and STTR Phase I solicitations, anticipated to come out in January 2024, is talking to our program team to learn how your innovative idea could fit NASA’s needs. Therefore, we invite you to set up a one-on-one meeting with the program representative who covers your technology area—and have put together a step-by-step guide to help you find the best match.

Open Chapter 9, Research Topics for SBIR/STTR, in the 2023 SBIR or STTR Phase I solicitation to find the Subtopic that best aligns with your technology. Subtopics are likely, but not guaranteed, to be similar year-to-year.

Each Subtopic within a Focus Area aligns with a Lead Center and Participating Center(s); contact the applicable Center Technology Transition Lead (CTTL) to learn more about that Subtopic.

• Not sure which Subtopic your technology fits in? Contact the CTTL located closest to you. You may also reach out to the Mission Directorate Contact if you want to talk generally about that Focus Area.

Now it’s time to make that connection! We encourage you to use this sample language in your email so the NASA representative has all the necessary information to prepare for a productive meeting with you.

Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC)

Gary Laier | Gary.E.Laier@nasa.gov

Ames Research Center (ARC)

Rich Pisarski | Ryszard.L.Pisarski@nasa.gov

Glenn Research Center (GRC)

Brandon White | Brandon.L.White@nasa.gov

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Joe Famiglietti | Joseph.Famiglietti-1@nasa.gov

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Mark Davidson | Mark.H.Davidson@jpl.nasa.gov

Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Kathy Packard | Kathryn.B.Packard@nasa.gov

Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

Mike Vinje | Michael.E.Vinje@nasa.gov

Langley Research Center (LaRC)

Eileen Nelson | Eileen.S.Nelson@nasa.gov

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Haley Doude | Haley.R.Doude@nasa.gov

Stennis Space Center (SSC)

Marc Shoemaker | Marc.D.Shoemaker@nasa.gov

We hope this flexible approach helps you get the NASA guidance you need at the time when it is most impactful for you!

NASA SBIR/STTR Program

The Small Business Development Center at Pasadena City College

is part of the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and through a grant with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All opinions, conclusions and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.