Additional resources for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs

Support for starting a business

For help preparing your personal finances for entrepreneurship, check out our free resources on planning for life events and large purchases , organizing your finances and understanding credit reports and scores.

You can also take advantage of the following information, resources, and organizations that can help you plan and start your small business:

• Census Data . Find census information on the demographics of your community including population, housing and the economy.
• IRS Small Business Portal . Find answers to small business tax questions, plus access to forms and publications, a video library, an event calendar and other online tools and products.
• Small Business Administration  (SBA). Get help starting your business. The SBA maintains district offices in all 50 states to provide resources, training, and specialists to help start and grow businesses.
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Money Smart for Small Business . The FDIC’s Money Smart for Small Business portal offers a variety of training modules and other resources for those interested in starting and managing a small business on diverse topics from financial and risk management to tax planning, insurance options, and organizational structures.
• Small Business Development Centers  (SBDCs). Get advice and training for your small business. There are nearly 1,000 local SBDCs available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses.
• Social Security Online . Find information about a variety social security resources for small businesses and their employees.
• U.S. Department of Commerce Department . Comprised of 12 different agencies, the Commerce Department promotes job creation and economic growth and works to strengthen America’s position in the global marketplace.
• U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics . Find information on U.S. working conditions, labor market activity, and price changes in the economy.
• U.S. Export Assistance Center  (USEACs). Find information about export assistance programs and services. Each U.S. Export Assistance Centers is staffed by professionals from the SBA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations.
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office . Find information on how to apply for U.S. patents and register trademarks.
• SCORE Association . Get a mentor for your small business. SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals.

Support for funding a small business

For information on how to fund your new or existing small business, check out the following:

• GovLoans . Research many types of federal loans for your business and learn how to apply.
• Grants.gov . Explore the official access point for grants administered by government agencies. Start your search for grant opportunities  and check “small businesses” in the eligibility box. To read the full eligibility for each grant and apply through Grants.gov, register an account  first.
• Banks are one of small businesses’ most important source of capital. Both large banks and smaller banks (often called “community banks”) lend to small businesses. You can find lists of banks provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation , the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency , and the Federal Reserve .
• Credit unions are another importance source of small business credit for their members. Find out more about credit unions and search for credit unions in your local area .
• The banks and associations of the Farm Credit System are key providers of financing for small farms across the country.
• Mission-based lenders have a particular focus on providing credit to traditionally underserved and low-income communities and individuals.
  • Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are specialized, mission-driven financial institutions that create economic opportunity for individuals and small businesses, quality affordable housing, and essential community services throughout the United States. View a list of certified CDFIs .
  • Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) often promote the economic viability of minority and under-served communities, and MDIs make a greater percentage of small-business loans to minority borrowers than other financial institutions. The FDIC maintains a list of MDIs nationwide .

Resources for small businesses that have been financially impacted by the Coronavirus

• The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program assists small businesses affected by the pandemic, offering low fixed interest rates, long maturities, and no prepayment penalties or fees.