Small Business Administration Programs for Small Business Owners
A Home Business Article Contributed by Elizabeth Fox-Wise
The Us Small Business Administration Exists to Assist Small Business
The US Small Business Administration is an independent government program which exists to assist small business owners in many aspects of small business ownership.
There are several things that the US Small Business Administration can do for your small business. One aspect of this small business support includes various programs open to small business owners.
The Small Business Administration Can Help You Start a Small Business
The small business administration can provide help to entrepreneurs who have a small business idea. They offer both mentoring and instructional programs for all aspects of business start up. This help includes but is not limited to writing a business plan, investigating the market for your small business.
The Small Business Administration's Business Development programs are intended to help small businesses lay a successful foundation for the future. The services they offer include, but is not limited to, support for government contractors, access to small business capital, management and technical assistance, and export assistance.
The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) administers the Small Business Development Center Program to provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SBDC offers assistance to individuals and small business by providing a large variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations throughout the US.
There is at least one SBDC branch in every state ( California has six branches and Texas has 4 branches), the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is a network of more than 1100 service locations.
The Small Business Administration Has a Strong Network of Mentors
Perhaps the most valuable resource to any new or young small business owner is having access to people who have done it before you and actually want to help you to do it to! Yes, these people do exist and they are called Mentors. The Small Business Administration has several programs in place were volunteer business mentors are ready and willing to help you start, grow and maintain your small business.
Perhaps the most well known mentoring resource partner with the US is a program known as SCORE.
SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business) is the largest source of free and confidential small business mentoring assistance.
The SCORE Association, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit association committed to entrepreneurial education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide.
SCORE's extensive, national network of 10, 500 mostly retired, but some still working, mentor volunteers are experienced entrepreneurs and corporate managers/executives. These volunteers provide free small business mentoring, counseling and advice as a public service to all types of business, in all stages of its development.
The Small Business Administration has many more support programs available to US Small Business as well. They can assist with small business loans and, occasionally not not often small business grants. They can assist those small business that would like to obtain some government contract work, and provide support and assistant to all types of small business.
