Small Business Administration

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How was it? I'm opening a cookie kiosk at my local mall & I'm sure I'll end up falling back on the SBA (Small Business Administration).

Best Answer

No lender will talk to you unless you provide them with a valid business plan. Go to http://www.sba.gov , http://www.score.org or http://www.bplan.com for sample business plans and instructions on how to write a business plan. Then, go to http://www.score.org/ and in the upper left hand corner, enter your zip code. On the next screen, you will get information on the nearest SCORE chapter. Call them and arrange for a free meeting with a SCORE counselor to review your business plan and discuss various loan options available to you. SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE has 389 chapters in locations throughout the United States and its territories, with 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors.

a lien was entered on my house due to a business failure in 1986 and nothing more has been heard

Best Answer

Probably not. The lien just preserves their right to make a claim against your property at some point in the future, usually when you go to transfer ownership or sell it.

I see they have a special interest section, http://www.sba.gov/financing/special/ women.html, but do they truely help women succeed in business?

Best Answer

Woman Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) have been a special focus of the SBA. Due to their push, and legislation, federal departments such as the Department of Defense have set asides for WOSB. Furthermore, large prime contractors such as Raytheon, Boeing, etc. are encouraged to contract and subcontract with WOSB, and are given incentives. They also utilize them because many companies have certain subcontracting goals to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs). Thus there are a lot of set asides for WOSB, and contracting and subcontracting opportunities that exist. Furthermore, when a WOSB no longer is just a self-certifying WOSB, and registers for the SDB program, they are entitled to even more benefits, and can enter into programs such as the Mentor-Protege Program, a Program that many different federal departments and agencies posses, such as the DoD, FAA, Treasury, NASA, and SBA itself (though in certain programs they are allowed to enter just as a self-certified WOSB). This enables them to work with prime contractors and form strategic business relations with them and the government. The opportunites for WOSB are definitely there, and the SBA is doing things to help them.

I can't find it anywhere. What is the jurisdiction for the Small Business Administration?

Best Answer

This is from the Small Business Administration website http://www.sba.gov/ The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam. I hope this helps answer your question.

Has your business ever recieved any sort of help with funding, education, marketing, training, sales, or any other SBA free programs? If so, what was your experience?

Best Answer

So-so with SBA. Much better help with their Small Business Development Center office. But, the quality of help is very different from office to office.