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The Cook County Small Business Source strives to support, grow, and elevate small businesses by providing no-cost business advising, resources, and access to events. This program directly connects small business owners with expert guidance and support to take businesses to the next level.
Email: info@cookcountysmallbiz.org
Website: https://cookcountysmallbiz.org/
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a government agency that provides startup assistance, resources, training, and even funding to small businesses. The mission of SBA is “to maintain and strengthen the nation’s economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses and by assisting in the economic recovery of communities after disasters.” SBA loans can help a small business get the capital it needs to get its business off the ground or to the next level. There’s simply no better place for business startup help.
Phone: 800-827-5722
Email: answerdesk@sba.gov
Website: https://www.sba.gov/
For any owner, small business taxes can be overwhelming. The Internal Revenue Service’s Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center is one of the key online business resources that can assist you here. Here, you’ll find everything you need to file your taxes, such as forms and instructions. The IRS even offers a video portal that will educate you on the tax law and any other information you must know as a small business owner. Educational products, virtual workshops, e-newsletters, and webinars are also available
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a government agency that serves as a critical informational tool for small businesses. The BLS provides detailed information on the health of specific markets and industries, the average pay for certain professions — something you should be familiar with during the hiring process — and other things you must know about the market. It releases publications with even more detailed information so you’ll always have your finger on the pulse of your industry and can make more educated decisions for your business as a result.
Address: Postal Square Building2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212-0001
Phone: 1 (202) 691-5200
Website: https://www.bls.gov/
The Minority Business Development Agency which operates within the U.S. Department of Commerce — seeks to support businesses in minority communities. It provides information on loans and grants, as well as other business resources. The agency states that it is the only agency dedicated to the “growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises.” The agency estimates that nearly 11 million businesses in the U.S. are minority-owned; they employ more than 6.3 million people and generate $1.8 trillion in revenue annually.
Address: 1401 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230
Phone: (202) 482-2332
Website: https://www.mbda.gov/
The National Women’s Business Council is a lobbying organization that advances the interests of women entrepreneurs. The organization offers monthly webinars to provide a platform to women business owners, roundtables to connect them to policymakers, annual reports and policy recommendations, and public meetings to share study areas and gather input.
Address: 409 3rd St SW #210, Washington, DC 20024
Email: info@nwbc.gov
Website: https://www.nwbc.gov/
Small Business Development Centers are state-specific startup resources provided by the SBA that help small business owners and entrepreneurs. You can view the SBA’s list of small business development centers by state on its website. Get in contact with your local office if you want to connect with a local expert who can guide you in creating a business plan or finding funding for your company.
Find Local Assistance: Find local assistance | U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov)
If you want to learn more about business but lack the financial resources to pay for expensive courses, Alison offers free online courses to help you improve in management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Alison offers courses in human resources, basic accounting, entrepreneurship, project management, resource management, sales, operations, and many other areas relevant to running a business. For business owners who feel like they have a knowledge gap that’s holding them back, Alison can help them get to the next level.
MIT OpenCourseWare is another option for business owners seeking knowledge, offering free courses that allow you to learn at your own pace. And some of them include graduate-level courses to really advance your learning. You can sort courses by topic and subtopic. It offers video lectures, audio lectures, notes, assessments, student projects, and more.
SCORE, a nonprofit organization that calls itself “the nation’s largest network of volunteer business experts,” is one of the best resources for small businesses, with more than 10,000 volunteers and 300 chapters to help business owners with counseling, business tools, and training. SCORE offers templates for business plans, financial projections, startup expenses, and marketing budgets, among others. For entrepreneurs who are feeling overwhelmed and seeking help, this is an excellent resource.
Phone: 1-800-634-0245
Website: https://www.score.org/
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