California is giving Main Street a better shot

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OPINION — Think of your favorite coffee shop. The cafe on the corner you hit every weekend. The dive bar where you spent too many nights in your 20s. These places all have one thing in common. Not the memories, not the vibes, not the constant contributions to the fabric of the neighborhoods in which they sit. What virtually every small business in California has in common is that at some point they have sat and waited in permitting purgatory.

It’s not sexy, and it’s not fun, but it is the harsh reality of opening a small business. One Sacramento restaurant reported accruing over $100,000 in costs while waiting for their permits to come through. California wants to make it a little easier. 

California is taking action to reduce these barriers, and it’s a welcome step in the right direction. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed permitting reforms that address some of the most common challenges small businesses face. Thanks to the governor and the state legislators who helped advance these permitting reforms, California is demonstrating how practical policy changes can deliver real impact to the businesses that drive community here in California. 

Recently passed Assembly Bill 1693 streamlines the permit process for retail tenants, an essential part of a thriving community. New energy in a neighborhood can always be drummed up by a temporary pop-up space and Assembly Bill 1679 will help small businesses to try out operating a retail space, an exciting opportunity to connect with customers in a new location. 

Practical legislation can also apply to what’s happening in the daily realities of running operations. Assembly Bill 685 supports access to business consulting and training, providing access to the outside counsel and flexibility a small business owner needs. Assembly Bill 2663 extends the state’s “cocktails-to-go” privileges, giving restaurant owners the flexibility needed to serve customers. What may seem like small changes add up to a big difference when operating a business. 

These legislative wins align with Unlocking Main Street, DoorDash’s proactive policy vision that will help local businesses around the country open, operate and grow. Reducing wait times for permits, making more storefronts available and enacting policies that grow sales at local favorites are all crucial steps forward. 

Passing legislation is only the first step. To see meaningful improvement in their day-to-day operations, business owners need clear instructions and guidance throughout the process. Good policy should provide clear guidelines to produce tangible results for owners, not just legislative wins. 

Other states and cities can look to California’s reforms as a starting point to support their own small businesses. Talk to the owner of your favorite local ice cream shop, hair salon or pet store and ask what obstacles they face that could be addressed. Share this with your local officials; they are here to serve you. 

Starting a business will always involve risk. California is showing that governments can reduce obstacles within their control. The business owners who make our communities what they are deserve every chance to succeed right here in the Golden State. 

Victor Ruiz-Cornejo is DoorDash’s head of California Public Policy.