Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in California, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
GO-Biz Trade, GO-Biz and USCS Irvine: the guide’s first stops, of the 13 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
State export assistance team
GO-Biz Trade
International Affairs and Trade, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Runs the California State Trade Expansion Program, which pays for export vouchers, trade event fees and export training, and the state's trade and services desks abroad.
Visit GO-Biz Trade (opens in a new tab)Source: GO-Biz, California STEP home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
State economic development organization
GO-Biz
Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Offers site selection, incentive and permit assistance to expanding companies, and administers the California Competes Tax Credit.
Visit GO-Biz (opens in a new tab)Source: GO-Biz, California Competes Tax Credit page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Federal export assistance center
USCS Irvine
U.S. Commercial Service Irvine
Offers export guidance and market information to Orange County exporters, as part of the International Trade Administration.
Visit USCS Irvine (opens in a new tab)Source: ITA, Commercial Service Irvine office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
2. Export development and market information
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
State export assistance team
GO-Biz Trade
International Affairs and Trade, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Runs the California State Trade Expansion Program, which pays for export vouchers, trade event fees and export training, and the state's trade and services desks abroad.
Visit GO-Biz Trade (opens in a new tab)Source: GO-Biz, California STEP home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Federal export assistance center
USCS Irvine
U.S. Commercial Service Irvine
Offers export guidance and market information to Orange County exporters, as part of the International Trade Administration.
Visit USCS Irvine (opens in a new tab)Source: ITA, Commercial Service Irvine office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State economic development organization
GO-Biz
Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Offers site selection, incentive and permit assistance to expanding companies, and administers the California Competes Tax Credit.
Visit GO-Biz (opens in a new tab)Source: GO-Biz, California Competes Tax Credit page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
State business filings office
California Secretary of State
Files business entities, including the qualification of out-of-state and foreign companies that transact business in California, through bizfileOnline.
4. Customs and tax
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State income tax authority
FTB
Franchise Tax Board
Administers the corporation franchise and income tax, including the minimum franchise tax and the net operating loss rules.
Visit FTB (opens in a new tab)Source: FTB, Form 100-ES instructions, tax year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
State sales tax authority
CDTFA
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
Administers the sales and use tax and issues seller's permits, and publishes the district tax rates for each city and county.
Visit CDTFA (opens in a new tab)Source: CDTFA, sales and use tax rate information, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
Public port authority
Port of Oakland
Runs the Seaport and the Oakland airport, and publishes news on cargo facilities, projects and sustainability.
Visit Port of Oakland (opens in a new tab)Source: Port of Oakland, home page and news, November 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
CDFA
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Coordinates food and farm exporters' trade missions, market funds and export classes, and oversees phytosanitary certification of exports.
Visit CDFA (opens in a new tab)Source: CDFA, Planting Seeds Blog, March 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 11, 2026
- Meet requirements
State air quality regulator
CARB
California Air Resources Board
Implements the state's corporate greenhouse gas reporting law for large companies that do business in California.
Visit CARB (opens in a new tab)Source: California Air Resources Board, SB 253 reporting guidance, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
CDI
California Department of Insurance
Regulates insurers in California, including the eligibility of foreign nonadmitted carriers and the solvency rules for California-based insurers.
Visit CDI (opens in a new tab)Source: California Department of Insurance, press release, October 27, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 27, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Export mentoring council
DECSC
District Export Council of Southern California
Offers free export advice from business leaders to companies in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Visit DECSC (opens in a new tab)Source: District Export Council of Southern California, home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
State manufacturers association
CMTA
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Advocates for California manufacturers on state policy and offers its members employee training programs.
- Get advice
State chamber of commerce
CalChamber
California Chamber of Commerce
Represents California employers on state policy and runs a Council for International Trade and a portal on trading partners.
Visit CalChamber (opens in a new tab)Source: California Chamber of Commerce, advocacy home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your California project.
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Promote:California is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.