Resources for Businesses
Do you want to make your business dreams a reality but aren’t sure what steps to take? There are tons of resources out there to support people like you with business aspirations. Check out these options. If you’d like to get on the path to building your business today, consider enrolling in our Business Development training provided in partnership with the business expertise from Women’s Initiative.
The following resources are just some examples pulled from our partner’s website. To view all of the resources including those that apply to your specific area, visit the resource page on the Women’s Initiative website.
The Small Business Administration
This is a useful site in locating information on starting a small business. You can easily navigate the site by using its search engine or by clicking on a topic such as Starting Your Business. Here you will find a startup kit, financial assistance programs, publications, an outline for a business plan, and additional resources. Other areas of interest on the site include Financing Your Business and Business Opportunities. The SBA runs a national network of Small Business Development Centers, and the agency also provides funding for Women's Business Development Centers. See the Online Women's Business Center for information specific to women's business development. For more information contact the SBA Answer Desk answerdesk@sba.gov
Small Business Administration, The Office of Women’s Business Ownership
(202) 205‐6673
www.sbaonline.sba.gov/womeninbusiness.
Provides network of training, counseling, and mentoring services to help women start or expand their businesses; creates programs and policies that help women entrepreneurs become full partners in national and global economies.
Small Business Administration, One Stop Capital Shop
(510) 238‐3703
www.sba.gov/onestop
Revitalizes distressed inner cities and rural communities by providing small business development workshops, technical assistance, coaching, and lending assistance.
Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center
(510) 893‐4114
www.sba.gov/sbdc
Offers one‐stop management assistance, training, and referrals to small business owners; sponsored by SBA and the California Trade and Commerce Agency.
Small Business ToolKit
The SME Toolkit us.smetoolkit.org, is a complimentary, online resource with an array of features providing expert advice for starting, growing or maintaining a business. Tools include daily expert advice by Jim Blasingame, the #1 ranked small business expert on the Internet. A blog called Deborah’s Biz Basics sponsored by BuzGate.org provides a forum for women to discuss business issues and get advice. A new small business video learning series is available covering topics such as incorporating, bookkeeping, managing credit and avoiding burnout. The toolkit was introduced in the U.S. for Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American and Women‐owned businesses, and contains thousands of how‐to articles, free Web software, press release distribution offerings and directory listing, financial calculators, business readiness quizzes, HR and more. The Toolkit is available in Spanish and has versions in 17 languages covering 30 countries. The new SME Toolkit was developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank and IBM, along with other partners.
Resources for Small, Minority, Women‐Owned Businesses
http://www.proposalwriter.com/small.html
This site offers a wealth of links to resources designed to help these small businesses owned by minorities. The site is created and maintained by Deborah Kluge, independent consultant.
The Small Business Network
http://www.americanexpress.com/homepage/smallbusiness.shtml
This site offers practical advice about financing sources for new businesses, sponsored by the American Express Company.
EntreWorld
http://www.eventuring.org/eShip/appmanager/eVenturing/eVenturingDesktop
The Kaufman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership hosts this site providing resources covering many topics of interest to entrepreneurs, including starting and growing a business, and supporting entrepreneurship.
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
http://www.microenterpriseworks.org
This national trade association for micro enterprise may be able to direct you to a local micro enterprise development agency.
My Own Business: A Free Internet Course on Starting a Business
This is a 12‐session course that is intended for both start‐up and already operating businesses. The site is fully interactive with audio sound bytes, quizzes, feedback, and a tool to create your own business plan.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
If your community is a HUD Empowerment Zone, an Enterprise Community, an Urban Renewal Community, or a Rural Community, tax benefits may be available to you that expand, start, or relocate there.
