BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, START-UP, FINANCING, CERTIFICATION, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AND MUCH MORE
A
Are you looking for a business loan? Here you'll find information on the fundamentals of borrowing money, including credit worthiness, types of loans, amount of money needed, collateral, loan restrictions and limitations, loan applications, and lender evaluation of your loan application.
Accion USA is a non-profit organization that provides credit to small business owners who can't access commercial loans.
B
This federal government site guides you through the maze of government rules and regulations and provides access to services and resources to help you start, grow, and succeed in business. Topics include government contracting, business laws, financing, special entrepreneurs (women, minorities, veterans, etc.), and more.
Loads of information on this site, including certification FAQs for SDB and 8(a) companies, certification info for women-owned businesses, and more. This is a commercial site that also sells certification software and services,
Incubators nurture young firms, helping them to survive and grow during the start-up period when they are most vulnerable. Incubators provide hands-on management assistance, access to financing and orchestrated exposure to critical business or technical support services. They also offer entrepreneurial firms shared office services, access to equipment, flexible leases and expandable space--all under one roof.
The Business Matchmaking Program is an event designed to match-up small business owners with contract procurement officers from federal, state, and local government agencies, and private companies that award procurement contracts.
An "Ask the Experts" site where you can read answers to questions asked by others or ask your own questions. Major sections include questions and answers on various aspects of Entrepreneurship (starting and financing a business); Business Plans; and Marketing Plans.
Dowloadable Word, Excel and pdf templates for preparing business plans, financial statements, loan request, estimate of start-up expenses, sales forecasts, non-disclosure agreement, etc.
C
To do business with the Federal Government, you must register with CCR. Registration can be done online at this site. There's an easy-to-follow handbook as well as other useful links and information.
D
Wondering if your business qualifies as a small business according to the U.S. Government? This site will tell you. You should be aware that some States may have their own definitions.
Digital-Women is for women in business, women who want to be in business, and all women around the globe looking for a place to find free business resources, tips, marketing solutions, financial resources, networking opportunities, and more.
Here you can search for products and services provided by diverse types of businesses including small businesses, veterans and veteran-owned firms, firms classified as disabled, and Native American, Hispanic, Afro-American, Asian American, and Fortune 1000 companies. You can also register your company as a supplier for a fee. Suppliers' profiles are made available to buyers including Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, associations, and other major purchasers nationwide seeking to do business with small and minority businesses. You'll find other resources here as well.
Since 1991, the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) has offered substantial assistance to small and small disadvantaged businesses. It assists these businesses (proteges) to successfully compete for prime contract and subcontract awards by partnering with large companies (mentors) under individual, project-based agreements.
E
Some basic facts about Government loans and grants.
F
This site is designated as the single source for federal government procurement opportunities that exceed $25,000. If you are interested in bidding on government contracts, you can sign up to automatically receive procurement information. You can also search procurements by solicitation number, date, classification code, and agency for both active or archived solicitations.
Tell the wizard what kind of financing you're looking for, and the wizard will tell you how and where to find it.
A comprehensive site on business financing, with lots of links to good information.
This article from BNET focuses on alternate sources of financing for your business, including micro-loans and angel investors.
An interactive website that helps you plan and develop your business.
My own page of Frequently Asked Questions. Please check this page before you contact me with a question.
G
How to get government assistance to start, continue, or expand your business.
Articles on government contracting from Entrepreneur Magazine.
My own page, where you'll find information on government loans for business, economic development, rural area businesses, housing, and farming.
H
Get information on federal procurement, recruitment, and advocacy. You don't have to be Hispanic to find useful information here.
Thousands of contracts, worth billions of dollars, bypass small firms each year because they do not know about or understand the government procurement process. This site can help you get started.
This article explains what a loan package is and the key components that go into putting a loan package together.
A short article that explains the general criteria for obtaining a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan.
A free online course providing business procedures, practical examples, and basic do's and don'ts for entrepreneurs. With audio sound bytes, quizzes, feedback and a tool to create your own business plan, the site is fully interactive.
L
This page, by the Missouri Small Business Development Center, contains a listing and description of typical items that lenders require from a small business when applying for a loan.
You may be able to increase your chances of getting a business loan by using a loan packaging service. Loan packagers can help you gather the necessary documents; make sure the financial information on your loan application makes sense; provide insights into specific banks' lending practices; coach business owners on how to talk to bankers; and suggest alternative financing.
Is there a Small Business Administration office, a SCORE chapter, a Better Business Bureau near you? Which financial institutions are top lenders to small businesses? Where are the city/county government offices? ---- Select your state and get all the information, top business news, resources and links.
M
MEP is a nationwide network of not-for-profit Centers in over 400 locations nationwide, whose sole purpose is to provide small and medium-sized manufacturers with the help they need to succeed. The Centers are linked together through the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology.
If you're a small business looking for some free assistance, MicroMentor can connect you with an experienced business mentor who can provide one-on-one advice to help you build your business.
Here you'll find business resources for African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Woman. There are also categories for other interest groups including disabled persons, gays and lesbians, veterans and rural, home-based and family businesses.
A search engine for finding federally-certified minority and woman-owned businesses. Search by company name, industry, or location.
The only Federal agency specifically created to encourage the creation, growth, and expansion of minority-owned businesses in the U.S.
N
The National Center is a non-profit organization, founded and directed by American Indians, committed to Business Development for Indian People. It is dedicated to developing American Indian economic self-sufficiency through business ownership.
O
The mission of SBA's Office of Native American Affairs is to ensure that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the necessary business development and expansion tools available through the Agency's entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs
The SBA Office of Veterans Business Development's mission is to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of all administration small business programs for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their Dependents or Survivors.
The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership's mission is to establish and oversee a network of Women's Business Centers (WBCs). Through the management and technical assistance provided by these Centers, entrepreneurs, especially women who are economically or socially disadvantaged, are offered comprehensive training and counseling on a vast array of topics in many languages to help them start and grow their own businesses.
P
The Public Broadcasting System's website for small businesses. Click on the "help" link at the top to find inexpensive courses on starting and growing your business. The website also contains transcripts and information from their TV show, resources, tips, paths and steps for developing small businesses, and more.
If you're a U.S. resident, you can request an unsecured loan for up to $25,000 for your business. Other people bid to lend money to you at the rate you request.
R
An article from Inc. Magazine, with lots of good information and links.
This site contains information on certification, doing business with the government, events, and workshops and training. For a fee, you can also list your company in their national directory.
S
Provides step-by-step information on working with the government.
The HUBzone Empowerment Contracting program provides federal contracting opportunities for qualified small businesses located in distressed areas.
A variety of free online courses from the Small Business Administration including Starting, Managing and Financing Your Business.
Includes lots of information on planning, starting and managing your business.
A summary page containing links to the many services and programs offered by the Small Business Administration.
Did you know that you can get FREE in-person and e-mail counseling and business advice? This site also contains informative articles and links to various small business resources.
Find and get free business assistance from a Center near you.
This is the blog of Ken Larson, a volunteer counselor with SCORE. Right at the top of this page you'll find a book on federal government contracting that you can obtain for free. Excerpts from the book are on the site, as are other useful posts aimed at small businesses.
Various articles about government grants and grants for small businesses.
Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) and Specialized Small Business Investment Companies (SSBICs) are financial institutions that make equity capital and long-term credit available to small, independent businesses.
This is an old article, but it provides a starting place for finding government aid if you're looking to start a business and recruit workers in a low-income area.
An excellent collection of resources to help you get your new business off the ground.
T
How to prepare for and increase your chances of getting a loan.
V
A directory of small, medium and large businesses owned by veterans, active duty military, reservists and service disabled veterans. The businesses are listed by category. You can also list your own veteran-owned company.
The purpose of VeteransCorp is to help structure and facilitate collaborations between nonprofit and profit small business entities and veteran/service disabled veteran owned small businesses. Here you can get up-to-date news and information resources, develop collaborations and relationships, find a mentor, and volunteer your services to help other veteran-owned businesses.
The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act provides assistance and opportunities for veteran-owned and service connected disabled veteran-owned businesses. Here you'll find answers to fequently asked questions, contacts to help you do business with the government, links to other sites of interest to Veteran-Owned Businesses, information on Veteran-Owned Business Conferences, a library of documents and information, and Veterans Affairs Business Opportunities.
Information and assistance for veterans who are interested in starting and growing a small business.
W
A lot of good information here categorized by subsections that include Financing and Investing, Building Your Business, Small Business Technology, Franchising, and Tools and How-To Guide.
Another good government site -- this one geared to woman-owned businesses who are or who want to sell their products and services to the federal government. This website is organized to target the five specific stages that a woman business owner should go through to determine if government is the right customer for her. The stages are: (1) meeting the basics; (2) finding your market; (3) getting started; (4) finding business opportunities; and (5) key contacts.
The Council serves as an advocate for women-owned suppliers, and helps women-owned businesses obtain certification. The site also has links, conference information, articles, and other items of interest to business owners.
The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program authorizes government contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) or economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs)
THE QUESTION I AM ALWAYS ASKED:
I Want to Start or Expand a Small Business -- Where Can I Get a Government Business Grant?
Please see this page for specific information on Business Grants.
For information on other sources of funding, please visit my Government Loans and Other Financial Resources Page. There you'll find information on Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, State and Local Economic Development Programs, non-government business funding, and funding for various types of businesses.
Other useful pages:
- Business Grant Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Other Government Grants
- Business Plans and Proposals
- Finding and getting Free Money
- Information on Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs
- Government Agency Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
- Information on Recovery and Stimulus Grants and Funding
- Proposal writing Blog