Mayor Daniel Lurie has officially approved the First Year Free program extension, an initiative easing the financial burden on San Francisco's new and growing businesses. The program, heartily endorsed by the Board of Supervisors, will continue through June 30, 2026. It waives various fees, including permits and initial business registration, a relief to budding entrepreneurs across the city.
The First Year Free program is just one of several efforts that Mayor Lurie has launched to support small business development broadly. Earlier, the Board of Supervisors pushed forward the mayor's PermitSF legislative package to make the permitting process significantly more efficient and transparent. Notably, the plan includes initiatives to rejuvenate neighborhoods with new entertainment zones and to bolster public safety by ensuring a full police force staff. Mayor Lurie told the City and County of San Francisco. "By signing legislation to renew it, we have taken an important step to ensure small businesses across our city can continue to thrive."
Since its 2021 inception, the program has enrolled close to 11,000 businesses and has saved them a cumulative amount of at least $5.95 million in fees. The past year alone saw 2,904 businesses saving a collective $2.12 million, underscoring the financial impact of the initiative. "Starting and sustaining a small business in San Francisco is incredibly challenging. Extending First Year Free is a great way to ease that burden," District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder said, according to the City and County of San Francisco.
