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The Small Business Administration (SBA)

The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. With a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans worth more than $45 billion, in addition to a venture capital portfolio of $13 billion, the SBA is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses. Last year, the SBA offered management and technical assistance to more than one million small business owners. When you visit the websites of this government agency or organization, you will be leaving the Federal Communications Commission's website. If you have questions concerning the information contained on these sites, please contact the specific government agency.

Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA)
www.sba.gov/naa
The Office of Native American Affairs is dedicated to ensuring that American Indians, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians who are seeking to develop and expand small businesses have full access to SBA business development, lending and procurement programs.

Tribal Business Information Centers
www.sba.gov/naa/tribes
The Tribal Business Information Centers offer business development assistance to Native American entrepreneurs. These centers are a partnership between tribes or tribal colleges and the SBA. They offer access to a wide variety of resources and practical guidance at accessible reservation locations. At this website you will learn about the resources they offer and where they are located.

Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act (PRIME)
www.sba.gov/financing/frprime.html
PRIME offers federal grants to qualified organizations to provide training and technical assistance to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs. These organizations include microenterprise development organizations or programs that are accountable to a local community, working in conjunction with an Indian tribe, with proper certification that no other qualified organization exists within their jurisdiction.

7(A) Loan Guaranty Program
www.sba.gov/financing/fr7aloan.html
The 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program is one of SBA's primary lending programs. It provides loans to small businesses unable to secure financing on reasonable terms through normal lending channels. The program operates through private-sector lenders that provide loans that are, in turn, guaranteed by the SBA.

8(a) Business Development
www.sba.gov/8abd/
The SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market. They build community-based small businesses, which in turn revitalizes neighborhoods, creates jobs, and encourages economic growth. SBA uses a number of assistance intervention tools, ranging from contract support to low-interest loans for site acquisition, construction, and the purchase of new or upgraded equipment.

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
www.sba.gov/sdb
The Small Disadvantaged Business certification program offers benefits in federal procurement. 8(a) firms automatically qualify for SDB certification. SBA certifies small disadvantaged businesses to make them eligible for special procurement bidding benefits. Evaluation credits available to prime contractors boost subcontracting opportunities for Small Disadvantaged Businesses.

HubZone Empowerment Contracting Program
https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet
The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program provides federal contracting opportunities for qualified small businesses located in distressed areas. The program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones - "HUBZones" - through the establishment of preferences.

Pro-Net
pro-net.sba.gov
Pro-Net is a database of information on more than 195,000 small, disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and native-owned businesses. It is free to federal and state government agencies as well as contractors seeking small business contractors, subcontractors and/or partnership opportunities. Pro-Net is designed to be a "virtual" one-stop-procurement-shop. As an electronic gateway, Pro-Net provides access to the Commerce Business Daily, agency home pages and other sources of procurement opportunities.

Starting Your Business
www.sba.gov/starting
At this website you will find a "Start-up Kit" on how to start a small business, learn how to prepare a business plan, and receive counseling help on these first steps. At this website you can also learn about SBA workshops, seminars and courses - many are free and some are online.

Financing Your Business
www.sba.gov/financing
Financial Assistance for small businesses can be obtained through SBA's Investment or Business Loan Programs. The SBA provides its business loans to eligible small businesses by making or guaranteeing loans.

Small Business Classroom
www.sba.gov/classroom
The Small Business Administration provides online courses, online business counseling, and links to online business resources. The Small Business Classroom has several online courses to help you start or expand your business. The courses range from "How to Start a Small Business" to the "Basics of E-Commerce."

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
(www.score.org)
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. SCORE's free, online business counseling offered by retired business management experts can help you start off on the right track or solve a business question. Email counseling is offered to get you help right away.

One Stop Capital Shop
www.sba.gov/onestop
One Stop Capital Shops offer free, small business assistance from easy-to-reach retail locations in distressed inner cities and rural areas. All One Stop Capital Shops have the same goal: to increase the chances of success for small businesses.

Office of Women's Business Ownership
www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness
The Office of Women's Business Ownership offers training, advice and counseling anytime, anywhere via the Internet, to help women start and build successful businesses. Their programs help women put together successful loan packages and get into federal procurement and export markets. They also offer loan guaranty programs to help those who cannot get conventional loans for financing their businesses.