Small Business Administration Guide to Entrepreneurship

In carrying out its mission, SBA offers programs and services designed to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs in starting, managing and growing successful small business concerns that are a source of competitive American strength in the global economy. These programs and services are defined by four identifiable phases of successful entrepreneurial development:

Entrepreneurial self analysis
Resources to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners
Capital and Financing Resources
Government Contracting Resources

To learn more about the programs, services and business assistance tools, SBA offers small business owners and entrepreneurs, including veteran, service-disabled veteran and Reserve Component members, explore the links below.

Entrepreneurial Self Analysis

Phase 1 Entrepreneurial Self Analysis

This link provides access to entrepreneurial tests that will assist you in determining if owning a business is right for you.

www.sba.gov/starting_business/startup/areyouready.html.

Entrepreneurial Development Resources

Phase 2 Resources to assist in starting, managing and growing successful small business concerns

This link provides access to SBA’s network of resource partners that can assist you in starting, managing and growing successful small business concerns. Included in this network are Centers charged with providing assistance specific to veteran and service-disabled veteran business owners, & tools specifically designed to aid self-employed members of the Reserve and National Guard balance business ownership with Title 10 activations

Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBO Centers) www.sba.gov/VETS/vbop.html
Veteran Business Development Officers (VBD Officers) www.sba.gov/VETS/reps.html
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) www.sba.gov/sbdc/sbdcnear.html
SCORE www.score.org/findscore/
Women’s Business Centers www.sba.gov/content/womens-business-centers
Native American Affairs www.sba.gov/naa/
Small Business Training Network www.sba.gov/training/
Veterans and Military Families www.sba.gov/veterans-and-military-families

Phase 3 Capital and Financing Resources

This link provides access to the various loan programs SBA offers small business owners and entrepreneurs. By clicking the links, a synopsis on the Agency’s loan programs follows along with information on how to apply for an SBA-backed loan and criteria for qualifying.

Basic 7(a) Loan Program www.sba.gov/financing/index.html
CDC/504 Loan Program www.sba.gov/financing/sbaloan/cdc504.html
Micro-Loans www.sba.gov/financing/sbaloan/microloans.html
Surety Bond http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/bonds/surety-bonds
International Trade www.sba.gov/oit
Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loans http://www.sba.gov/content/military-reservists-economic-injury-loans
Small Business Investment Corporations http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/inv/index.html

Phase 4 Government Contracting Resources

This link provides information on the various government contracting programs SBA offers in assisting small business owners and entrepreneurs in bidding on and winning federal government contracts.

Government Contracting for Veteran Business Owners www.sba.gov/content/veteran-service-disabled-veteran-owned or www.sba.gov/vets
HUBZone Program https://eweb1sp.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/index.cfm
8(a) Business Development Program www.sba.gov/8abd
Technology – SBIR/STTR Program http://www.sba.gov/about-sba-services/7050
Contract Assistance for Women-owned Businesses www.sba.gov/content/contracting-opportunities-women-owned-small-businesses
Small Disadvantaged Businesses archive.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sdb/index.html
Procurement Center Representatives www.sba.gov/about-offices-list/2
Commercial Market Representatives http://www.sba.gov/content/commercial-market-representatives
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers www.aptac-us.org, www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm

OTHER RESOURCES

SBA Office of Advocacy http://www.sba.gov/ADVO/
SBA Office of Ombudsman www.sba.gov/ombudsman
Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov
VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/
Department of Labor www.dol.gov
DOL Office of Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) http://www.dol.gov/vets/
DOL Office of Disability Policy Initiatives www.dol.gov/odep
National Veterans Business Development Corporation http://www.veteranscorp.org/

Date Last Reviewed: September 22, 2011

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Small Business Administration Guide to Entrepreneurship

NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION