If you run a neighborhood restaurant in Los Angeles, this one’s for you. A $5,000 grant is open for applications through June 30 — here’s everything you need to know.
⏰ Application window: June 1 – June 30, 2026 only. This grant does not roll over. Don’t wait until the last week — apply early.
Los Angeles is one of the most vibrant restaurant cities in the world — and one of the hardest places to run a small, independent restaurant. The California Restaurant Foundation runs a grant program called Restaurants Care that will award $5,000 grants to independent restaurants — money you don’t repay. If you operate a small, independent restaurant in California, including across Los Angeles, it’s worth applying before the current window closes. Rent, labor, food costs, and third-party delivery fees all chip away at already-thin margins. That’s why a $5,000 grant, available right now and only through June 30, is worth stopping everything to look into.
Orders.co was built for exactly the kind of restaurant this grant is designed to help: neighborhood spots, family-owned operations, local institutions that feed their communities and deserve the tools to compete. We’re sharing this because our operators should be aware of all the resources available to them.
What is this grant?
This is a direct $5,000 grant for qualifying restaurant businesses in Los Angeles. It does not need to be repaid. It is intended to help small and independent food service operators invest in their operations — whether that means technology, equipment, staffing, or working capital.
$5,000 • No repayment required • Los Angeles restaurants only • Applications close June 30
Who qualifies?
Eligibility requirements for grants of this type typically include:
✓ Operating in Los Angeles city or county — brick-and-mortar restaurant, café, food truck, or food hall
✓ Independent or small business — generally under 50 employees or below a revenue threshold
✓ In good standing — current on business licenses, health permits, and taxes
✓ Clear use of funds — technology, equipment, staffing, or operational improvements
✓ Application submitted by June 30 — late submissions are not accepted
Confirm eligibility requirements directly with the grant program before applying. Your local Los Angeles Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers free help navigating applications.
What can you spend it on?
Grant funds must be used for legitimate business expenses. Common approved uses include:
- All-in-one POS system upgrade or replacement
- Direct online ordering setup to eliminate third-party commission fees
- Kitchen equipment repair or replacement
- Staff hiring, training, and certification
- Marketing and local customer acquisition
- Inventory and supply chain improvements
- Accessibility improvements to your space
- Working capital for day-to-day operations
If you’ve been putting off upgrading your POS, building a direct ordering channel, or modernizing how your restaurant runs, this grant could cover a meaningful portion of that investment.
How to apply — step by step
- Confirm your eligibility
Visit the grant program’s official page or contact the LA SBDC to verify you meet all requirements before investing time in the application.
- Gather your documents
You’ll typically need: business license, EIN, proof of LA operation (lease or utility bill), recent financials or tax returns, and a description of how you’ll use the funds.
- Write a strong use-of-funds statement
Be specific and operational. “Replace aging POS systems with an all-in-one platform to consolidate ordering, payments, and reporting” is far stronger than “upgrade technology.” Grant reviewers respond to clarity.
- Submit well before June 30
Grant portals get traffic spikes near deadlines. A technical issue on the last day won’t extend your window. Submit early.
Other LA restaurant funding worth knowing
✓ LA County SBDC — free application advising and business support at lasbdc.org
✓ California Restaurant Foundation — workforce training grants and operator relief programs
✓ CDFI small business loans — low-interest financing for equipment and working capital
✓ City of LA Business Source Centers — local technical assistance and funding navigation
Why Orders.co cares about this
Orders.co was built around a simple belief: neighborhood restaurants are the backbone of every community in Los Angeles, from Boyle Heights to the Valley to South Central. The corner taqueria, the family-run pho shop, the local pizza spot that’s been there for 20 years — these businesses deserve the same technology that the big chains have, without the enterprise price tag or the complicated contracts.
Our all-in-one POS platform gives independent LA restaurants everything in one place: point of sale, direct online ordering, menu management, reporting, and loyalty — without routing your customers through DoorDash or Uber Eats and taking a cut of every order. We also support operators running catering programs with our Catering POS™ tools, built for the full lifecycle of event-based orders.
Orders.co is built for the small restaurants that built Los Angeles. We focus on neighborhood operators who want to own their customer relationships, keep more of their revenue, and run their business on one system that actually works.
Disclaimer: Grant details, eligibility, and deadlines are subject to change. Always verify current information directly with the grant administrator. Orders.co is not affiliated with or responsible for administering this grant program.
