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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Big Help for Your Small Biz

If you’ve been a reader of our blog for any amount of time, you’ve probably noticed that we often link to stats and stories by the U.S. Small Business Administration. There’s a good reason for that: The SBA is the leading authority on everything small business-related — and no, they aren’t paying us to say that!

The SBA doesn’t handle the marketing side of things. (You have Mischa Communications for that!) However, if your business needs a bit of help with other matters, this government agency is in your corner.

Here are just a few of the awesome things the SBA can do for you!

Mentoring

Have you ever wished you had a direct line to someone who knows exactly what you’re going through — the daily struggles, and the ups and downs of running your small business? The SBA can make that a reality.

Sponsored by the SBA, the Score Association provides mentorship, counseling and advice to all small business owners — for free. (Yes, really!) Whether it’s a face-to-face meeting at a local office or an online chat with a volunteer business owner, you’ll be able to ask your questions and get detailed, personalized answers from people who have been there!

Government Contracts

Do you make a world-class whirligig that the government would love to get its hands on? Good luck letting it know without some help! While there is an awful lot of red tape to cut through, the SBA works to ensure that at least 23% of government contracts go to small businesses.

Between the SBA’s mentor-protégé program, small business set-asides and programs specifically geared toward certain individuals (women, veterans and more), there’s something for nearly everyone.

While the SBA can’t make it “easy” to score that big government contract, it certainly can make it easier.

Small Business Loans

The SBA isn’t a bank — but it sure is friends with a lot of them! Whether you’re strapped for cash or looking for the funds for a big expansion, the SBA can put you in touch with the people who have the cash you need, and even act as a guarantor to make it less financially risky for someone to take a chance on you.

In addition, the SBA provides plenty of free resources on how to write a good business plan, how to determine the amount of money you need and ways to find “free money” in the form of grants.

Just because you’re small doesn’t mean you’re alone in the world. One glance at the SBA’s exhaustive website is proof that there is always someone there to lend a helping hand.

While we can’t offer you money or help you score a huge contract, we can help set you up for small business marketing success! Give Mischa Communications a call today and let us know how we can help your small business grow.