You may know that the Small Business Administration (SBA) is a government organization, but that may be just about all you know about it. That’s a shame, because the SBA provides free business help to all small business owners from the smallest home office to the largest downtown building. Here are several ways that the SBA can benefit your small business.
The Small Business Development Centers are SBA offices located all around the nation. Here, a team of counselors will meet with you to guide you through the toughest business issues. You make an appointment, then when you meet with the counselor, you go over the issues you are having with your business. Whether it is putting together a budget, dealing with a difficult client, or improving productivity, the counselors are trained to listen to your concerns and steer you in the right direction
You can also visit the Small Business Development Center. There are hundreds of good books about business that you can borrow. Also, these centers often offer classes for things that you might need to know about, such as how to run QuickBooks or write a business proposal. These are very helpful, and are much cheaper than a college class.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is one of handiest SBA backed group. This group is composed of volunteers who are interested in helping fledgling businesses succeed. Sometimes it is nice to just have someone to look at your problem objectively, so keep these professionals in mind. These former executives specialize in various problems depending on their experience, are confidential, and are a wealth of knowledge. Whether you are having trouble with managing your budget, or thinking of expanding your small business, these people will help.
The SBA has a number of useful online tools and seminars designed educate people who need information. For example, you can take a mini-seminar in franchising, how to start a small business, or one on writing a business plan. These are great first steps for beginning small business owners. For current businesspeople, there are classes geared to how to deal with the downturn in the economy, among other things.
The one thing that SBA doesn’t offer is financing, except to non profit agencies. This is a misperception because of familiar terms like, “SBA loans” or “SBA Grants.” Instead, the SBA guarantees the money so that lenders, such as your local bank, will risk a loan to a business. Whether you need to upgrade your home office to meet the needs of your new clients, or if you have a bigger business that needs a large piece of equipment, the SBA is there to take on the risk.
These are only a few ways the SBA can help your small business be more successful. Anyone starting a new business, or even current business owners, really should start with the SBA first. It’s the best way to take on the world of business with a good chance of success.
