SCORE's website. |
As with all of these resources, you get the most from your consultations if you have already thought about the questions you have - and written them down - before meeting with an executive.
Go to http://www.score.org/ for general information. You can type in your zip code to find the SCORE office closest to you.
The SBA's main website. |
The SBA also has resources available at its general, nationwide site online but, in my estimation, this pales to what you can gain access to by focusing on what the SBA offers in your region. Actually, let me restate that. For general and specific information about a broad array of subjects, from SBA loans to SBICs (small business investment companies), the main SBA website has no competitors. But when you need marketing, finance, legal, and other information that will help you in your business and you are not sure what you need and when, that is when the regional office offerings trump the main site.
The SBA's regional website for Region X. |
- Region I: New England, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3070;
- Region II: Atlantic, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3071;
- Region III: Mid-Atlantic, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3072;
- Region IV: Southeast, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3073;
- Region V: Great Lakes, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3074
- Region VI: South Central, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3075
- Region VII: Great Plains, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3076;
- Region VIII: Rocky Mountains, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3077;
- Region IX: Pacific, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3078; and
- Region X: Pacific Northwest, http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3079.
"Chamber of commerce" Google search results in my area. |
Chambers offer training, networking events, committees to deepen your interaction and connections, business opportunities, and much more. Check out your local chamber(s) to determine which one is a great fit for you. All of the larger ones have an online presence, and all have brochures you can come by and pick up. Some allow you to attend a session or event for free as an introduction to what they offer. Larger small businesses often benefit more from the metro area chambers.
To find local chambers, just do a Google search on "chamber of commerce". In the screen capture above, you can see chambers of commerce in the area around Tallmadge, Ohio, which is where I was when I did this search!
Are you utilizing all of your local resources to their fullest potential?As a small business owner, the connections you make through these organizations – and the free or low-cost seminars that will educate you about issues that may until now have been foreign – are essential to your success.
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