Income Generation Options for Undocumented Students Toolkit

INCOME GENERATION

OPTIONS FOR

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

TOOLKIT

Created for the

University of California

Office of the President

Released 05/2020

5 Preface

6 Message from the University of California

7 Frequently Asked Questions

7 Student FAQs About Income Generation

9 Staff/Faculty/Admin FAQs About Income Generation

11 Section I: Understanding Income Generation, Regardless of Immigration Status

11 Legal Considerations for Independent Contracting

12 Independent Contracting

13 IRS Forms Required of Independent Contractors

13 Basic Guidelines for Independent Contractors

14 Employees vs. Independent Contracting

14 California Common Law Test and the ABC Test

16 Section II: How To Start Earning a Living as an Independent Contractor

16 Participating in the Gig Economy

16 Working as a Professional Service Provider

17 Professional Licensing (California SB 1159)

18 Additional Consideration for Independent Contracting

18 Liability Insurance

18 Contractor Agreement

19 Invoicing

19 Budgeting

20 Paying Taxes as an Independent Contractor

21 Section III: Starting a Business as an Immigrant

22 Step 1. Tax Information, ITINs and EINs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

22 Step 2. Business Plans and Business Model Canvas

23 Step 3. Getting Access to Financial Capital

23 Building Credit

23 Business Loans

24 Free Money for Business Start-Up

24 Funding for Students at UCs

24 Step 4. Deciding the Location of a Business

25 Step 5. Choosing a Business Structure

25 Sole Proprietorship

25 Partnership

26 Corporations (S and C)

27 Limited Liability Company (LLC)

27 Starting an LLC as a Worker Cooperative

29 Step 6: Registering a Business Name (DBA)

29 Step 7: Business Licenses and Permits

30 Step 8. Marketing and Promotion

31 Section IV: Support and Resources

31 UC Support and Resources

31 UC Entrepreneurship Centers

31 UC Business School Courses

31 UC Transactional Legal Clinics

31 UC Undocumented Student Services and Centers

32 External Support and Resources

32 California Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

32 Venturize

33 Section V: Career Pathways

34 Appendices

34 Appendix A: List of the Top Consulting Businesses Thriving Today

TABLE OF CONTENTS

35 Appendix B: Independent Contractor Brainstorming Worksheet

39 Appendix C: Sample Independent Contractor Agreement

43 Appendix D: Sample Invoice

44 Appendix E: Business Plan Outline

45 Appendix F: Business Model Canvas Template

46 Appendix G: Business Model Canvas Example

47 Acknowledgments

47 About us

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

Thanks to widespread student advocacy efforts to pass legislation allowing undocumented students to pay in-

state tuition (AB1540), get state financial aid (AB130-131) and apply for professional licensing (SB1159), higher

education and career opportunities have become much more accessible for undocumented young people in

California. But after graduation, undocumented students must identify ways to utilize their degrees and earn a living.

While it’s true that being undocumented creates barriers to pursuing employment in the U.S., there are many ways

to earn a living through entrepreneurship regardless of your status.

Becoming an entrepreneur is not easy, but it is possible and can serve as a way to participate in—and help shape—

today’s changing economy. This toolkit provides in-depth information, resources and templates that address

questions about independent contracting and business start-ups, as well as profiles of immigrant entrepreneurs

to see real life examples of what people are doing. At a time when there is much uncertainty regarding the future

of immigrants in the U.S., particularly DACA beneficiaries who may lose the opportunity to legally work, this toolkit

outlines legal ways for all immigrants, regardless of their status, to utilize their degrees and thrive in the U.S.

This toolkit is intended as a resource for educators who wish to support undocumented students and for

undocumented students and alumni who are trying to figure out their career options. This toolkit is not intended to

be read in one sitting, but rather used as a resource directory that is frequently referenced. The appendix section

includes templates that can be downloaded whenever they are needed.

MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) is pleased to co-present with Immigrants Rising,

an inclusive toolkit that provides income generation options to UC students and alumni, with or without work

authorization. This resource provides guidance on how to earn a living as an independent contractor, confers

advice on how to incorporate a business, and shares resources that are available both on and off UC campuses. I

encourage UC student affairs practitioners, career center advisors, faculty members, and staff to use this toolkit to

support the career pathways of all students, regardless of their immigration status.

This toolkit grew from a spring 2018 convening of the UC President’s Advisory Council on the Undocumented

Community & Immigration and UCOP Student Affairs. The convening sought to develop strategies to prepare

undocumented students for post-graduation career opportunities. A prominent recommendation that emerged

called for UCOP to equip each campus with information geared toward undocumented students on alternatives to

employment and post-graduation opportunities. In response, UCOP partnered with Immigrants Rising to produce

this toolkit. To begin dissemination of this important information, Immigrants Rising produced and delivered several

in-person and online trainings to UC stakeholders, including directors and coordinators of undocumented student

services, financial aid directors, career center staff, instructional faculty, hiring managers, UC students, and alumni

from across the University system. We heard from participants they found these trainings to be very insightful.

The University of California remains steadfast to its commitment of supporting undocumented students’ higher

education, career readiness, and post-graduation opportunities. We will work to ensure they have a path forward to

fulfilling their aspirations during and after their time at UC.

I am excited to share this project with you and hope that students, alumni, and student affairs staff find this to be a

useful resource. Thank you for your time, effort, and dedication to supporting UC students.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Halimah

Associate Vice Provost for Diversity & Engagement

University of California

Office of the President

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Student FAQs About Income Generation

Career Options

I am an undocumented student trying to choose a

major, where should I start?

You can choose any major you like, however, some

professions, such as those in the health industry, may

require work authorization. Also, keep in my mind that

your immigration status may change at some point

in the future, so don’t limit your options solely based

on your status. See Section V of this toolkit for more

information about career pathways for undocumented

students.

I selected a major and all internships/work

opportunities require work authorization, what

should I do?

Depending on your major, you may be able to get

training and experience through fellowships (considered

financial aid), unpaid internships or independent

contracting. You may want to search for existing

fellowships at your campus related to your field of study

and identify ways to utilize your skills and experience

to engage in work as an independent contractor.

See Section V of this toolkit for more information

about career pathways and training opportunities for

undocumented students.

I know I can’t get employed in my field, so how can

I use my degree?

Any immigrant, regardless of status, can generate

income through freelancing, independent contracting,

or the establishment of their own business. Review

Section II of this toolkit to learn how to get started as an

independent contractor.

Can I pursue graduate school as an undocumented

student?

Yes, undocumented students may pursue graduate or

professional school. However, either option requires

careful consideration and research. Learn more about

graduate and professional school opportunities for

undocumented students in Immigrant Rising’s Life After

College Guide. Also refer to UCLA’s Undocumented

Graduate and Professional Students Handbook

for more specific information about graduate and

professional school at UCLA.

Freelancing and Entrepreneurship

I know I can work as an independent contractor,

but how do I start?

First, you should familiarize yourself with the legal

aspects of working as an independent contractor, which

you can learn about in Section I of this toolkit. Next,

identify what skills, abilities, and knowledge you have

that could be turned into contracting opportunities. Use

the Independent Contractor Brainstorming Worksheet

in Appendix B to help you get started.

I am already doing independent contracting and

would like to incorporate as a business to hire

employees, where do I start?

There are multiple ways to incorporate as a business.

Review Section III of this Toolkit to become more

familiar with the different types of business structures.

Afterward, you can use the Centro Community

Business Plan App to draft a business plan or use the

Business Model Canvas Worksheet in Appendix F to

help you develop your business model.

I have been offered a job, but I do not have work

authorization, what should I say?

Undocumented people without work authorization are

not allowed to work as employees. However, there may

be an opportunity to work as an independent contractor.

Start by familiarizing yourself with the independent

contracting rules, which you can learn about in Section I

of this Toolkit.

When preparing to speak with potential clients about

working as an independent contractor, you may

consider doing the following:

» Make sure the type of work you wish to do follows

the independent contractor guidelines; you

cannot simply turn employment into independent

contracting

» Become familiar with the legal aspects of working

as an independent contractor

» Highlight your assets and skills and be prepared

to demonstrate how they meet the needs of your

clients

» Research similar types of work so you know the

standard rate for your services

» Become familiar with writing contracts and make

sure to sign a contract with every client

Working with DACA

I have been offered a job and I have DACA, do I

have to disclose my undocumented status?

You are not required to disclose your undocumented

status to your employer. For more information, see the

National Immigrants Law Center’s (NILC) Frequently

Asked Questions: DACA and Your Workplace Rights.

I was previously employed with my DACA work

authorization, but I was not able to renew my

DACA, what should I do?

If a DACA beneficiary were to lose their work permit, the

company that hired them would not be able to contract

with them. If the beneficiary were to have their DACA

status revoked, they could pursue independent contract

work or start a business using his or her assigned SSN,

as long as he or she contracts with any other entity

other than the one that is aware of the expired work

authorization.

ITINs, SSNs and Taxes

I was not able to renew my DACA and would like

to work as an independent contractor, do I have to

get an ITIN?

If you obtained DACA and used it to get an SSN you

should not continue to use or renew your ITIN; you

should only have either the SSN or ITIN, not both.

Regardless of the possible termination of DACA,

the assigned SSN will remain yours even if your

work authorization terminates. The SSN is separate

from a work permit and can be used to work as an

independent contractor or start a business, which are

options that do not require work authorization.

Regardless of the possible termination of DACA,

the assigned SSN will remain yours even if your

work authorization terminates.

I need to file taxes this year for some independent

contractor work and money I received through a

fellowship. What do I have to report and how much

do I have to pay in taxes?

As an independent contractor, you are considered self-

employed and will need to pay self-employment tax if

your net income is greater than $400. Fellowship grants

are not subject to tax withholding and not reported on a

year-end tax form (W2 or Form 1099), but you are still

required to report them on IRS Form 1040 and may

need to make estimated tax payments directly to the

IRS. For enrolled students, gift aid (i.e., scholarships)

that exceed tuition, fees, books & supplies are taxable

to the recipient per IRS publication 970. Please check

with a tax accountant regarding your need to make

estimated tax payments. How much you make, and

how you file (single, married filing jointly, married filing

separately), will determine how much you need to pay

in taxes. It is recommended that you save about 20%

of your earnings to pay taxes. Also keep in mind that

the IRS allows business expenses to be deducted

from your earnings as long as they are business-related

and not personal. See Section II of this toolkit for more

information about taxes.

How do I find out about other immigration

options?

Learn about options for gaining longer-term status and

categories that might work for you now, or in the future

in Immigrants Rising’s Beyond DACA: Immigration

Options Every Undocumented Person Should Know.

Learn about your possible immigration options by using

Immigrants Rising’s Immigration Legal Intake Service.

Staff/Faculty/Admin FAQs About Income

Generation

Income Generation Through Freelancing and

Entrepreneurship

I know all students, regardless of immigration

status, can earn a living through freelancing/

entrepreneurship, but how do I learn more

about income generation options other than

employment?

You may want to start by reviewing this Toolkit to learn

more about income generation options, other than

employment. The Toolkit includes comprehensive

guides, templates, and handouts to help students get

started in freelancing and entrepreneurship.

How can we support undocumented students

interested in entrepreneurship at our campus?

You may want to partner with the business school,

law school, or entrepreneurship program (if available)

on your campus. Business schools can offer classes,

help develop curriculum, host workshops, or create

certificate programs for undocumented students.

Law schools often offer pro bono business legal

assistance through transactional clinics (see a list of

all transacational clinics at the UCs in Section IV) that

can benefit undocumented students and their families.

Entrepreneurship programs at your campus may be

able to provide 1-on-1 support to students interested in

starting a business, may have start-up funds available

and may have incubators that can help undocumented

students develop and launch a business idea (see a list

of all entrepreneurship centers at the UCs in Section

IV).

Where can I find local entrepreneurship service

providers to refer students to?

In addition to support offered at your UC campus

(Section IV), you and your students can find local

entrepreneurship service providers on venturize.

org. Venturize is an online resource portal for small

businesses that need help starting a business, scaling a

business, and accessing capital, particularly enterprises

located in underserved areas. All resources on Venturize

are available in Spanish and the list of service providers

indicates in which languages services are offered.

Venturize’s interactive map allows you to search for

local service providers by zip code. You may also

want to refer students to your local Small Business

Development Agency (see a complete list of agencies

in California in Section V of this Toolkit).

Are there any repercussions I should consider, as a

result of sharing this information with students?

No. Under federal law, as mandated by the Immigration

Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), it is illegal to

knowingly employ unauthorized workers in the United

States. However, neither work authorization nor an SSN

are required to engage in independent contracting or

business start-up.

Career Advice

How do I advise undocumented students who are

trying to choose a major?

Undocumented students may choose any major they

like, however, some professions, such as those in the

health industry, may require work authorization. Also,

keep in my mind that undocumented students may be

able to adjust their status at some point in the future,

so they should not limit their options solely based on

status. See Section V of this toolkit for more information

about career pathways for undocumented students.

I know that undocumented students can get

professional licenses in the state of California, but

how does it work?

SB1159 allows any immigrant, regardless of

immigration status, to get a professional license in the

state of California. There are specific requirements

for each license that may include training, exams,

certifications or an hourly commitment. For more

information, see Section II in this Toolkit that discusses

California’s SB1159. To see a complete list of licensing

and requirements, visit the California Department of

Consumer Affairs website.

On-Campus Training Opportunities

We have a great student we’d like to work with,

how can we hire that student?

Undocumented students without work authorization

cannot be hired as employees under any circumstance.

Can undocumented students engage in work

study?

Work study is a form of employment and undocumented

students who do not have work authorization cannot

be employed. Undocumented students who are DACA

recipients and have non-expired work authorization

might be eligible for instiuttional work-study. Students

should inquire with the Financial Aid Office to see if

they qualify.

There are also ways to create career development and

training opportunities for undocumented students, and

potentially offer a stipend through fellowships. Currently,

at UC a “stipend” must be administered through

financial aid or through payroll (which requires work

authorization).

Additionally, the terms, conditions and compensation

for many graduate-level employment opportunities—

research, teaching assistant, tutor—are addressed

in collective bargaining agreements and cannot

be modified to accommodate those without work

authorization.

Sponsorship

Is it possible for the UC to sponsor an

undocumented student for a work visa?

While the UC generally limits sponsorship opportunities

to high-level academic positions, it may be able

to petition a student for an H-1B Visa. An H-1B

nonimmigrant visa is a temporary visa for professional

workers in specialty occupations that normally require

a bachelor’s degree or equivalent as a minimum

requirement. For an H-1B, the employer is the petitioner,

and they are required to make successive filings with

the Department of Labor and then with USCIS. The

employer must “attest” (promise) that it will pay the

prevailing wage for that job in that geographic area,

as well as to the actual wage paid at the company

for others in the same job, among other attestations.

For more information about the H1-B Visa and other

long-term status and categories, see Immigrants

Rising’s Beyond DACA: Immigration Options Every

Undocumented Person Should Know.

SECTION I: UNDERSTANDING

INCOME GENERATION, REGARDLESS

OF IMMIGRATION STATUS

1 Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-6603, 100 Stat. 3359 (codified at 8 U.S.C § 1324a). The IRCA amended the Immigration

and Nationality Act (“INA”).

2 8 CFR § 274a.2(b)(1)(i)(B).

3 8 CFR § 274a.1.

Most undocumented immigrants face significant

barriers when pursuing employment in the United

States. Employers are required to ask for proof of legal

status, and it is illegal for any employer to hire a person

knowing that the individual is not lawfully authorized

to work. In this section, we outline some legal ways

to earn money in the United States. It is the worker’s

responsibility to determine whether they may legally

pursue these options based on their immigration status.

For more information on obtaining legal advice, visit the

Student Legal Services Department at your campus.

There are multiple ways to work for yourself, including

independent contracting (also called consulting or

freelancing) and establishing a formal business. Many

individuals, including professionals, do independent

work outside of their regular employment as a way to

boost earnings or lay the foundation for a business. This

section will cover what it means to be an independent

contractor, personal information needed to pursue

this option, tax liability, and independent contractor

guidelines.

For more information on obtaining legal advice,

considering visiting the Student Legal Services

Department at your campus.

Legal Considerations for Independent

Contracting

It is important to consider the legal aspects of earning a

living as an independent contractor without legal status.

Under federal law, as mandated by the Immigration

Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)

, it is illegal

to knowingly employ unauthorized workers in the

United States. This applies to all workers, however, an

employer’s responsibility to verify work authorization

is much higher for workers classified as employees

than for workers classified as independent contractors,

sporadic domestic workers, or workers who are hired

through contracts with other legal entities. The IRCA

requires employers to verify that every new employee is

legally authorized to work in the U.S., through a two-part

federal employment verification system, known as the

“I-9 System”. First, an employee must complete Form

I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification and assert under

penalty of perjury that they are legally authorized to

work in the U.S. Second, the employer must review the

original documentation from a specified list (e.g., birth

certificates, passports and work permits) to verify both

the worker’s identity and eligibility to work. After review,

the employer must certify under penalty of perjury that

they have examined the original documentation

There are exceptions to the I-9 System obligations

when not dealing with employees. An individual or entity

is not required to obtain Form I-9 from independent

contractors or sporadic domestic workers.

Further,

Individuals or entities are generally not obligated to

affirmatively verify the work authorization of individuals

whom they engage as independent contractors.

While employment is now allowed without

work authorization, independent contracting

and business start-up do not require work

authorization and therefore, are viable

opportunities for anyone, regardless of

immigration status.

However, Federal Statute 8 U.S. Code 1324a(a)(4)

prohibits an individual or entity (a client) from knowingly

engaging an unauthorized individual to provide services

as a contractor.

This means that if an employer is aware

that an employee’s work authorization has expired,

he or she cannot contract with that same individual

as an independent contractor. Therefore, if a DACA

beneficiary were to lose their work permit, the company

that hired them would not be able to contract with

them. In the case of DACA getting revoked, a DACA

beneficiary could pursue independent contract work

or start a business using their assigned SSN, as long

as they contract with an entity other than the one that

is aware of the expired work authorization. Individuals

who fail to comply with Form I-9, or knowingly hire or

contract undocumented individuals may face civil fines,

criminal penalties, or debarment from government

contracts.

It should be noted that in some instances, engaging

in unauthorized employment (which USCIS has

interpreted to include unauthorized self-employment)

may adversely impact the ability of the individual to

adjust his or her immigration status at a later time.

However, legal experts who consulted with us could

not imagine a scenario in which prior unauthorized work

caused an additional adverse impact to adjustment

beyond the adverse impact of having been present

without authorization.

Independent Contracting

Although employers may not knowingly hire an

unauthorized immigrant, federal and state laws often do

not require proof of immigration status for an individual

to go into business for themselves and receive payment

for goods or services. Individuals who perform services,

but are not employees, are sometimes categorized as

independent contractors.

An independent contractor is defined as a self-

employed person who produces a specific type of work

product in a determined amount of time. The difference

between an independent contractor and an employee is

discussed below, but the general rule is that the person

paying an independent contractor has the right to

control or direct only the result of the work and not what

will be done and how it will be done.

The independent

contractor may be paid an hourly rate or a flat fee.

Independent contractors generally use their own name

to do business, but they may decide to start their own

4 United States Code, 2006 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 8 - ALIENS AND NATIONALITY https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2011-title8/

USCODE-2011-title8-chap12-subchapII-partVIII-sec1324a

5 https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/penalties

6 For further information on independent contractor work and guidelines see http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99921,00.html

7 For more information about ITINS, see Immigrants Rising’s ITIN Guide, https://immigrantsrising.org/resource/individual-tax-identification-number-guide/

company by starting a sole proprietorship and using a

business name instead.

Personal Identification Required: The person

or company that pays is not required to ask an

independent contractor to fill out an I-9 or otherwise

inquire about immigration status. They will, however,

require a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual

Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

to commence

work.

NOTE: DACA beneficiaries who receive SSNs

should use their SSN to engage in work as

independent contractors even if their work

authorization expires.

The ITIN is a processing number issued by the IRS.

The ITIN may be used to report earnings to the Internal

Revenue Service, open interest-bearing bank accounts

with certain banks, and conduct business in the United

States. The IRS issues ITINs regardless of immigration

status, because both citizens and noncitizens may

have a U.S. tax filing or reporting requirement under

the Internal Revenue Code. If you obtained DACA and

used it to get an SSN you should not continue to use or

renew your ITIN. Regardless of the possible termination

of DACA, the assigned SSN will remain your SSN even

if the individual’s work authorization terminates. The

SSN used to keep track of earnings generated through

Bo Daraphant’s Story

“My entrepreneurship was

born out of two things:

necessity—because I

couldn’t get hired and

needed to do something

on my own—and passion

for my art.”

Bo Thai is an

undocumented artist from

Thailand and owner of illegal Drip, a clothing line that

blends art and advocacy. Bo is also the co-founder

of Monarch Mercado, a network and marketplace for

undocumented people to find community, grow, and

hustle. Bo graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in

International Studies. Watch Bo’s Story

employment (which requires work authorization) or

independent contracting (which does not require work

authorization). Therefore, individuals who lose their work

authorization may continue to generate income through

independent contracting or business start-up using their

SSNs. To learn more about the ITIN, see Immigrants

Rising’s ITIN Guide.

Taxes: An independent contractor must pay self-

employment tax and income tax. An independent

contractor may use an ITIN to file and pay taxes instead

of an SSN using Form 1099. Independent contractors

can get free tax prep help through the IRS Volunteer

Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Independent contractors

may also receive support from the IRS Low Income

Taxpayer Clinics (LITC). LITCs can represent people

before the IRS or in court on audits, appeals, tax

collection matters, and other tax disputes. Services are

provided for free or for a small fee.

IRS Forms Required of Independent

Contractors

An independent contractor is responsible for having a

valid SSN, ITIN or EIN to complete a W-9 Form. The

following forms are used to keep track of payment and

pay taxes on earned income, and do not require work

authorization.

W-9: The IRS requires that payers (clients) use Form

W-9 to obtain taxpayer identification numbers from

independent contractors. The W-9 Form is filled out at

the start of work by an independent contractor and kept

on record by the payer. Note that if, in one calendar

year, an independent contractor is paid anything less

than $600 then the payer does not need to request a

W-9 Form.

Regardless of whether or not a W-9 Form

is requested, independent contractors should keep

track of their earnings and pay taxes on all earnings. A

W-9 Form is likely to be requested by each client. The

only personal information that is required on the form is

name, current mailing address and either an SSN, ITIN

or EIN; work authorization is not required.

1099: The IRS requires that payers (clients) use Form

1099 to record the total amount of money paid to

independent contractors in any given calendar year. A

payer must file a 1099 for each independent contractor

paid $600 or more. A copy of the 1099 is mailed to the

8 http://www.mbahro.com/News/tabid/110/entryid/147/W9-Tax-Form-FAQ.aspx

9 https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee

independent contractor at the end of the year and he or

she becomes responsible for paying taxes thereafter.

Basic Guidelines for Independent

Contractors

For federal tax purposes, the IRS common law

rules

are applicable to determine if a worker is

an independent contractor or an employee. Facts

that provide evidence of the degree of control and

independence fall into three categories:

Behavioral: Does the company control or have the right

to control what the worker does and how the worker

does his or her job?

Financial: Are the business aspects of the worker’s job

controlled by the payer? (these include things like how

worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, who

provides tools/supplies, etc.)

Type of Relationship: Are there written contracts or

employee type benefits (i.e. pension plan, insurance,

Kai Martin’s Story

“The drive and the hustle

just became natural to me,

so once I was of age I

found myself looking to

learn tips and tricks. I was

determined never to sit

still and never say I can’t

do it, because I know I can

always find something to

do.”

Kai is a native of the twin islands of Trinidad and

Tobago. After immigrating to the United States,

she began her U.S. educational journey in the New

York City public school system. She completed her

associate’s degree at the Borough of Manhattan

Community College and later attended John Jay

College of Criminal Justice, where she graduated

cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in law. While

currently pursuing her MPP at George Washington

University, Kai provides professional consulting

services in product and personal branding, small

business startup, social media management, and

marketing and public relations. Watch Kai’s Story

vacation pay, etc.)? Will the relationship continue and is

the work performed a key aspect of the business?

Businesses must weigh all these factors when

determining whether a worker is an employee or

independent contractor. Some factors may indicate that

the worker is an employee, while other factors indicate

that the worker is an independent contractor. There is

no “magic” or set number of factors that “makes” the

worker an employee or an independent contractor, and

no one factor stands alone in making this determination.

Also, factors which are relevant in one situation may not

be relevant in another.

The keys are to look at the entire relationship, consider

the degree or extent of the right to direct and control,

and finally, to document each of the factors used in

coming up with the determination.

Employment vs. Independent Contracting

It is very important to understand the differences

between employment and independent contracting.

Please refer to Table 1 to understand the main

differences.

California Common Law Test and the ABC

Test

California courts and administrative agencies have

generally applied common law principles to determine

independent contractor status. Recently, however,

there have been major developments in independent

contractor law.

Beginning January 1, 2020, a new law, commonly

referred to as Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), significantly

altered the way California law distinguishes between

employees and independent contractors. The new law

codifies into law the 2018 California Supreme Court’s

decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc v. Superior

Court. In that case, the Court adopted a standard that

presumes that all workers are employees instead of

contractors. The burden is now on any entity classifying

an individual as an independent contractor using the

“ABC Test”. Under the newly adopted “ABC test,” a

worker may be classified as an independent contractor,

instead of an employee, only if the hiring entity

establishes all of the following:

(A) that the worker is free from the control and direction

of the hirer in connection with the performance of the

work, both under the contract for the performance of

such work and in fact;

(B) that the worker performs work that is outside the

usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and

independently established trade, occupation, or

business of the same nature as the work performed for

the hiring entity.

Before engaging in independent contracting,

we suggest carefully thinking about the type

of services one could provide that meet the

requirements. See Appendix A for a list of

top consulting opportunities that can be done

independently.

California’s new AB5 applies to all of California, but

exempts many professional workers and many other

Table 1. Employees vs. Independent Contractors: Main Differences

Employee Independent Contractor

Behavioral Control

Employer trains and directs work, including

hours of work, what tools or equipment to

be used, specific tasks to be performed

and how the work is to be done

Worker can set their own hours and works

with little or no direction or training

Financial Control

A worker is paid a salary, is restricted from

working for others, and does not participate

in company profits or losses

Worker may work for others at the same time

and can incur a profit or loss

Type of Relationship

Worker is entitled to benefits; work is

directly related to the company’s core work

Worker finance his or her own benefits out

of the overall profits of the enterprise; worker

works on a specific project or period of time

workers with licenses, such as stylists and barbers. The

following professions were excluded from AB5

» Doctors: physicians, surgeons, dentists, podiatrists,

veterinarians, psychologists.

» Some licensed professionals: lawyers, architects,

engineers.

» Financial Services: insurance brokers, accountants,

securities broker-dealers, investment advisors.

» Real estate agents.

» Direct sales: provided the salesperson’s

compensation is based on actual sales rather than

wholesale purchases or referrals.

» Commercial fishermen.

» Builders & contractors: construction firms that build

major infrastructure projects and big buildings.

» Professional services: marketing, human resources

administrator, travel agents, graphic designers,

grant writers, fine artists.

» Freelance writers, photographers: provided the

worker contributes no more than 35 submissions to

an outlet in a year.

» Hair stylists, barbers:defined as a licensed barber or

cosmetologist provided that person sets their own

rates and schedule.

» Estheticians, electrologists, manicurists: provided

they are licensed.

» Tutors: provided they teach their own curriculum.

Does not apply to public school tutors.

» AAA-affiliated tow truck drivers.

However, workers in these exempt categories are not

automatically independent contractors. They must pass

the 11-point “Borello test” after the California Supreme

Court case it is drawn from; S. G. Borello & Sons, Inc.

v. Department of Industrial Relations. The Borello test

focuses primarily on the hiring entity’s right to control

the manner and means of performing the work but also

requires consideration of the following factors:

1. Whether the worker is engaged in an occupation or

business that is distinct from that of the hiring firm

2. Whether the work is part of the hiring firm’s regular

business

3. Whether the hiring firm or the worker supplies the

equipment, tools, and the place for the person

doing the work

4. The worker’s financial investment in the equipment

10 https://calmatters.org/economy/2019/09/whos-in-whos-out-of-ab-5/

or materials required to perform the work

5. The skill required in the particular occupation

6. The kind of occupation—whether, in the locality, the

work is usually done under the hiring firm’s direction

or by a specialist without supervision

7. The worker’s opportunity for profit or loss

depending on his or her own managerial skill

8. How long the services are to be performed

9. The degree of permanence of the working

relationship

10. The payment method, whether by time or by the job,

and

11. Whether the parties believe they are creating an

employer/employee relationship.

The first factor on the list is given the most weight.

To pass all tests, we recommend incorporating as

a business (see Section III) and actively engaging

in promotion of services.

To learn more about AB5, please review the California

Immigrant Policy Center’s (CPIC) AB5 Frequently

Asked Questions.

SECTION II: HOW TO START EARNING

A LIVING AS AN INDEPENDENT

CONTRACTOR

Independent contracting requires a change of mindset,

from working for a boss to working for oneself. This

means establishing an expertise (through a product or

service), marketing oneself, networking, understanding

the rules of independent contracting, understanding

taxes, engaging in continuous learning, and most

importantly, believing in oneself!

Participating in the Gig Economy

The gig economy refers to a growing segment of the

labor market where individuals earn a living outside of

traditional part-time or full-time employment, usually as

independent contractors, also known as freelancers.

The gig economy has grown tremendously over

the past few years, as a result of technology, which

has facilitated the connection between workers

and clients in a variety of sectors. Individuals who

choose to participate in the gig economy may do it

out of necessity or by choice. Some individuals may

experience employment barriers in the traditional

labor market due to lack of experience or educational

attainment, language barriers, immigration status,

having a criminal record, being a survivor, or a lack of

interest in traditional employment. The gig economy

has endless options and often does not require high

educational attainment.

Gig opportunities include:

» Driving for car services such as Uber or Lyft

» Selling products or services on sites such as Etsy

or eBay

» Working as a freelance writer, web designer or

musician

» Working for pay apps such as TaskRabbit

» Selling products such as Mary Kay or Princess

House

» Renting space in your personal home with sites

such as Airbnb

» Any one-time, task-based job

Samaschool, a San Francisco-based nonprofit focused

on preparing low-income populations to succeed

as independent workers, offers a variety of tools to

help people get started in the gig economy. Their

Work Finder includes a vast list of work organized

by categories that include Care, Creative, Delivery

and Driving, Design and Tech, to name a few. Each

specific type of work includes a description, types of

skills and experience needed, estimated hourly range,

and whether or not it is suitable for English learners.

Samaschool also includes online marketplaces to find

work in the desired field/industry of choice.

Working as a Professional Service

Provider

In addition to participating in the gig economy,

individuals may choose to leverage their expertise, skills,

abilities, certification, and professional and academic

training to independently offer professional services

to the public. These professional services exist in a

variety of industries, however, the ability to provide

them requires experience, passion for a specific type of

work, and in some instances, licensing or educational

attainment.

Professional services include:

» Accounting

» Advertising

» Legal

» Medical

» Engineering

» Computer programming

» Graphic design

» Website design

» Payroll management

» Taxes

» Writing and editing

» Fine art

» Photography

» Landscaping

» Construction

» Real estate

» Cosmetology

What to Consider When Providing Professional

Services

» What certifications or special licenses are

needed? Depending upon your profession, you

may need special certification or a special license

before you can begin operating as a consultant.

For example, fund-raising consultants don’t need

special certification, although you can become

certified through the National Society of Fund

Raising Executives. And in some states, you may

need to register as a professional fund-raising

consultant before starting your business. On the

other hand, if you wish to become an independent

lawyer, accountant, or real estate agent, you will

need to pursue higher education and complete

the licensing requirements for these options. See

SB1159 in Section II for additional information

about professional licenses for undocumented

people in California.

» Am I qualified to become a consultant? Before

becoming a consultant, you need to make sure you

have the qualifications to get the job done. This

includes having experience and staying up to date

with current trends and changes. You may also

consider acquiring additional skills or knowledge.

Skillshare is an online platform with thousands of

online classes taught by professionals on topics

including illustration, design, photography, video,

freelancing, and more.

» Am I organized enough to become a consultant?

Becoming a professional consultant requires having

excellent time management and planning skills in

order to juggle multiple clients and tasks.

» Who are my potential clients? In order to find

clients, professional consultants should have a

large network of contacts and become familiar with

marketplaces to find clients. LinkedIn Pro Finder

11 Adapted from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/41384

helps connect freelance professionals with high

quality leads, utilizing LinkedIn profiles.

To see a list of the top consulting businesses thriving

today, see Appendix A.

Professional Licensing (California SB 1159)

California’s SB1159, approved by Governor Brown in

2014, requires licensing boards within the Department

of Consumer Affairs to accept an individual tax

identification number in lieu of a social security number

for professional licenses. The law enables all California

students who qualify to sit for specific licensing exams,

including the California Bar Exam, and to become

licensed upon passing the exams. The law also

prohibits any entity within the department from denying

licensure to an applicant based on his or her citizenship

status or immigration status.

Individuals who wish to get a professional license

should review the requirements and associated fees

ahead of time. While undocumented individuals may

not get legally hired as employees without work

authorization, immigrants, regardless of status, may

utlilize their professional license to earn a living as

professional consultants.

A complete list of professional licenses issued by

the Department of Consumer Affairs is found on their

Pedro Moura’s Story

“I was able to break out of

a cycle of poverty and I

want to help others in my

community do the same. I

have developed a scalable

business and crafted a

product that helps people

in their day to day lives.”

Pedro Moura is a

formerly undocumented immigrant from Brazil and

the cofounder of Flourish Savings, a free mobile

app geared toward empowering young adults

to build savings habits by making it feel like play.

Pedro graduated from UC Davis with a degree

in economics and completed an MBA at the UC

Berkeley Haas School of Business. Watch Pedro’s

Story

website: https://www.dca.ca.gov/about_us/entities.

shtml.

Additional Consideration for Independent

Contracting

In addition to understanding the IRS and state rules for

independent contracting, it is important for individuals

who wish to earn a living as independent contractors

to learn about additional responsibilities such as liability

insurance, contracts, invoicing, budgeting, and taxes.

Liability Insurance

In some instances, independent contractors may be

asked to provide liability insurance. General liability

insurance is a type of insurance policy for independent

contractors or business owners that would cover

legal expenses resulting from a lawsuit. Independent

contractors have the same legal obligations and

liability exposures as larger firms. They can be sued

for damaging client property, causing bodily harm, or

advertising injury. Clients may require general liability

insurance before they sign a contract to avoid being

held responsible for alleged wrongdoing or accidents

caused by a contractor. Some industries, such as

construction, require by law for independent contractors

to carry general liability coverage by law.

Liability policies typically cover the following:

» Bodily injury caused to someone else (who is not

your employee)

» Slip and fall accidents

» Copyright infringement

» Product liability

» Slander and libel

» Property damage

Finding the right insurance provider may involve

doing some research. There are a number

of different coverage types, monthly fees,

and deductibles that need to be taken into

consideration. There are also free online tools,

such as Insureon, to get free quotes and compare

policies.

Contractor Agreement

Independent Contractor Agreements are legally binding

documents that clearly outline the scope of work,

payment schedules and deadline expectations of a

freelance arrangement. The first distinction that needs

to be made about these contracts is that they are not

for employees. The contract serves as an agreement

between a company or individual (the client) and an

independent or freelance worker. Some examples

include a handyman that is contracted to install

new windows in a home, a freelance web designer

contracted to create a company’s website, or an editor

contracted to provide copy-editing services to a non-

profit organization. The contractors are independent

workers, not employees, and are therefore, responsible

for most of their own tax obligations.

The contract agreement outlines exactly what the work

consists of, when it needs to be completed by and the

fee due to the contractor upon completion. The second

is that it shields clients from liability issues and helps

protect assets and proprietary information. If a client is

taken to court, the signed agreement will clearly show

the judge what the expectations of the arrangement

were. A contract may also be needed in the case of an

IRS audit.

For the freelancer, the contract serves as a legally

binding document in the case of a payment

disagreement. In addition, the contract adds a level

of professionalism for the contractor and shows a

willingness to commit to work and time agreements.

To see a sample contract, refer to Appendix C.

Sumana Kaluvai’s Story

“My background in

entrepreneurship primarily

stems from a myriad of

side hustles that I

stumbled into over time.”

Sumana Kaluvai and her

family immigrated to the US

from India when she was 2

years old. She graduated

in 2019 from UCLA with a degree in bioengineering.

While at UCLA, Sumana was a member of the

professional entrepreneurship fraternity, Sigma Eta

Pi, and a fellow in the Dream Summer Program. She

currently works at a biotech-related consulting firm in

San Francisco. Watch Sumana’s Story

Invoicing

Independent contractors are not on payroll, which

means that they need to know how to create an invoice

to request payment for services provided to a client.

An invoice is a document that lists the products and

services an individual or business provides to a client

and establishes an obligation on the part of the client

to pay the business for those products and services.

Invoices are important for both the business sending

them and the client receiving them. For independent

contractors or small businesses, an invoice helps

expedite the payment process by giving clients a

notification of the payment that is due. For clients,

invoices provide an organized record of an expense with

itemized details, and can help with record keeping. It is

the responsibility of the contractor to provide an invoice

to the client.

The most common way to create an invoice is to use

a template. However, individuals should understand

the key components of an invoice. The most effective

invoices include the following elements, organized by

section.

» Header: Includes information about the independent

contractor or business, including contact

information.

» Invoice Number: This is an individual number

assigned by the seller to distinguish this invoice

from all others the seller sends.

» Invoice Date: The invoice is generated and sent on

the invoice

» Payment Terms: When a payment is expected.

» Billing Company Information: The name of the

business (or the contractor) and the contact person

should be included in the header, with contact

information.

» Customer or client information: The person or

business receiving the invoice should be identified,

with their contact information, in the header.

» Line items: The bulk of the body section is made

up by line items. Line items name or describe the

goods sold or services rendered, the cost per unit

or hourly rate, the number of units bought or hours

billed, and the total due for that particular item.

» Billable expenses: If you’ve had to pay for some

things that the customer needs to cover, include

these expenses on the invoice. These could also be

included separately, depending on client protocols.

» Total charges: A summary of all charges associated

with the items or services being billed.

» Payment instructions: Payment instructions appear

in the footer of the invoice, if necessary. These

instructions might include a line about where to

send checks, what credit cards are accepted, any

early payment discounts, or applicable late fees if

the payment isn’t received by the due date.

To see a sample invoice, refer to Appendix D.

Invoices can also be generated online easily,

using tools such as the Quickbooks Invoice

Generator or Microsoft Office Templates.

Budgeting

Unlike traditional employees, who receive a paycheck

every two weeks, independent contractors may have

more inconsistency in their income and therefore,

should do a bit more planning. The first step is to keep

track of all expenses, including personal and business

expenses. Individuals may choose to do this manually

or use online tools, such as Mint. The next step is

to determine monthly income, including all revenue

streams. Freelance or gig income is likely sporadic,

depending on the type of work, the hourly rate and

Norma Castañeda’s Story

“As immigrants we’ve been

resilient our whole lives

and that creates

persistence that we bring

along with us to the

business world. We have

the mentality that, ‘yes, I

can do it. It’s going to take

a while, but it’s possible.’”

Norma immigrated to the U.S. from Michoacan,

Mexico at the age of fifteen. She is a first-generation

college student and graduated from California State

University, Los Angeles with a degree in business

administration and an emphasis on marketing

management. While attending college she launched

and managed a small business through eBay for

two years. After gaining experience in business

management, she started offering consulting

services in 2012 and launched her real estate

business in 2017. Norma became a Notary Public in

December 2019. Watch Norma’s Story

availability. The purpose of keeping track of expenses

and income is to spend less than what you earn.

Independent contractors also have to set aside cash

to pay for income taxes and self-employment tax. The

recommended amount to put aside is 20-30% of all

income received. The amount of money that is left

behind after expenses, bills, food, tax and savings, is

called disposable income. If there is not much cash

leftover, individuals run the risk of going into debt each

month. Part of maintaining a budget as a freelancer

is knowing where and when the money is coming

in, having multiple revenue streams and possibly

working long hours (i.e. a combination of gig work and

professional consulting).

Paying Taxes as an Independent Contractor

Filing taxes as an employee and independent contractor

are very different. When an individual works for

themself there are no deductions from their paycheck

for income taxes, social security or Medicare, as would

be the case if they were working as an employee.

Independent contractors or small business owners are

held responsible for paying federal and state income

tax, social security and Medicare; this combined tax is

called self-employment tax for independent contractors.

How much money is reported and how a person files

(single, married filing jointly, married filing separately,

etc.) determines the amount needed to pay for taxes.

Independent contractors or business owners pay taxes

by subtracting business deductions and expenses

from the net income of all business activities. This

amount gets added to any other income, and then the

tax is calculated on total adjusted gross income. There

are federal and state tax brackets depending on how

much money is made and how an individual files. It is

recommended to refer to the IRS website for yearly

federal tax brackets and state websites for yearly state

tax brackets.

It is recommended to work with a reliable tax preparer

or accountant who can help complete the correct

tax forms and determine deductions and expenses.

Students may also find free tax preparation support

through local IRS’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC)

or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

Individuals who do not have a Social Security

Number (SSN) may file taxes using an Individual Tax

Identification Number (ITIN). The IRS issues ITINs

to individuals not eligible to obtain an SSN. The ITIN

allows individuals to report earnings to the IRS, open

interest-bearing bank accounts with certain banks and

start a business in the U.S. For more information about

the ITIN, see Immigrant’s Rising’s ITIN Guide.

SECTION III: STARTING A BUSINESS

AS AN IMMIGRANT

12 These steps were derived from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For more detailed information visit https://www.sba.gov/starting-business.

Individuals may consider incorporating as a business to

(1) hire employees (who have work authorization), (2)

create a layer of identity protection between the person

and the business; (3) avoid questions related to work

authorization, (4) be exempt from freelance laws, (5)

access financial capital for business, (6) have the ability

to seek larger, more competitive contracts, and (7) get

more cost-effective benefits, such as cheaper health

insurance premiums.

All immigrants, regardless of legal status, are eligible

to start a business in the U.S. using an SSN, ITIN, or

EIN. However, before considering starting a business,

there are important decisions that need to be made

and rules and procedures that must be addressed.

While there is no single source for filing requirements,

the following steps can give you an idea of the general

process.

Each of these steps are outlined below and

are discussed in more detail in the following sections,

focusing on what immigrants, regardless of legal status,

may or may not be eligible for.

NOTE: The following steps provide a very

general overview of the steps needed to start

a business. There are many development and

incubator programs that can help people learn

about how to start a business and support

individuals throughout the process. Venturize.org

helps people learn about loans, retirement and

healthcare for small businesses. Their interactive

map helps people identify local business support

providers across the nation.

Step 1. Understanding taxes and identification

documents required to get started. All immigrants,

regardless of legal status, are able to pursue

entrepreneurship opportunities using a Social Security

Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number

(ITIN). Before considering starting a business,

individuals should make sure you have a valid SSN or

ITIN.

Step 2. Writing a business plan or utilizing the Business

Model Canvas (BMC). These tools will help individuals

identify the goals and purpose of the business. This

document will help individuals identify their financial

needs to start a business.

Step 3. Financing a business. Individuals need to

think about ways to finance their business early in the

process. There are incurred costs in the beginning

stages (i.e. licensing, permits, etc.) that may require

capital.

Step 4. Deciding the location of a business. Depending

on the type of business individuals wish to start, they

will have to consider whether they will be working from

home or out of home.

Step 5. Choosing a business structure.

» Sole Proprietorship

» Partnership

» Corporation

» Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)

Step 6. Registering a Business Name, often called

Doing Business As (DBA). If an individual chooses to

name their business as anything other than their own

personal name then they’ll need to register it with the

appropriate authorities.

Step 7. Obtaining business licenses and permits.

Almost every business needs some form of license

or permit to operate legally. Licensing and permit

requirements vary depending on the type of business,

where it is located, and what government rules apply.

Step 8. Marketing and promotion. All businesses need

to engage in marketing and promotion to get clients.

A more detailed explanation of each step is discussed

below.

Step 1. Tax Information, ITINs and EINs

All immigrants, regardless of legal status, can pursue

entrepreneurship opportunities (business start-up)

using a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax

Identification Number (ITIN). Before starting a business,

individuals need to make sure they have a valid SSN

or ITIN. The IRS issues ITINs to individuals not eligible

to obtain an SSN. The ITIN allows individuals to

report earnings to the IRS, open interest-bearing bank

accounts with certain banks and start a business in the

U.S. For more information about the ITIN and the latest

changes, please read Immigrants Rising’s ITIN Guide.

REMINDER: If someone previously received

an SSN through DACA or other temporary

protections, they should always use that number

for tax purposes and never revert to using an ITIN.

EINs. In addition to the SSN or ITIN, individuals may

choose to apply for a An Employer Identification

Number (EIN). The EIN, also known as a Federal

Tax Identification Number, is a unique 9-digit number

assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and

is used to identify a business entity. Similar in purpose

to the SSN assigned to individuals, EINs are used by

employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships,

non-profit organizations, trusts and estates, government

agencies, certain individuals, and other business

entities.

an SSN or ITIN may be used to get an EIN.

Individuals can apply for an EIN online, by fax, or mail

depending on how soon an individual needs to use the

EIN. Applying for an EIN is a free service offered by the

Internal Revenue Service. Visit the IRS website at www.

irs.gov (keyword “EIN”) and apply using the interview-

style online EIN application.

Step 2. Business Plans and Business

Model Canvas

A business plan defines a person’s business or the

services they would like to provide, identifies their goals,

and serves as their business resume.

It describes

the products and services they will sell, the clients to

whom they will sell, the production, management, and

marketing activities needed to produce their offerings,

and the projected costs for their work and effort. The

13 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf

14 Most of this information comes from the SBA, for more information visit https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/write-your-business-plan

business plan generally projects 3-5 years ahead and

outlines the road the company intends to take to grow.

The form and content of a business plan varies for

each individual or business. The main purpose of the

business plan is not necessarily to impress outsiders,

but to force individuals to think about certain aspects

of starting a business. A business plan is a reflection

of the individual and their ability to organize, manage,

and communicate their vision. A business plan will also

provide the basis for a financial proposal, which is the

document submitted to the financial community in order

to acquire start-up capital or expand a business.

The U.S. SBA offers free tutorials on how to create a

business plan. They also offer a Business Plan Tool

that provides step-by-step guidance to help people get

started. To see a business plan outline, see Appendix E.

Formal business plans often involve using informed

judgement about certain aspects of a proposed

business. Entrepreneur, Cris Mercardo, suggests using

the Business Model Canvas (BMC), to test whether or

not there is demand for a product or service. This tool

allows individuals to gather feedback from potential

customers that can be used to develop a business plan.

Alejandro Flores’s Story

“I saw the hustle day in

and day out. Just like

many of you out there, we

see it in our parents. We

see it in our relatives. We

are hustlers by nature,

because we need to

survive.”

Alejandro is a seasoned

entrepreneur and activist who has made it his

mission to advocate for marginalized communities.

As an outspoken queer, DACA, Latinx person,

Flores’ work aims to champion the next generation of

intersectional entrepreneurs. Brought to the United

States by his mother in 1997, Alejandro had strong

progressive values instilled in him from a young

age. His upbringing and family’s commitment to

overcoming adversity is what inspired him to launch

his businesses: Unum Sunglasses, Progressive

Button, and most recently Stokes Poke. Watch

Alejandro’s Story

To see a BMC template, see Appendix F and to see an

example of the BMC, see Appendix G.

Entrepreneur, Aashan Shah, suggests following a “lean

startup methodology,”which dictates that the best way

to start a business is to talk to potential customers. It is

important to validate initial efforts before investing too

much time or resources. Aashan recommends using

Launchpad Central, which allows individuals to take

an evolving approach to the Business Model Canvas

by validating and invalidating specific aspects of the

business model. They also have great resources and

videos that will help guide entrepreneurs through the

process.

UC students interested in business start-up

may wish to take a class through the business

department or visit their entrepreneurship center/

department to get individualized support to start a

business. See Section IV of this toolkit for a list of

UC entrepreneurship centers and departments.

Step 3. Getting Access to Financial

Capital

Building Credit

Accessing financial capital for personal or business

purposes requires building credit history and

maintaining a good credit score. There are different

ways to build credit, such as applying for a credit card

at a bank, using a cosigner for a loan, or becoming

an authorized user on someone else’s credit card.

Many banks will accept the ITIN and any form of valid

identification, such as a passport when applying for an

initial credit card or loan. Once a person gets access

to their first lines of credit, they should be responsible

credit users by making on-time payments, disputing

errors and unauthorized charges, checking their credit

limit, and not overspending. All these factors will affect

credit scores and the likelihood to increase a credit line

or apply for other loans.

For more information about building credit, see

Immigrants Rising’s Credit and Financial Capital Guide.

Business Loans

Most businesses will require start-up capital. When

seeking financial capital for a small business, lenders

will typically review personal credit history, which is why

it is important to establish and maintain good personal

credit. The capital that is needed to launch, maintain or

grow a business can come from a variety of sources,

including friends and family, traditional banks and other

alternative lenders. Finding the right funding depends

on the strength of a business and a person’s financial

history. Below is an overview of the most popular

sources of business capital.

Banks: Traditional banks are a great starting point

and can help an individual figure out where they stand

in terms of qualifying for funding. Even if a business

does not have a strong enough track record or enough

assets as collateral to qualify for a bank loan, talking

to someone at a traditional bank can help an individual

figure out what documents are needed and the best

options to pursue.

SBA Loans: The Small Business Administration

(SBA) provides financial assistance in the form of

loans that financial institutions make to eligible small

businesses. The SBA does not lend the money directly

to entrepreneurs to start or grow a business, but sets

the guidelines for loans that are made by its partners

(lenders, community development organizations and

micro-lending institutions). SBA guarantees that these

loans will be repaid, which eliminates some of the risk to

the lending partners.

Cindy Kolade’s Story

“I started my business

because I wanted

something better for

myself and because I love

fashion. I was inspired by

people who were using

African fabric to tell their

story.”

Cindy Kolade is a native

of Ivory Coast, West Africa and a recipient of

DACA and the Maryland Dream Act. A member

of the Maryland chapter of Undocublack network,

Cindy began her entrepreneurial career through the

creation of her own couture fashion line, La Belle

Ivoire, which translates to “The Beautiful Ivory.”

Inspired by the beauty of her culture and heritage,

Cindy’s custom pieces are uniquely designed to

bring the beauty of Ivory Coast to the United States.

In addition to fashion, Cindy is currently pursuing a

degree in Molecular Biology from Towson University.

Watch Cindy’s Story

Microloan Programs: Microloans are perhaps the best

option for immigrants because they are controlled

by non-profit organizations that create their own

requirements. The Microloan program provides loans

up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain

not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. The

average microloan is about $13,000.

Microloans are available at low interest rates through

organizations such as Opportunity Fund, the nation’s

leading nonprofit microfinance organization or Accion

USA, the largest nationwide nonprofit lending network.

Free Money for Business Start-Up

Crowdfunding: This is a great option for businesses

with products that can capture the public’s interest.

Crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe

rely on investors to help get an idea or business off

the ground, often rewarding them with perks or equity

in exchange for cash. Another great resource for

entrepreneurs is Kiva, a non-profit organization that

uses crowdfunding to help a borrower start or grow a

business.

Small Business Grants: Small-business grants offer

a way for small-business owners to get established

or grow without having to worry about paying back

the funds. These grants are typically offered through

nonprofits, government agencies and corporations;

some grants focus on specific types of business

owners, such as minorities, veterans and women. The

downside to free financing is that everybody wants it.

It will take a lot of work to find and apply to grants, but

time spent searching for these opportunities could pay

off in the long run.

Below are a few small business grants and fellowships

specifically for immigrants:

Immigrant’s Rising Entrepreneurship Fund: Immigrants

Rising’s Entrepreneurship Fund provides grants to

undocumented entrepreneurs working to create positive

social change.

The Emerson Collective: The Emerson Collective

Immigration Innovation Incubator is an initiative

that offers individuals financial, organizational, and

professional development support over two years to

develop early-stage ideas

15 https://www.sba.gov/loans-grants/see-what-sba-offers/sba-loan-programs/microloan-program

16 For more information about home-based businesses, visit https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/home-based-

businesses

17 https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/choose-your-business-location-equipment/tips-choosing-your-business-location

The Roddenbery Fellowship: The Roddenberry

Fellowship is a 12-month program for activists from

across the country who are working to protect the most

vulnerable and to make the U.S. a more inclusive and

equitable place to live. Twenty Fellows will be selected

to receive $50,000 each, as well as tailored support, to

help implement a project or initiative.

Funding for Students at UCs

UC students may have funding available at their

institutions, as part of business competitions or capital

venture funds. For example, CITRIS Foundry, the

University of California tech innovation hub, provides

seed funding, access to campus labs, and mentorship

during their 12-month program. There may be additional

funding sources through capital providers that partner

with specific UC institutions. Startup@Berkeley has a

list of local funding resources available on their website,

as well as other entrepreneurship resources. See

Section IV of this toolkit for a list of entrepreneurship

centers at all UC campuses.

Step 4. Deciding the Location of a

Business

Depending on the type of business an individual wishes

to start, they will have to consider whether they will be

working from home or elsewhere.

Working From Home: If an individual intends to

operate out of their home, they may have to complete

a home occupation permit application, have their home

inspected, and pay a fee for a permit. Some counties,

cities and residential neighborhoods may place

restrictions on the type of business that can operate

from home; it is important to do research ahead of

time. More information about this is available at a local

government office or online.

Working Out of Home: If an individual decides not to

operate out of their home, then they will have to do

careful planning and research to ensure their business

location meets their business needs.

They will likely

be required to obtain an occupancy permit issued by

the city and/or county where the business is located.

The type of business they are operating must be legally

appropriate to comply with planning and zoning laws,

which may require a government fee.

Step 5. Choosing a Business Structure

One very important step in getting started is

determining how to structure a business. Businesses

can operate as sole proprietorships, partnerships,

corporations, or Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs).

While the process of incorporation is the same as it is

for U.S. citizens and is handled at the state, not federal

level, it’s important to understand and get advice

about the ownership status and tax ramifications for

the chosen entity. For example, an S Corporation is

very popular among entrepreneurs due to certain tax

benefits, but its shares can only be held by U.S. citizens

and resident aliens, while an LLC or C Corporation has

no restrictions on non-U.S. citizen owners.

Sole Proprietorship

Definition: An independent contractor may wish to start

his or her own company and provide services in the

form of a sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship is a

type of business entity owned and run by one individual

where there is no legal distinction between the owner

and the business.

Personal Information Required: In most cases, an SSN

or ITIN can be used to start a sole proprietorship. Only

in certain circumstances, such as hiring an employee,

would someone have to apply for an EIN (discussed

in the tax section of this guide). Similar to independent

contractor work, there is no requirement to have work

authorization.

With a sole proprietorship, individuals may use a trade

name or a business name other than their own legal

name to do business; in the United States there is a

requirement to file a Doing Business As (dba) statement

with a local government agency, such as the county

clerk’s office. It’s important to note that when forming

a business, the legal name of the business defaults to

the name of the person or entity that owns the business,

unless an individual chooses to rename it and register it

as a DBA name.

18 For information about basic zoning laws, visit https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/choose-your-business-location-equipment/basic-zoning-laws

19 For more information about sole proprietorships, visit https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/sole-proprietorships

20 For more information about taxes you may be liable for and the forms needed for a sole proprietorship, see https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-

businesses-self-employed/sole-proprietorships

21 For more information about partnerships, visit https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/choose-your-business-structure/partnership

Liability and Taxes: Working as a sole proprietor still

means that an individual is working as an independent

contractor, which means they are held liable for all

debts incurred by the business. They must have the

same liability, should follow the same guidelines,

and must use the same tax forms as independent

contractors.

Refer to Table 2 to learn about the steps to take to

set up a sole proprietorship in California. Note that

each state determines the process to incorporate as a

business. Therefore, individuals who wish to incorporate

a business in another state, should look up the steps

required to start a business in that state.

Partnership

Definition: A partnership is the relationship existing

between two or more persons who join to carry on a

trade or business. Each person contributes money,

profits and losses of the business. It is recommended,

but not legally mandatory, that both parties draft and

sign a partnership agreement.

Victor Galvan’s Story

“Entrepreneurship is about

having resources and

connections to people

that are willing to give you

access. Rules are a

figment of my imagination

and I have to believe that I

can turn $1 into $10.”

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico,

Victor Galván is an entrepreneur, Rocky Mountain

native and DACA recipient. He began organizing

in the immigrant community in 2008 at the age of

sixteen through Padres Y Jóvenes Unidos. In 2012,

Victor joined the CIRC team to help mobilize Latino

and immigrant voters in the general election and was

instrumental in the campaign to win ASSET in-state

tuition equity in 2013. Víctor has had numerous side

hustles in the past, including t-shirt branding and

online candy sales, and now he’s developing a tequila

brand. Watch Victor’s Story

Table 2. Steps to Set Up a Sole Proprietorship in California

Steps to Set Up a Sole Proprietorship in California

1. Start with a business plan.

2. If you use a business name that is different from your legal name, California requires you to file a Fictitious

Business Name Statement in the county recorder’s office where the business is located.

The cost is about

$35 depending on the type of business.

3. Go to city hall to register the business and get a business license. The cost varies by city, but it is generally

around $10. You may consider asking for a business tax exemption form, usually provided to first time

business owners. Here is an example of one.

4. Research other licenses or permits needed to conduct your specific business. You may obtain this

information by going to the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development CalGold

website.

5. Open a business account at a bank using an SSN, ITIN or EIN.

6. Other requirements may have to be fulfilled depending on the county, such as registering with the local

newspaper.

7. Report and pay taxes using your SSN, ITIN or EIN (if hiring employees).

Personal Information Required: Similar to a sole

additional information or licenses may be required by

proprietorship, each partner may use his or her SSN

your state or local jurisdiction. This section provides

or ITIN. A partnership may use the surnames of the

a general overview of corporations. Therefore, we

individual partners or may use a fictitious business

encourage you to research the specific aspects of

name.

forming a corporation in your current jurisdiction and

seek advice from an attorney familiar with local laws.

Liability and Taxes: A partnership must file an annual

information return to report the income, deductions,

Most corporations are C corporations, which are

gains, losses, etc., from its operations, but it does

independent legal entities owned by shareholders. This

not pay income tax. Instead, it “passes through” any

means that the corporation itself, not the shareholders

profits or losses to its partners. Each partner includes

that own it, is held legally liable for the actions and

his or her share of the partnership’s income or loss on

debts the business incurs. C corporations generally

his or her tax return. Partners are not employees and

take the same tax deductions as a sole proprietorship

should not be issued a Form W-2. The partnership must

to figure its taxable income. A corporation can also take

provide copies of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) to the

special deductions. For federal income tax purposes,

partners by the date Form 1065 is required to be filed,

a C corporation is recognized as a separate tax-paying

including extensions.

entity.

An S corp is a corporation with the Subchapter S

Corporations (S and C)

designation from the IRS. What makes the S corp

different from a traditional corporation (C corp) is that

Definition: In forming a corporation, prospective

profits and losses can pass through to your personal

shareholders exchange money, property, or both,

tax return. Consequently, the business itself is not

for the corporation’s capital stock. A corporation

taxed. Only the shareholders are taxed. There is an

conducts business, realizes net income or loss,

pays taxes and distributes profits to shareholders.

important caveat, however: any shareholder who works

for the company must pay him or herself “reasonable

Immigrants, regardless of legal status, are able to form

compensation.” Basically, the shareholder must be

C corporations, but not S corporations. However,

paid fair market value, or the IRS might reclassify

22 For more information about starting a business in CA, see http://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/starting-business

23 For more information about name availability in CA, see http://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/name-availability/

24 For more information about taxes you may be liable for and the forms needed for partnerships, see https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-

employed/partnerships

25 For more information about corporations, visit https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/choose-your-business-structure/corporation

any additional corporate earnings as “wages.”

Unfortunately, under U.S. tax law, S corporations cannot

have a “nonresident alien as a shareholder,”

which

means that undocumented individuals are not eligible to

apply for S corporations or be part of one.

Personal Information Required: An EIN (discussed in

the tax section of this guide) must be obtained to start

a corporation. A corporation is formed under the laws of

the state in which it is registered. To form a corporation

an individual will need to establish their business name

and register their legal name with the state government.

If they choose to operate under a name different from

the officially registered name, they’ll most likely have to

file a DBA. State laws vary, but generally corporations

must include a corporate designation (Corporation,

Incorporated, Limited) at the end of the business

name. Note: even though employment authorization

is not required to form a corporation, there may be

additional requirements in the formation process that

may require an SSN. We encourage consulting with

a trusted attorney and the local city clerk for specific

requirements.

Liability: C corporations limit the personal liability of

directors, shareholders, employees and officers. Legal

obligations of the business cannot become personal

debt obligations of any individual associated with the

business.

Taxes: Although requirements vary by jurisdiction,

C corporations are required to file state, income,

payroll, unemployment and disability taxes. One major

downside of C corporations is the double taxation

that occurs. After deducting business expenses and

salaries, the remaining income is subject to tax. This

net income is also distributed to shareholders in the

form of dividends. These dividends are income to the

shareholder and are reported on the individual’s tax

return. Therefore, profits from a C corporation are

taxed at the corporation’s tax rate and individual’s tax

rate. Only net income retained by the C corporation

temporarily avoids double taxation.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a business

structure allowed by state statute that provides the

limited liability features of a corporation and the tax

efficiencies and operational flexibility of a partnership.

26 https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/choose-your-business-structure/s-corporation

27 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:26%20section:1361%20edition:prelim)

28 For more information about taxes you may be liable for and the forms needed for corporations, see https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-

employed/corporations

Owners of an LLC are called members. Most states do

not restrict ownership, and so members may include

individuals, corporations, other LLCs and foreign

entities. There is no maximum number of members.

Most states also permit “single-member” LLCs, those

having only one owner. Each state may use different

regulations, and you should check with your state if you

are interested in starting a Limited Liability Company.

Immigrants, regardless of legal status, and even entities

based outside of the U.S. may form and own an LLC.

However, additional information or licenses may be

required by your state or local jurisdiction. This section

provides a general overview of LLCs. We encourage

individuals to research the specific aspects of forming

an LLC in their current jurisdiction and seek advice from

an attorney familiar with local laws.

Starting an LLC as a Worker Cooperative

Definition: A worker cooperative is a business

composed of members who are both workers and

owners of the business. Members can control the

structure and practices of the work environment.

Businesses who hire a worker cooperative are hiring the

cooperative not a single member, therefore, they are

Celia Serrato’s Story

“I would encourage people

who want to start a

business to just do it. If

you are passionate about

it and doing it for the right

reasons, then you’re going

to make it happen.”

Born in Michoacán, Mexico,

Celia Serrato is a student

at Santa Ana College and part of UndocuScholars

Fellowship and IDEAS Club. Celia is also co-owner

of HerbalHermanasCo. Her products are included

in Caja Latina, a monthly subscription box that

celebrates the intersectionality of Latinx identity. Celia

is frequently seen at MujeresMarkets in Downey and

Los Angeles, pop-up markets that feature WOC/

QTPOC creators and artists. HerbalsHermanasCo

was recently featured as one of the ‘10 Latina-

Owned Businesses You Need on Your Radar’ by

hiplatina.com. Watch Celia’s Story

Table 3. Steps to Set Up an LLC in California

Steps to Set Up an LLC in California

1. A group of workers researches the type of business plan they want and the state regulations.

2. An agreement is made that establishes how the business will be managed, who the members will be, how

membership will be granted or revoked, and any other details.

3. To become an LLC in California, a person or group must file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of

State along with a fee of $70. The articles can be filed by filing a form on the Secretary of State’s website.

4. The group should develop a management agreement. In California, the Beverly-Killiea Limited Liability

Company Act, Corp C 1700-17655 contains rules regarding internal management.

5. Within 90 days of filing the articles, the LLC must file a Statement of Information with the Secretary of State.

This includes names and addresses of LLC management and all members of the LLC, the general nature of

the LLC’s business activities, the name and address of the LLC’s agent of service of process and the address

of the LLC’s principal business office. The statement is filed every 2 years and when the information changes.

6. The LLC must obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) as its business tax identification number. The

process of completing an EIN application on Form SS-4 can be done online, by phone, or through your

attorney.

29 “Limited Liability Company (LLC),” State of California Franchise Tax Board, http://www.ftb.ca.gov/businesses/bus_structures/LLcompany.shtml

30 “Limited Liability Company (LLC),” State of California Franchise Tax Board, http://www.ftb.ca.gov/businesses/bus_structures/LLcompany.shtml

31 For further information on taxes for LLC, see http://www.irs.gov/businesses/ small/article/0,,id=98277,00.html

not required to prove that the work being done by the

worker cooperative qualifies as independent contract

work.

Personal Information Required: Businesses that

hire an LLC are not typically required to obtain any

information about the worker-owners of the LLC.

In other words, as a worker-owner of an LLC, an

individual should not be required to provide any

personal information, such as name or even an ITIN,

to that business. Note: even though employment

authorization is not required to form an LLC, there may

be additional requirements in the formation process that

may require an SSN. We encourage consulting with

a trusted attorney and the local city clerk for specific

requirements.

Liability: An LLC is an unincorporated business

organization, whose members are NOT responsible for

the debts of the company. Obligation is limited to their

investment in the company, and each member of the

LLC has the power to make decisions regarding the

business.

Taxes: Depending on the state that the LLC is

established in, there are taxes to be paid. In California

an LLC is taxed at the entity level, which means an

$800/ year minimum franchise tax is imposed on every

LLC, regardless of gross receipts or net income (Note:

there is a proposal in the 2020 California Governor’s

budget to waive the franchise tax fee for first-time LLC

owners). Also, every year an FTB Form 568 must be

filed and, if the LLC has revenues over $250,000, it

must pay an annual fee based on the total income for

the year.

Refer to Table 3 to learn about the steps to take to set

up an LLC in California. Note that each state determines

the process to incorporate as a business. Therefore,

individuals who wish to incorporate a business in

another state, should look up the steps required to start

a business in that state.

For more information about the worker cooperative

model, visit Democracy at Work Institute’s vast

resource library. Democracy at Work Institute works

to expand the worker cooperative model to reach

communities most directly affected by social and

economic inequality, specifically people of color, recent

immigrants, and low- wage workforces.

Review Table 4 to understand the pros and cons about

each business structure.

Step 6. Registering a Business Name

(DBA)

If an individual chooses to name your business anything

other than their personal name then they’ll need to

name (or assumed name, trade name or DBA name) is

a business name that is different from a personal name,

the names of partners or the officially registered name

of the LLC or corporation. It’s important to note that

when individuals form a business, the legal name of the

business defaults to the name of the person or entity

that owns the business, unless they choose to rename

it and register it as a DBA name. The legal name of

the business is required on all government forms and

applications, including the application for employer

32 https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/choose-register-your-business/register-your-business-name

33 http://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/starting-business/types/

tax IDs, licenses and permits. Registering the DBA is

done either with the county clerk’s office or with your

state government, depending on where the business is

located.

All businesses operated in California must obtain a

fictitious business name statement application and pay

a fee if the name of the business contains anything

other than just the name of the actual owner of the

business. This statement is recorded in the office of the

county recorder in the county where the business is

being operated.

Step 7. Business Licenses and Permits

Almost every business needs some form of license

or permit to operate legally. Licensing and permit

Table 4. Pros and Cons of Each Business Structure

Pros Cons

Sole Proprietorships

» Easy to set up

» Low start-up costs

» Net losses can be deducted from

personal tax

» As the owner, you are responsible for

debts and other liabilities

» You pay income taxes on your

business’s net profits

General Partnerships

» Easy to start up

» Low start-up costs

» Net business losses can be deducted

from owners’ personal taxes

» Owners are responsible for debts and

other liabilities

» Owners pay income taxes on the

business’ net profits

Corporations

» Owners’ responsibility for debts and

other liabilities is limited

» In certain cases, benefits can be

deducted as business expenses

» Taxes can be lowered when owners

and the business share profits

» Can be more expensive to create

than both sole proprietorships and

partnerships

» Legal paperwork must be filed with

your state

» The business is a separate tax

entity that must pay taxes at the

corporation’s tax rate and individual’s

tax rate

Limited Liability

Companies (LLCs)

» Owners’ responsibility for debts and

other liabilities is limited even if they

have control of the business

» Profits and losses do not have to be

allocated according to ownership

interest

» Owners get to choose whether the

LLC is taxed as a partnership or a

corporation

» LLCs are more expensive to

establish than partnerships and sole

proprietorships

» Legal paperwork must be filed with

your state

» LLCs are taxed at the entity level and

a franchise tax may be imposed (varies

by state) and pay a revenue fee based

on total income for the year

requirements vary depending on the type of business

you are operating, where it is located, and what

government rules apply. Individuals may find the specific

licenses or permits your business may need for each

state through the SBA website. Several cities in the

U.S., including Chicago, have passed ordinances to

allow informal businesses, such as street vending, to

operate legally.

We encourage checking with the city

clerk to determine what other ordinances have passed

that could benefit a particular business venture.

Some occupations, professions, vocations, and

industries require specific licenses from the California

Department of Consumer Affairs or other state

agencies. Some states, including California and

New York, have passed laws authorizing some

undocumented immigrants to get professional licenses.

As of January 1, 2016, all undocumented Californians

are eligible to receive professional licenses from the

43 California Boards and Bureaus under the California

Department of Consumer Affairs. For more information

regarding CA SB 1159, see Section II of this toolkit. To

see a complete list of similar bills in other states, click

here.

Step 8. Marketing and Promotion

All businesses need to engage in marketing and

promotions to get clients. Marketing is the process of

getting a business noticed by the people who need or

want a particular product or service. Promotion is the

voice of a company which sends out a brand’s message

to its audience. Marketing and promotions go hand

in hand. Well designed marketing and promotional

strategies ensure a business’ long-term success by

bringing in a constant flow of new customers and

ensuring profitability.

The first step is to do a market research analysis to

identify your target audience and potential clients.

This can involve something as simple as soliciting

feedback from friends, family and trusted professional

connections on the type of service or product that

you’re offering and asking them to suggest potential

clients. The next step is to create materials to promote

your business. These materials include business cards,

flyers, brochures, a website, and/or social media

accounts. The digital world has made marketing easy

and affordable, but it is also recommended to reach

out to potential clients via phone, email, mail and

in-person meetings. Success in business is about

34 https://www.scribd.com/document/282619119/City-of-Chicago-Food-Cart-Ordinance

relationships. Networking allows individuals to form the

type of relationships that will lead to sales, referrals,

and other important business growth. To learn more

about marketing strategies and to get free business

counseling, visit the Small Business Administration

website.

SECTION IV: SUPPORT AND

RESOURCES

UC Support and Resources

UC campuses across California offer a wide variety

of support and resources for students and alumni

interested in starting a business. Below are lists of

entrepreneurship centers, business school classes, and

additional support services that UC students and alumni

can utilize to get support.

UC Entrepreneurship Centers

UC Entrepreneurship Centers are a great place to

seek information and assistance regarding business

startup or other entrepreneurial endeavors. These

centers focus on providing students with the tools,

knowledge, and support they need in order to launch

successful businesses. They also promote the

development, research, and teaching of innovation and

entrepreneurship at all of the UC campuses. Visiting

one of these centers at any UC campus would be

a great way to start thinking about how to generate

income!

See the list of UC entrepreneurship centers.

UC Business School Courses

UC students, regardless of their major, can take

classes offered at the business school to learn about

basic entrepreneurship concepts. Almost every field

of study can be turned into a contracting or business

opportunity, so we recommend taking advantage

of the curriculum available in these classes and the

professional connections that faculty members can

make.

See list of UC business school courses and

descriptions.

UC Transactional Legal Clinics

Transactional Clinics are a great place to seek

assistance on a myriad of issues that are categorized

by the clinic speciality. Transactional clinics are usually

student run with a supervising attorney in charge of

the clinic. Many UC Transactional Clinics have tackled

serious and niche cases that have assisted community

members. These clinics help students hone their skills

while also providing more affordable services to people

in need of legal help. Visiting a transactional clinic can

be a great first step when assessing a specific legal

need.

See list of UC Transactional Clinics.

UC Undocumented Student Services and Centers

The UC Undocumented Student Services and

Centers are committed to empowering and supporting

the advancement of undocumened students in

institutions of higher education. The various centers

aim to build awareness of changing policies affecting

Calfornia’s undocumented populations, offer academic

guidance and financial support, and create a safe and

inclusive environment for undocumened students on

campus. The centers offer a variety of services for

students ranging from legal services to mental health

support. The dream centers also provide leadership

opportunities, internship and fellowship opportunities,

and graduate school planning for those who aim to

pursue a graduate education.

See list of UC Dream Resource Centers.

External Support and Resources

In addition to support at UC campuses, there is much

business support and assistance outside of campus

through local government agencies and non-profit

organizations.

California Small Business Development Centers

(SBDCs)

To find personalized training and assistance with

business start-up, individuals may visit or contact

their local Small Business Development Centers

(SBDC). Direct and personalized technical assistance

is provided to entrepreneurs through professional

consulting, supplemented by low-cost or free seminars

and conferences. These services are delivered

throughout California via an extensive network of thirty-

five SBDCs. SBDCs provide business guidance in the

following areas:

» best practices for small businesses

» business plan development

» start-up basics

» financing

» procurement & contracting opportunities

» regulatory compliance

» money management

» international trade

» manufacturing assistance

To find a local SBDC, visit https://americassbdc.org/

small-business-consulting-and-training/find-your-sbdc/

Venturize

To find a local business service provider, visit venturize.

org. Venturize is an online resource portal for small

businesses that need help becoming loan ready,

particularly enterprises located in underserved areas.

With Venturize, small business owners can access

clear, trustworthy information and tools, including a

locator map of mission-based lenders and resource

providers throughout the United States. All resources

on Venturize are available in Spanish. All business

providers are categorized by assistance areas:

» Business planning and strategy

» Financial tools and management

» Legal, licensing and permitting

» Contracting opportunities

» Mentoring and networking

» Marketing and research

» International trade

SECTION V: CAREER PATHWAYS

Every student, no matter their post-secondary

plans, can benefit from mapping out and following

a sequence of career-related classes, certifications

and training in their area of interest. It is particularly

important for undocumented students to understand at

which point immigration status may become a barrier

along their career path. For example, jobs in health,

engineering, social work and accounting sectors

may be complicated for an undocumented person to

attain due to the verifiable work experience hours they

often require. This does not mean that these fields are

unavailable to undocumented students, but rather that

students need to understand the requirements ahead

of time and be prepared to identify other ways to apply

their expertise to non-employment opportunities, such

as consulting or business start-ups.

To assist undocumented students in plotting out

their careers, Immigrants Rising created a Career

Pathways Database for Undocumented Students

that shows all UC majors and fields of study with

training opportunities, licensing requirements, and

hourly contracting rates, as well as indicates whether

or not these opportunities are available without work

authorization.

See the interactive database here.

APPENDICES

Appendix A: List of the Top Consulting Businesses Thriving Today

There are many more consulting opportunities beyond this list, please email [email protected] to add

consulting opportunities that you would like to add.

1 From https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/41384

1. Accounting: Accounting is something that every

business needs, no matter how large or small.

Accounting consultants can help a business with all of its

financial needs.

2. Advertising: This type of consultant is normally hired

by a business to develop a good strategic advertising

campaign.

3. Auditing: From auditing utility bills for small businesses

to handling major work for telecommunications firms,

auditing consultants are enjoying the fruits of their labor.

4. Business: Know how to help a business turn a profit? If

you have a good business sense, then you’ll do well as a

business consultant. After computer consulting, people

in this field are the next most sought after.

5. Business writing: Many businesspeople have trouble

when it comes to writing a report—or even a simple

memo. Business writing consultants provide much

needed help and make everyone happy!

6. Career counseling: With more and more people finding

themselves victims of corporate downsizing, career

counselors will always be in demand. Career counselors

guide their clients into a profession or job that will help

them be both happy and productive employees.

7. Communications: Communications consultants

specialize in helping employees in both large and small

businesses better communicate with each other, which

ultimately makes the business more efficient and operate

smoothly.

8. Computer programming: From software to hardware,

and everything in between, if you know computers, your

biggest problem will be not having enough hours in the

day to meet your clients’ demands!

9. Data Analytics: Most organizations are now web-based

and therefore, require someone to help make sense of

all the information that is collected online. Data analytics

involves analyzing raw data in order to make conclusions

about that information.

10. Editorial services: From producing newsletters to

corporate annual reports, consultants who are experts in

the editorial field will always be appreciated.

11. Gardening: In the past decade the demand for

gardening consultants has blossomed (pun intended)

into a $1 million-a-year business. Not only are businesses

hiring gardening consultants; so are people who are too

busy to take care of their gardens at home.

12. Grantsmanship: Once you learn how to write a grant

proposal, you can name your price.

13. Human resources: As long as businesses have people

problems (and they always will), consultants in this field

will enjoy a never-ending supply of corporate clients, both

large and small. (People-problem prevention programs

could include teaching employees to get along with

others, respect and even violence prevention in the

workplace.)

14. Insurance: Everyone needs insurance, and everyone

needs an insurance consultant to help them find the best

plan and pricing for them.

15. Marketing: Can you help a business write a marketing

plan? Or do you have ideas that you feel will help

promote a business? If so, why not try your hand as a

marketing consultant?

16. Payroll management: Everyone needs to get paid.

By using your knowledge and expertise in payroll

management, you can provide this service to many

businesses, both large and small.

17. Public relations: Getting good press coverage for any

organization is a real art. When an organization finds a

good PR consultant, they hang on to them for life!

18. Publishing: If you’re interested in the publishing field,

then learn everything you can and you, too, can be a

publishing consultant. A publishing consultant usually

helps new ventures when they are ready to launch a new

newspaper, magazine, newsletter--and even websites

and electronic newsletters.

19. Taxes: With the right marketing and business plan

(and a sincere interest in taxes), your career as a tax

consultant can be very lucrative. A tax consultant advises

businesses on the legal methods to pay the least amount

of tax possible.

20. Writing services: Anything related to the written word

will always be in demand. Find your specialty in the

writing field, and the sky will be the limit!

Appendix B: Independent Contractor Brainstorming Worksheet

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

BRAINSTORMING WORKSHEET

You can engage in independent contracting by participating in the gig economy or offering professional services

in a specific area of expertise. Use this worksheet to help you think through the type of work you can do as an

independent contractor.

THE GIG ECONOMY refers to a growing segment

of the labor market, in which clients contract with

workers, often via apps, for specific tasks and

activities. The gig economy has endless options

and often does not require high educational

attainment. Learn more about the gig economy

and the types of work it encompasses at

gigworker.com/start-here.

In addition to participating in the gig economy,

individuals may choose to leverage their expertise,

skills, abilities, certification, and professional and

academic training to offer

professional services

to the public. These professional services exist in a

variety of industries, however, the ability to provide

them requires experience, passion for a specific

type of work, and in some instances, licensing or

educational attainment.

There are many different types of independent

Gig opportunities include:

• Driving for car services such as Uber or Lyft

• Selling products or services on sites such as Etsy or eBay

• Performing music at paid gigs and concerts

• Working for freelance labor apps such as TaskRabbit

• Selling products such as Mary Kay or Princess House

• Renting space in your personal home with sites such as Airbnb

• Any one-time, task-based job

Professional services include:

contract work you can do, allowing you to leverage all the skills, experience and knowledge that you have accumulated over

time both inside and outside of school. You can start in the gig economy and work toward offering specialized professional

services.

INSTRUCTIONS

Once you have a better idea of what independent contracting is all about, go through the different parts of this worksheet.

You can work on parts at a time and come back to it; there is no need to complete the entire worksheet in one seating.

PART 1: SELF ASSESSMENT

Think about the types of services you might be able to offer. What skills, experience, or other assets do you have that you

can share? Consider that some gigs are for general tasks and others require a specific skill set.

What is your current field of study?

What skills have you acquired within your field from the classes you’ve taken?

What skills have you acquired within your field outside the classroom?

• Accounting

• Advertising

• Legal

• Medical

• Engineering

• Computer

programming

• Graphic design

• Website design

• Payroll management

• Taxes

• Writing and editing

• Fine art

• Photography

• Landscaping

• Construction

• Real estate

• Cosmetology

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

BRAINSTORMING WORKSHEET

What type of services do independent contractors in your field offer? Try doing a Google search “Independent

contracting for XXX majors”

What type of work experience do you have (paid or unpaid)?

What do you enjoy doing for fun?

What are you passionate about?

Based on these responses, think about the type of services you might be able to offer in the gig economy.

Write

down your ideas below.

PART II: WORK EXPLORATION

Using the Samaschool Work Finder, identify 5 areas of work that you think are a good fit and write them down.

For each type of work write down the skills, education, training, certification, or licensing that is needed to engage in this

type of work. You may have to do additional research beyond what Samaschool offers.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

BRAINSTORMING WORKSHEET

For each type of work note the marketplaces where you can sign up to find clients.

PART III: CREATING A PROFILE

Choose one of the marketplaces and review a profile of a consultant and answer the following questions:

What do you like about the profile?

What characteristics stand out the most in the profile?

Would you contract that person?

→ Review a few more profiles and answer the same questions as above.

Once you have a better idea about what a good profile looks like, answer the questions below.

What type of services would you like to provide?

What makes you different from anyone else doing the same type of work? (Think about previous experience or

personality traits)

How long have you been doing this type of work (Include experience in school and outside of school)

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

BRAINSTORMING WORKSHEET

Why do you enjoy doing this activity?

Once you have answered these questions, use Samaschool’s About Me Generator to create an “About Me” section that can

be used in online platforms.

Add it below.

PART IV: MARKETING AND PROMOTION

Now that you have an idea of the type of work you would like to do as an independent contractor, you will need to

start thinking about marketing your services. You can begin by creating a profile in several marketplaces, but you will

likely have to do additional marketing.

Below are a few ways to promote and market yourself:

• Create business cards and add a QR code to link to your website or LinkedIn profile.

→ Purchase inexpensive business cards: www.vistaprint.com

→

Create your free website: www.wix.com

→

Create free QR codes: www.qr-code-generator.com

• Consider creating a flyer/brochure to promote your services.

→ Use free Microsoft Office templates: templates.office.com/en-us/brochures

• Reach out to friends and family to see if they need the service. If not, ask if they can help spread the word. Hand

them your business card and flyer/brochure.

• Reach out to professional connections to promote your services. Be specific about the type of services you offer

and how they may fill a need.

• Post an ad on social media promoting your services.

→ Learn about FB ads: www.facebook.com/business/ads

Write down the action steps you plan to take to promote your services below.

Appendix C: Sample Independent Contractor Agreement

Free Independent Contractor Agreement builder is available at www.lawdepot.com/contracts/independent-

contractor-agreement/.

Independent Contr

actor Agreement

Alternate Names:

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is also known as a:

Subcontractor Agreement

Consulting Agreement

Freelance Contract

General Contractor Agreement

Consulting Services Agreement

What is an independent contr

actor?

Also kno

wn as a consultant or freelancer, an independent contr

actor is a business or individual that is typically

or service for a customer in e

xchange for monetary compensation.

What is an Independent Contractor Agreement?

An Independent Contractor Agreement is a written contract that spells out the terms of the working arrangeme

including:

A description of the services provided

Terms and length of the project or service

Payment details (including deposits, retainers, and other billing details)

Conﬁdentiality, non-solicitation, and dispute resolution clauses

Service is needed:

For a single job For a ﬁxed term Indeﬁnitely

SAVE AND CONTINUE

Independent Contractor Agreement

Document Preview

FREE INDEPENDENT C

ONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

Get Started

Help

Document Preview

Independent Contr

actor Agreement

Alternate Names:

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is also known as a:

Subcontractor Agreement

Consulting Agreement

Freelance Contract

General Contractor Agreement

Consulting Services Agreement

What is an independent contr

actor?

Also kno

wn as a consultant or freelancer, an independent contr

actor is a business or individual that is typically

or service for a customer in e

xchange for monetary compensation.

What is an Independent Contr

actor Agreement?

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is a written contract that spells out the terms of the working arr

angeme

including:

A description of the services provided

Terms and length of the project or service

Payment details (including deposits, retainers, and other billing details)

Conﬁdentiality, non-solicitation, and dispute resolution clauses

Service is needed:

For a single job For a ﬁxed term Indeﬁnitely

SAVE AND CONTINUE

Independent Contractor Agreement

Document Preview

FREE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

Get Started

Help

Document Preview

Independent Contr

actor Agreement

Alternate Names:

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is also known as a:

Subcontractor Agreement

Consulting Agreement

Freelance Contract

General Contractor Agreement

Consulting Services Agreement

What is an independent contr

actor?

Also kno

wn as a consultant or freelancer, an independent contr

actor is a business or individual that is typically

or service for a customer in e

xchange for monetary compensation.

What is an Independent Contr

actor Agreement?

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is a written contract that spells out the terms of the working arr

angeme

including:

A description of the services provided

Terms and length of the project or service

Payment details (including deposits, retainers, and other billing details)

Conﬁdentiality, non-solicitation, and dispute resolution clauses

Service is needed:

For a single job For a ﬁxed term Indeﬁnitely

SAVE AND CONTINUE

Independent Contractor Agreement

Document Preview

FREE INDEPENDENT C

ONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

Get Started

Help

Document Preview

Independent Contractor Agreement

Alternate Names:

An Independent Contractor Agreement is also known as a:

Subcontractor Agreement

Consulting Agreement

Freelance Contract

General Contractor Agreement

Consulting Services Agreement

What is an independent contractor?

Also known as a consultant or freelancer, an independent contractor is a business or individual that is typically

or service for a customer in exchange for monetary compensation.

What is an Independent Contractor Agreement?

An Independent Contractor Agreement is a written contract that spells out the terms of the working arrangeme

including:

A description of the services provided

Terms and length of the project or service

Payment details (including deposits, retainers, and other billing details)

Conﬁdentiality, non-solicitation, and dispute resolution clauses

Service is needed:

For a single job For a ﬁxed term Indeﬁnitely

SAVE AND CONTINUE

Independent Contractor Agreement

Document Preview

FREE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

Get Started

Help

Document Preview

Independent Contr

actor Agreement

Alternate Names:

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is also known as a:

Subcontractor Agreement

Consulting Agreement

Freelance Contract

General Contractor Agreement

Consulting Services Agreement

What is an independent contr

actor?

Also kno

wn as a consultant or freelancer, an independent contr

actor is a business or individual that is typically

or service for a customer in e

xchange for monetary compensation.

What is an Independent Contr

actor Agreement?

An Independent Contr

actor Agreement is a written contract that spells out the terms of the working arr

angeme

including:

A description of the services provided

Terms and length of the project or service

Payment details (including deposits, retainers, and other billing details)

Conﬁdentiality, non-solicitation, and dispute resolution clauses

Who can use an Independent Contr

actor Agreement?

Service is needed:

For a single job For a ﬁxed term Indeﬁnitely

SAVE AND CONTINUE

Independent Contractor Agreement

Document Preview

FREE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

Get Started

Help

Document Preview

Appendix D: Sample Invoice

Free invoice templates are available at templates.office.com/en-us/invoices.

Appendix E: Business Plan Outline

Below is an outline for a business plan. Download the complete template with detailed instructions at https://www.

score.org/resource/business-plan-template-startup-business.

View a sample business plan at www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan.

Executive Summary

1. An overview of your business idea (one or two

sentences).

2. A description of your product and/or service. What

problems are you solving for your target customers?

3. Your goals for the business. Where do you expect

the business to be in one year, three years, five

years?

4. Your proposed target market. Who are your ideal

customers?

5. Your competition and what differentiates your

business. Who are you up against, and what unique

selling proposition will help you succeed?

6. Your management team and their prior experience.

What do they bring to the table that will give your

business a competitive edge?

7. Financial outlook for the business. If you’re using the

business plan for financing purposes, explain exactly

how much money you want, how you will use it, and

how that will make your business more profitable.

Company Description

1. Company mission statement

2. Company philosophy and vision

3. Company goals

4. Target market

5. Industry

6. Legal structure

Products & Services

1. Your company’s products and/or services: What do

you sell, and how is it manufactured or provided?

2. The problem the product or service solves:

Every business needs to solve a problem that its

customers face. Explain what the problem is and

how your product or service solves it. What are its

benefits, features and unique selling proposition?

3. Any proprietary features that give you a competitive

advantage: Do you have a patent on your product

or a patent pending? Do you have exclusive

agreements with suppliers or vendors to sell a

product or service that none of your competitors

sell?

4. How you will price your product or service: Describe

the pricing, fee, subscription or leasing structure of

your product or service. How does your product or

service fit into the competitive landscape in terms

of pricing? How will that pricing strategy help you

attract customers? What is your projected profit

margin?

Marketing Plan

1. Market research

2. Barriers to entry

3. Threats and opportunities

4. Product/service features and benefits

5. Target customer

6. Key competitors

7. Positioning/Niche

8. How you will market your product/service

9. Promotional budget

10. Pricing

11. Location or proposed location

12. Distribution channels

13. 12-month sales forecast

Operational Plan

1. Production

2. Location

3. Personnel

4. Inventory

5. Suppliers

6. Credit policies

Management & Organization

1. Biographies

2. Gaps

3. Advisors

4. Organization Chart

Startup Expenses & Capitalization

1. Start-Up Expenses

2. Opening Day Balance Sheet

3. Personal Financial Statement

Financial Plan

1. 12-month profit & loss projection

2. Cash flow projection

3. Projected balance sheet

4. Break-even calculation

5. Use of capital

Appendices

The Appendices include documents that supplement

information in the body of the plan, such as contracts,

leases, purchase orders, intellectual property, key

managers’ resumes, market research data and anything

that supports assumptions or statements made in the

plan.

Appendix F: Business Model Canvas Template

PDF version is available at https://www.designorate.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Designorate_Business_

Model_Canvas.pdf

BusinessModelCanvas

Designorate.com

CompanyName:

Date:

KeyPartners

KeyActivities

ValueProposition

CustomerRelationships

CustomerSegments

KeyResources Channels

CostStructure RevenuesStreams

The Business Canvas Model is copyright of Strategyzer.com under creative common CC BY-SA 3.0. This

document layout was created by Designorate.com. Check designorate.com/design-resources for more tools.

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

What Key Activities do our

Value Propositions require?

Our Distribution Channels?

Customer Relationships?

Revenue streams?

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

What type of relationship does

each of our Customer

Segments expect us to

establish and maintain with

them?

Which ones have we

established?

How are they integrated with the

rest of our business model?

How costly are they?

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

What Key Resources do our

Value Propositions require?

Our Distribution Channels?

Customer Relationships?

Revenue Streams?

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

What value do we deliver to the

customer?

Which one of our customerʼs

problems are we helping to

solve?

What bundles of products and

services are we offering to each

Customer Segment?

Which customer needs are we

satisfying?

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

Through which Channels do our

Customer Segments want to be

reached? How are we reaching

them now? How are our

Channels integrated?

Which ones work best?

Which ones are most

cost-efficient?

How are we integrating them

with customer routines?

"Remove this text, and add start

yours"

For whom are we creating

value?

Who are our most important

customers?

"Remove this text, and add start yours"

What are the most important costs inherent in our business model?

Which Key Resources are most expensive?

Which Key Activities are most expensive?

"Remove this text, and add start yours"

For what value are our customers really willing to pay?

For what do they currently pay?

How are they currently paying?

How would they prefer to pay?

How much does each Revenue Stream contribute to overall revenues?

Appendix G: Business Model Canvas Example

This example is available at www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan

Wooden Grain Toy Company

Identity

Wooden Grain Toys manufactures high-quality

hardwood toys for children aged 3-10.

Problem

Parents and grandparents are looking for high-

quality, durable toys that will entertain kids and

foster creativity.

Our solution

Our handcrafted toys are made from solid

hardwoods, and are designed with sufficient

moving parts to engage young children without

limiting imagination.

Target market

The target audience is adults, specifically

parents and grandparents who wish to give toys

to their children or grandchildren.

The competition

Wooden toys are part of a niche market with

companies of all sizes. Large companies

include Plastique Toys and Metal Happy Toys,

which sell internationally. Smaller companies

sell locally in shops, craft fairs, or online.

Revenue streams

Wooden Grain Toys will sell directly to

customers at craft fairs and online.

Marketing activities

Wooden Grain Toys will communicate with

customers with an email newsletter, targeted

Google and Facebook ads, social media, and

in person at craft fairs.

Expenses

•

Materials for toys including wood, steel,

and rubber

•

Craft fair fees and travel costs

•

Inventory space for products

Team and key roles

Currently, the only team member is the owner,

Andrew Robertson. As profits increase,

Wooden Grain Toys will look to add an

employee to assist with social media and

online marketing.

Milestones

As business grows, Wooden Grain Toys will

advertise in target markets—especially in

advance of the holiday season.

This example business plan is provided by the Small Business Administration.

Get help starting and running your small business at SBA.gov.

Wooden Grain Toy Company

Identity

Wooden Grain Toys manufactures high-quality

hardwood toys for children aged 3-10.

Problem

Parents and grandparents are looking for high-

quality, durable toys that will entertain kids and

foster creativity.

Our solution

Our handcrafted toys are made from solid

hardwoods, and are designed with sufficient

moving parts to engage young children without

limiting imagination.

Target market

The target audience is adults, specifically

parents and grandparents who wish to give toys

to their children or grandchildren.

The competition

Wooden toys are part of a niche market with

companies of all sizes. Large companies

include Plastique Toys and Metal Happy Toys,

which sell internationally. Smaller companies

sell locally in shops, craft fairs, or online.

Revenue streams

Wooden Grain Toys will sell directly to

customers at craft fairs and online.

Marketing activities

Wooden Grain Toys will communicate with

customers with an email newsletter, targeted

Google and Facebook ads, social media, and

in person at craft fairs.

Expenses

•

Materials for toys including wood, steel,

and rubber

•

Craft fair fees and travel costs

•

Inventory space for products

Team and key roles

Currently, the only team member is the owner,

Andrew Robertson. As profits increase,

Wooden Grain Toys will look to add an

employee to assist with social media and

online marketing.

Milestones

As business grows, Wooden Grain Toys will

advertise in target markets—especially in

advance of the holiday season.

This example business plan is provided by the Small Business Administration.

Get help starting and running your small business at SBA.gov.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The report was written by Iliana Perez, edited by Claire Calderón and designed by Grace Yeo.

This report was made possible by the University of California Office of the President, as part of their commitment to

supporting all UC students, regardless of immigration status.

We are grateful for the valuable insight, research, feedback and revisions on earlier drafts from the National

Immigration Law Center (Josh Stehlik, Gabrielle Lessard, Ignacia Rodriguez, Jackie Vimo, Avideh Moussavian and

Tanya Broder), Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Asian Law Caucus (Winifred Kao and Aarti Kohli), the Immigrant

Legal Resource Center (Sally Kinoshita and Jose Magana-Salgado), the The Chavez Foundation (Elena Chavez

Quezada), Karla Reyes, Alvaro Morales, Emmanuel Mendoza, Xiuying Li Yu and Alice Matsuda.

Thank you to Cris Mercado for his research and tech support with the career pathways database. Special thanks

to UC Berkeley students, Zachary Summers and Saida Cornejo for their careful review of the document and their

research on UC support systems. Thanks to Entrepreneurship Ambassador, Sumana Kaluvai for her research on

transactional clinics. Thank you to those who agreed to be interviewed and shared their stories for this report:

Norma Castañeda, Bo Daraphant, Alejandro Flores, Victor Galvan, Sumana Kaluvai, Cindy Kolade, Kai Martin, Pedro

Moura, and Celia Serrato.

ABOUT US

Founded in 2006, Immigrants Rising transforms individuals and fuels broader changes. With resources and

support, undocumented young people are able to get an education, pursue careers, and build a brighter future for

themselves and their community. Immigrants Rising is a fiscally-sponsored project of Community Initiatives. For more

information, visit www.immigrantsrising.org

For inquiries regarding this resource, please contact Iliana G. Perez, Director of Research & Entrepreneurship, at

[email protected].