May 4, 2016 at 12:56 p.m.
SBA.gov provides free assistance to small businesses
Website offers variety of services to start, expand business
SBA.gov provides free assistance to small businesses
Many decisions have to be made, research has to be done and endless hoops have to be navigated.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has a large variety of free tools available to anyone interested in starting or expanding a small business.
Business plan tool
SBA.gov offers a tool to help future business owners create an in-depth business plan. By answering simple questions and providing complete answers, owners can input their information and print a full business plan.
Sections of the business plan include a cover page, executive summary, company description, market research, product and service line, marketing and sales and financial projection spreadsheets.
The final projections included step-by-step financial data and can be saved to a computer as spreadsheets for future use.
The business can also be saved and printed as a PDF file and if filled out completely and professionally, it can be submitted to banks during the loan approval stage.
Loans and grants
SBA offers general small business loans, microloans and loans for real estate, equipment and disaster situations. Research grants are available for small businesses involved in scientific research.
Applications are available directly on the website, as well as information to help prepare a business owner before filling out the application.
If a business owner isn't sure what loans best fit his or her business, an interactive tool is available to help determine financial needs. At the end of the process, a list of possible loans and grants are given in both federal and state categories.
Additional information available on the website involves such possibilities as venture capital and the types of financing not offered by SBA.
Free videos
Possibly one of the more useful aspects of SBA.gov are the free tutorial videos offered. Each video is 30 minutes long and can be watched at the viewer's leisure. Viewers do not need to create an account to use this feature.
A sample of topics include business development, Native American business growth, understanding customers and encore entrepreneurship for women.
Free printable worksheets are also available for use throughout the videos.
Government contracting
For businesses interested in government contracting, SBA.gov offers severals tools to learn, train and become certified. Resources for subcontracting is available as well.
A section titled "government contracting classroom" offers free 30-minute training courses which include audio, workbooks and Powerpoint presentations.
Business owners who have finished their training -either through the SBA site or outside sources - can obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (D-U-N-S) number and register as a government contractor.
Local chapters
SCORE is a nonprofit partner of SBA and offers local chapters to help mentor and educate on entrepreneurship. Local chapters offer seminars, workshops and events to help start, maintain and grow small business both locally and nationally.
The Northwoods' local chapters include Wausau and Central Wisconsin - located in Marshfield.
Both locations host educational and networking events, as well as offer mentoring programs and face-to-face counseling.
More information can be found at wausau.score.org and centralwisconsin.score.org. The Central Wisconsin office can also be found on Facebook under Central Wisconsin SCORE.
Jessica Leighty may be reached via email at jleighty@lakeland times.com.
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