Small Business Administration

Chapter 9:The Business You're In - Page 9.11

Small Business Administration

In the United States, the SBA is best known for its small business loans. However, it also provides business training, business information, and business services, including workshops, counseling, publications, and videotapes. It has program offices in every state, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. It has business development specialists stationed in more than 100 field offices nationwide. We noted its website, www.sba.gov, with an illustration, a few sections back.

The SBA publishes many business booklets and information products. These products are free, many as electronic files, but the SBA suggests a small donation (under $3.00 for most of them) for hard copy. They answer many frequently-asked questions and provide important information for business owners and would-be business owners.

If you don't have Internet access, you can find out about SBA business development programs and services by calling the SBA Small Business Answer Desk at 1-800-UASKSBA (1-800-827-5722). The answer desk "hotline" provides an information and referral service staffed by the organization's office of business initiatives, education, and training. It operates during normal office hours five days a week.

SCORE Association

The SCORE Association, "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a resource partner with the SBA. This group, formerly known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, includes more than 10,000 volunteers who provide training and one-on-one counseling at no charge, in 389 offices all over the country. You can find out about SCORE at www.score.org.

Small Business Development Centers

SBDCs are funded in part by the SBA and also work with local colleges and some other funding agencies. Every state has at least one SBDC, and most states have several offices in several cities. Visit our website at www.bplans.com/sb/ for a list of several hundred local SBDC addresses.

We've found the SBDCs to be an excellent resource for businesses, offering high quality, professional advice at very low prices. SBDCs also work closely with local colleges to participate in and provide courses in business topics, such as business planning, bookkeeping, employee management, sales, marketing, and other vital subjects. SBDCs also publish books, surveys, and studies, and in some cases even audio tapes, videotapes, and workshops. Palo Alto Software has worked with SBDCs in the past, to provide software and seminar courses related to business planning.

U.S. Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau, part of the Department of Commerce, has a wealth of information available for business and educational purposes. I refer to it, specifically and with examples, in the market analysis portion of Gathering Information: Know Your Market.

Most of the Census Bureau's reports cover the entire United States and summarize data for the nation. However, the Bureau also publishes information on states, counties in states, and even cities within counties. Among the more valuable special reports are city and county reports that list the number of business establishments by type of establishment. These are special reports available directly from the Bureau and also from some libraries and electronic database services. Many of these reports are also available through online services. The Census Bureau has an electronic edition called CENDATA. It also has an Internet website at www.census.gov. The U.S. Department of Commerce has a website at www.osec.doc.gov.

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