Big ideas for small businesses: experts are standing by with free or low-cost business help where you need it most

Art Business News, March, 2002 by Jennifer Wong

Small Business Development Centers

Small business development centers (SBDCs), which are administered by the SBA, deliver up-to-date, confidential counseling, training and technical assistance in all aspects of small business management. SBDCs work in partnership with local universities, community colleges and the private sector. Their counselors include local lawyers, bankers, professors, engineers and paid consultants and also are recruited from professional and trade associations. SBDCs offer general and specialized counseling and training.

Since 1980, more than eight million entrepreneurs have received services from SBDCs. There are more than 58 small business development centers located throughout the country with a network of nearly 1,000 service locations. For the center nearest you, visit the Web site (www.sba.gov/sbdc) or call 800-689-1912.

Economic Development Agency

The focus of your state's Economic Development Agency is the coordination of resources and services to help small businesses. It can be the first line of contact for you when you are in need of help and don't know where to go to get the answer you need. Instead of rifling through the phone book, call your economic development agency with any business question or concern you have--they can refer you to the agency that can best help.

In addition to their referrals and business resource publications offered for free, the Economic Development Agency regularly offers all-day tax seminars with members from the IRS, INS and state partners like the Department of Revenue and Licensing. It's a long day, but small businesses can get a lot of information and access to resources in one place. These state and federal representatives will often stay after the workshop to offer one-on-one counseling to attending business owners.

Call your state office for the Economic Development Agency to locate the office that provides business and technical assistance to small businesses.

Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training

Since 1992, women have started businesses at a higher rate than their male counterparts. While women have access to training and assistance offered by many agencies and organizations, the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET) recognizes that many women business owners benefit from workshops designed specifically for their needs. WNET offers roundtables once a month on subjects such as: getting the edge on legal issues; successful business financing options; strategies for managing cash flow and growth; defining your target market; and real-life experiences for women business leaders.

In general, women have enjoyed the benefits of being taught by women business owners, lenders and attorneys and have been energized by the camaraderie of being in an audience of mostly women. WNET also matches successful entrepreneurial women as mentors for women business owners whose companies are ready to grow.

Contact the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership at (202) 205-6673 for the WNET program nearest you.