| Small Business Information Center - your | | | | network of field offices and partnerships |
| Information Gateway | | | | with public and private organizations, SBA |
| | | | delivers its services to people throughout |
| Starting up a small business is really a | | | | the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. |
| testing time for any entrepreneur; one has to | | | | Virgin Islands and Guam. |
| undergo a lot of stress full with so much to | | | | |
| do in so less a time. The initial phase | | | | There are many SBA programs and services |
| before starting up a business is also | | | | which support your small business. You can |
| characterized by toiling under pressure to | | | | also get SBA-backed loans and find government |
| find out what is right and what is wrong. | | | | contracting opportunities. SBA also provides |
| | | | disaster assistance and training programs to |
| The major issue of concern before starting up | | | | help your business succeed. |
| any small business is the availability of | | | | |
| right resources. Do you have the right kind | | | | There are around 25 million strong small |
| of guidance? Do you have enough small | | | | businesses providing strength to America's |
| business information? What is the source of | | | | economy. Despite their immense contribution |
| your information? | | | | to the economy, small businesses are heavily |
| | | | burdened by the costs of government |
| Internet is one of the best resources for | | | | regulation and excessive paperwork. |
| searching for small business information. You | | | | |
| can also get some practical information on | | | | Office of Advocacy within the U.S Small |
| 'how to start your home business' and can | | | | Business Administration helps to reduce the |
| also search for some small business | | | | burdens that federal policies impose on small |
| opportunities that suit your taste and | | | | firms and maximize the benefits small |
| budget. | | | | businesses receive from the government. It |
| | | | encourages policies that support the |
| However, the best thing would be to visit a | | | | development and growth of American small |
| small business information center. You can | | | | business.sba.gov/services/index |
| also find out about the addresses of some | | | | |
| government based small business information | | | | Small Business Development Centers |
| centers and administrations. | | | | |
| | | | The Offices of Small Business Development |
| There are many local Business Information | | | | Centers (SBDC) provide variety of services to |
| Centers which provide the small business | | | | prospective and existing small business |
| owners and the prospective entrepreneurs with | | | | owners. You can get one-stop assistance, |
| important information. The small business | | | | guidance and information at its easily |
| centers also provide contacts for state | | | | accessible branch locations. As a cooperative |
| regulatory requirements for people wanting to | | | | effort of the private sector, the educational |
| start up small businesses. | | | | community and federal, state and local |
| | | | governments the main aim of this center to |
| The primary objective of any small business | | | | strengthen the network of training and |
| information center is to facilitate | | | | counseling services. |
| sustainable small business development. You | | | | |
| also find information about licenses and | | | | Women's Business Center |
| permits you need to obtain and maintain in | | | | |
| order to run your business smoothly. | | | | Women's Business Centers (WBCs) represent a |
| | | | national network of more than 100 educational |
| Small business information you need before | | | | resource centersdesigned to assist women |
| starting up a business: | | | | start and grow small businesses. WBCs operate |
| | | | with the mission to level the playing |
| • Information for obtaining the | | | | fieldfor women entrepreneurs, who still face |
| necessary licenses and permits | | | | unique obstacles in the world of business. |
| | | | |
| • Availability of different financing | | | | Online Women's Business Center |
| options for your short term or long term | | | | |
| goals | | | | The Office of Women's Business Ownership |
| | | | (OWBO) assists women in setting up small |
| • Information on some copyright and | | | | businesses. The assistance is provided |
| trademark issues. | | | | irrespective of their social or financial |
| | | | disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business |
| • Information on how you can get some | | | | background. OWBO and the Online Women's |
| guidance from external sources. | | | | Business Center are integral components of |
| | | | Entrepreneurial Development's network of |
| Some of the organizations that can help you | | | | training and counseling services.sba.gov |
| to set up small businesses are the following: | | | | services/lawsandregulations/advocacy/index |
| | | | |
| Small Business Administration (SBA) | | | | Whenever you decide to setup a small business |
| | | | visit the sites described above to get hold |
| The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) | | | | of some authentic information. You can also |
| is an independent agency of the federal | | | | find addresses of some local business |
| government to aid, counsel, assist and | | | | information and development centers where you |
| protect the interests of small business | | | | can go and discuss various issues related to |
| owners. The SBA helps Americans start, build | | | | your business. |
| and grow businesses. Through an extensive | | | | |