USA:Small Business Resources

To help grow and manage your small business, there are a number of government resources available:

Loans, Grants, and Other Assistance

Federal, state, and local governments offer a wide range of financing programs for small businesses.

• Low-interest loans - Designed for business owners who may have trouble qualifying for a traditional bank loan.
• Venture capital - The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program works with private investment funds licensed as SBICs to provide growth capital to U.S. small businesses.
• Scientific and economic development grants - Unlike business loans, grants have the advantage of not having to be repaid--but grant funding is generally restricted to very specific audiences.

To find out what government financing programs may be available to your small business, use the Loans and Grants Search Tool from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

BusinessUSA

A one-stop platform, BusinessUSA combines business-related information from government agencies to help small businesses find the government services and information they need to grow, hire, and export.

• To determine if your business is ready for exporting and to guide you to the appropriate resources, use the Exporting Wizard.
• Need help with growing your business? Go to the Grow Your Business section.
• The Hiring Wizard gives you resources on recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining employees.

Agency Resources

You can also find small business resources through various government agencies.

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Find information on filing and payment of small business taxes under Small Business and Self-Employed Resources.
• U.S. Department of the Treasury - The Small Business Program provides services to help grow your small business.
• U.S. Census Bureau - Find market and industry data under Small Business Resources.
• International Trade Administration (ITA) - To determine if your small business is ready to make international sales, go toExporting Basics.
• U.S. Department of State (DOS) - The Direct Line Program provides small-business owners the opportunity to engage directly via webcast with U.S. Ambassadors overseas.
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - Find information and resources to assist your small business in the patent and trademark process.

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