Our guest blogger today is Stephen Morris, a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Small Business Administration working to help small business owners and entrepreneurs. Every challenge presents an opportunity. In a tough economy, many aspiring entrepreneurs have found their opening to start a business.
The good news is that Federal, state, and local governments offer many resources to help you achieve your dream of owning a business.
Start with a plan. A business plan is a strategic vision for your business and is often required for obtaining loans. There are a number of government resources online to help you get started on your plan.
• Small Business Planner
• Business.gov videos: Business Planning Tutorial
• Gauge your local competition with Census data
After you’ve researched and developed a plan, you may want to attend training or a counseling session. Several government-sponsored groups provide this service for free or a nominal fee.
• In-person services near you
And of course, you need money to start your business. Federal, state, and local governments each operate loan and financial assistance programs for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Learn more about financing a business
• Search for business loans and grants
Businesses need to follow all relevant laws, file necessary permits, and pay taxes. For more information about these and other steps to opening your business, check out 10 Steps to Starting a Business.
Wherever you are in the process, whether starting or expanding, the Business.gov Community is a great place to ask questions and share your experiences.
Additional resources
• USA.gov online services for business
• Are you doing business online? Specific information for Internet-based business
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