Business Advice

The Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program guarantees loans by eligible local lenders to businesses to benefit rural areas. The primary purpose of this program is to create and maintain employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities.
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation site offers a link for small businesses to find information.  Businesses may learn about OPIC programs and about opportunities for OPIC insurance and loans.
 
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, specifically created to encourage the creation, growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses in the United States.
The Online Women’s Business Center provides information for women entrepreneurs. This interactive business skills training web site is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial women realize their goals and aspirations for their personal and professional development. The goal is to provide them with the information and expertise necessary for planning their economic independence through owning their own business.
The Department of Labor – Women’s Bureau is concerned with the interests of women in the labor force, specifically concerning issues of compensation, working conditions, advancement opportunities, and work-family issues.
Woman-Owned.com offers links to articles about business issues women face, surveys, news and a community message board where women can share their questions and experiences.
Center for Women’s Business Research provides original, groundbreaking research to document the economic and social contributions of women-owned firms, and consulting and public relations services to maximize the benefits of this knowledge.
The MWBED Directory A comprehensive on-line directory of Minority and Women owned business enterprises. The MWBE directory provides a platform for corporations to promote their dedication to diversity while providing an information portal to access vital, timely information about Minority and Women owned business enterprises nationwide.
Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) Programs include a business demonstration program, a mentoring program, and the SBA pre-qualify program.
 
Commerce Business Daily lists bidding opportunities, contracts awarded, special notices and surplus government sales.
FedBid.com is the first web-based end to end marketplace that facilitates open market credit card purchases for business-to-government (B2G) commerce. End users, as well as procurement officials, are able to compare various bids online and ultimately make better buying decisions. FedBid.com's open market, credit card service is free to the government, and no registration fees are charged to participating vendors.
Javits-Wagner-O'Day is a site for government purchasing. The products are made by the blind and handicapped, and there are regulations requiring the government to purchase supplies from the non-profit groups that employ the handicapped workers.
The Office of Enterprise Development (includes small business publications and Forecast of Contracting Opportunities) are GSA's advocate for today's small, minority, and women business owners. Their mission is to promote increased access to GSA's nationwide procurement opportunities.
Thomas Register allows businesses to register and advertise their products online. An Online Catalog contains detailed buying and specifying information about a company's products or services that can be viewed on the Thomas Register web site. These online catalogs are developed specifically for users to obtain as much product and company information as possible.
 
On the website for the Export-Import Bank of the United States information is found for small businesses who already export their products and for those considering such a move.
The National District Export Council organizes leaders from local business communities in order to offer professional advice to local firms.  Local branches of DEC help and advise small businesses in exporting and boosting economic growth.  This page also displays articles from Business America on successful DEC initiatives.
SBAOnline provides links to resources for small businesses provided by the United States Small Business Administration.  SBA helps new and small businesses find federal funds to help business grow.  SBA was created to offer financial, technical, and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their own small businesses. 
The Small Business Committee of the House of Representatives
The Small Business Committee of the US Senate
The TDApipeline contains project news from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency which assists in the creation of jobs for Americans by helping U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities.
The U.S. Business Advisor exists to provide business with one-stop access to federal government information, services, and transactions. Their goal is to make the relationship between business and government more productive.
The U.S. Commercial Service of the Commerce Department is the leader in helping American companies sell products and services in global markets. Through its worldwide network of trade experts, the Commercial Service assisted U.S businesses to generate export sales worth more than $21 billion last year.
U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) The USCM is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, and focuses on the development and implementation of national urban policies impacting the sustainable development and growth of cities across the United States.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization .  This page offers information about business support programs and certification for small and disadvantaged businesses.
US Department of Commerce Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is responsible for promoting the use of small, minority, and women-owned small businesses in compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies. It also assists such firms in obtaining contracts and subcontracts with Commerce and its prime contractors.
US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) posts acquisition forecast, small business opportunities, public laws, links to other web pages, and other informative information of interest.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) provides policy leadership and expertly managed space, supplies, services, and solutions, at the best value, to enable Federal employees to accomplish their missions. GSA does it by negotiating contracts that account for $40 billion of goods and services bought annually from the private sector.
The US Securities & Exchange website, developed for small business, is provided by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and includes news, frequently asked questions, information about SEC pending rules and the Investors Advocate: How the SEC Protects Investors and Maintains Market Integrity.
US State Department Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) supports the overall mission of the Department of State by promoting the use of small businesses, including those owned by women and by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Their mission serves to broaden public support for State Department programs as well as to comply with public law.
Internal Revenue Service Small Business/Self-Employed Resources , A one stop small business resource site which provides information on Employer ID Numbers (EINs), employment taxes, forms and publications, and retirement plans. The site also offers an online classroom with a series of self-directed workshops on a variety of topics for small business owners.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration Small Business OSHA offers many resources designed specifically for smaller employers. This page provides one-stop shopping for the most popular materials for small businesses from free on-site consultation to interactive computer software to technical information to easy-to-follow guides for specific OSHA standards.
President George W. Bush Small Business Policy in Focus highlights President Bush’s efforts for small business, including speeches, appearances and laws that address small business issues.
United States Air Force Small Business Information Center features contracting opportunities with the United States AF and provides a list of the equipment, supplies, and services typically bought for the day-to-day operations of an Air Force base (AFB). The site also furnishes points of contact for those interested in doing business with commissaries and exchanges, as well as the name, address, and telephone number of your small business (SB) point of contact for every AF activity having a contracting function (organized by state, city, and then AF base).
United States Army Office of Small and Disadvataged Business Utilization provides information about doing business with the Army and lists contracting and subcontracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses.
Doing business with the Department of Education Guide provides basic information about doing business with the Department of Education, including an overview of the agency’s mission and a listing of business opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses and subcontractors.
Department of Energy Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization website features a prime and subcontracting opportunity database, details about the agency’s Mentor Protégé Program, which encourages DOE prime contractors to assist small disadvantaged firms, and a directory of Small Business Program Managers listed by their geographical location.
Department of Housing & Urban Development Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization features a calendar of outreach programs and conferences, marketing tips for small businesses, a small business resource guide, OSDBU forms, a listing of the agency’s small business policies, and small business contracting statistics.
U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization as the implementer and administrator of the Department of the Interior’s efforts to market to small businesses, this site features a prime contractor directory, a listing of contracting opportunities, and forms that must be completed to conduct business with the Agency.
Department of Justice Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization provides several avenues to assist small business owners in getting better acquainted with the requirements and procurement practices of the Department of Justice, including tips for working with the agency, a forecast of contracting opportunities and a directory of prime contractors.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization develops and implements outreach programs aimed at heightening the awareness of small business to the contracting opportunities available within the Department. Outreach efforts include sponsoring small business fairs and procurement conferences as well as participating in trade group seminars, conventions, and other forums, which promote the utilization of small and disadvantaged businesses as contractors.
Department of the Navy SADBU Office provides information to familiarize small businesses with the Navy and Marine Contracting Center’s acquisition proceedings and provides data to enable them to identify potential Navy & marine markets for their products and services.
Department of Labor Office of Small Business Programs administers the Department of Labor’s responsibility to ensure procurement opportunities for small, disadvantaged, women-owned, HUBZone, and service-disabled veteran owned businesses.
Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Small and Disdvantaged Business Utilization lists contracting, marketing and E-commerce opportunities, as well as links to register your business with various government databases and information about VA programs
Department of the Treasury Office of Small and Disdvantaged Business Utilization assists, consults and advises small businesses on procurement opportunities with the Department of Treasury
NASA Office of Small and Disdvantaged Business Utilization oversees and directs the activities of NASA offices to ensure small, disadvantaged, minority owned and women owned businesses participate in contracts and subcontracts.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Small Business and Civil Rights provides an overview of the small business program, tips for doing business with NRC, a list of contracting opportunities and links to small business forums.
 
American Small Business Association (ASBA) , a partnership made up of thousands of small business owners whose principal goal is running a profitable business. The site provides links to small businesses resources and tips for running a successful business.
National Small Business Associate (NSBA) as the nation's oldest bipartisan small business advocacy organization with more than 65,000 U.S. members, NSBU not only keeps small business owners in touch with legislative and regulatory issues that affect them, but constructively engages its membership to take action when issues impact them. Through publications, policy forums, conferences and action alerts, NSBU keeps its members updated on legislation that affects small business.
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) the largest advocacy organization representing small and independent businesses in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals.

Home Business Institute a leading national membership organization of small and home-based businesses, the Institute brings to its members vital information to help them anticipate opportunities and avoid pitfalls, as well as obtain services, benefits, and products at substantial savings.