This year, May 2 through May 5, 2022, the United States Small Business Administration hosts the annual National Small Business Week, opens a new window. Small Business Week is usually held on the first full week in May to provide in-person sessions and webinars concerning topics for small businesses. These sessions include numerous topics and resources pertaining to creating, managing, and running a small business.
Starting a small business is in the minds of many Americans. Many want to work on their own and start their own business rather than work for a large corporation. Some want to turn their passion for crafting, cooking, gardening, or another skill into a profitable business. However, starting a small business is undoubtedly a daunting task. There are many elements to consider as you start your small business, such as developing a business plan, getting the space to set up your business, getting the money backing to start your business, filing your business with the appropriate government agencies, hiring employees, following federal and state laws with hiring and protecting employees, preparing for emergencies, understanding taxes concerning your business, among many others. In addition, to maintain your business and stay successful, business owners need to market their business to reach customers, made even more complex through the different digital mediums for marketing, including social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, or even video advertisement through platforms such as YouTube. Business owners face a myriad of tasks and factors to complete and consider when starting and managing a business.
With all the different factors to consider starting and maintaining a successful small business, it may feel overwhelming to take the first step in getting the idea for a small business off the ground. Fortunately, there are agencies and organizations that can help answer your question. First, the United States Small Business Administration, opens a new window (SBA) is a federal government agency dedicated to assisting small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Created in 1953, the SBA is the only federal-level agency dedicated to small business. In addition, the SBA offers events and webinars throughout the year, not only through the annual National Small Business Week. The SBA offers counseling and advice through their numerous counselors available across the country. The SBA also assists aspiring business owners find loans that would fit their needs in addition to providing assistance for businesses recovering from declared disasters, such as natural disasters. Also, the federal government website usa.gov, opens a new window features a page dedicated to small businesses, opens a new window, offering information on importing and exporting, small business taxes, and available business resources. In addition, the state of Louisiana also offers assistance for business owners. The Louisiana.gov Business, opens a new window page provides information and links to different state level sources, including GeauxBiz, opens a new window, a source provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State Office for licensing information and other business information necessary to operate within the state.
The St. Tammany Parish Library provides access to these government level business sources. Many can be found on the Business & Finance, opens a new window page in the online library. These sources include the Small Business Administration website and GeauxBiz. Another source available through the library is SCORE New Orleans, opens a new window, an association of business executives that provide free confidential business advice for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The government sources and SCORE New Orleans are all available to the public without the need for a library card. Lastly, for anyone interested in becoming an entrepreneur or want to learn more about the mindset necessary for entrepreneurship, the library provides access to the Entrepreneurial Mindset Training Course, opens a new window. This course includes a series of video lectures and reflection assignments that take roughly 10 hours to complete. Users need a library card and must create a free account to take the course and keep track of their progress. Upon completing the course, users can print a completion certificate.
For more information on small business and entrepreneurship, check out the following sources:
Looking to start a small business? Check out these sources to learn more about strategies for starting your business, marketing your ideas, promoting your business, managing your money to keep your business going and growing, the legal aspects of business you need to know, among other topics pertaining to entrepreneurship.
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