U.S. Government Help

Note: This resource list is current as of February, 2011.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the agency designated to help business owners. The site offers detailed information about applying for an SBA-backed loan, free counseling services (online and in person), low-cost seminars and workshops, and so on.

www.sba.gov

Look for a nearby Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The centers coordinate all sorts of federal, state, local, university, and private resources for small business owners. There is an SBDC in every major city in the United States. You can find the telephone number of the SBDC nearest you by visiting the SBA site or calling the SBA's toll-free number (800) U-ASK-SBA.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

• National SCORE Office
• 409 3rd Street SW, 6th floor
• Washington, DC 20024
• (800) 634-0245
• www.score.org

In addition to free one-on-one counseling by retired business executives, SCORE offers a variety of free publications, low-cost seminars, and workbooks.