Resources
Organizations
- Alabama Microenterprise Network (AMEN)
- Arab Chamber of Commerce
- Association of the United States Army - Redstone Chapter
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- BizTech
- Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County
- Community Organizations of North Alabama
- Cullman Chamber of Commerce
- Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
- FastTrac
- Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce
- Hartselle Chamber of Commerce
- HAMA (Huntsville Aerospace Marketing Association)
- HASBAT (Huntsville Association of Small Businesses in Advanced
Technologies - Huntsville Small Business Incubator
- Institute for Supply Management
- Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce
- Madison Chamber of Commerce
- National Contract Management Association
- National Defense Industrial Association
- NDIA National Small Business Conference, May 25-26, 2010 - Huntsville, Alabama
- North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce
- Organization Supporting Business Owners (OSBO)
- SCORE
- South Regions Minority Business Council (SRMBC)
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Women's Economic Development Council (WEDC)
- Women in Defense
Getting Started
- Are you Ready to Start a Business?
- How Business Legal Structures Work
- 6 Steps to Starting Your Own Business
- Is Entrepreneurship Right For You?
- Do You Have What It Takes?
- Checklist For Starting A Business
- Starting A Business FAQ
- Start-Up Guide
- Get Licenses And Permits
- Employer ID Number (EIN)
- Choose A Structure
- Name Your Business
- Finance Your Start-Up
- Estimating Your Start-Up Costs
- Borrowing Money
- 6 Steps to Choosing a Business
- Build Your Own Website
- Corporate Identity Packages
- Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Accountant
- Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Attorney
Training Resources
- SBA Free Online Training
- Small Business Primer: Guide to Starting a Business
- Finance Primer: A Guide to SBA's Loan Guaranty Programs
- How to Prepare a Loan Package
- Marketing 101: A Guide to Winning Customers
- Develop a Business Plan - online interactive tool
- Sample Business Plans
- New Horizons Computer Learning Center
- Business Templates to Help Start Your Business
Internet
Doing Business with the Government
- DUNS Number and CCR
- Central Contractor Registration
- Central Contractor Registration User Guide
- GSA Schedules
- HubZone Fact Sheet
- HubZone locator
- Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
- MDA Office of Small Business Programs
- NAICS Code
- Small Business Specialists
- Doing Business with NASA Brochure
- SBIR Program
- Selling to the U.S. Department of Commerce
- Getting on GSA Schedules
- What is a Capabilities Statement?
- Sample Capabilities Statement
- Selling to the Federal Government
- Doing Business with the Government – 12 Step Program for Success
- Doing Business with the Army - 13 Steps
- FAQs about Federal Procurement
- Business Matchmaking: for "virtual" matchmaking meeting opportunities with procurement representatives from the public and private sector.
- FedBizOpps.gov: for business opportunities with the Government.
- A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts (online training)
- DOD Mentor Protege Program
- NASA Mentor Protege Program
- Marketing to the Department of Defense (the basics)
- Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Office of Small Business Programs
- NASA/MSFC Prime Contractor List
Certifications
- Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
- SDB and 8a
- WBENC
- Corporations and Entities that Recognize WBENC Certification
- Electronic Application Process for SBA 8(a)/SDB Certification
- Online HUBZone Application
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification
Useful Websites for Women
Here are some helpful websites that have been specifically designed for women business owners interested in doing business with the government:
- WomanOwned.com: Business networks for women.
- eWomenNetwork: The #1 resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses.
- National Women’s Business Council: Advisors to the President, Congress, and the SBA.
- Office of Women's Business Ownership, Online Women's Business Center
- Women In Biz: “The gateway for women-owned businesses selling to the federal government.”
How To
- How to Choose a Legal Structure
- How to Name Your Business
- How to Write a Press Release
- How to Start a Quality Child Care Business
- How to Publish a Book
- How to Market Your Book
- How to Price a Business
- How to Sell Your Business
- How to Establish a Non-Profit Business
- How to Start a Home-Based Business
- How to Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- How to Buy a Franchise
- How to Franchise Your Business
- How to Develop a Cash Flow Statement
- How to Credit Card Enable Your Business
- How to Create an Elevator Pitch
- How to Obtain a City of Huntsville Business License
- How to Establish Credit
- How to Search for Names of Alabama Corporations
- How to Obtain Health Insurance in Alabama or Offer Coverage to Employees
- How to be Successful at Networking
- How to Start an Import/Export Business
- How to Take a New Food Product to Market
- How to Start a Restaurant - Madison County
- How to Start a Restaurant - Alabama State Board of Health Rules
- How to Choose the Right Location for Your Business
Financing
- Accion USA
- Prosper
- Loanio
- Kiva
- HUBZone Locator
- LMI Locator
- Investor Pitch – How to Make the Kitchen Table Pitch
- Investor Pitch – The Fine Art of Meeting with an Angel Investor
- Financing Alternatives
- Understanding Your FICO Score
- SBA Financing
- SBA Community Express PowerPoint Presentation
- SBA Franchise Registry
- Your Credit Scores
- Identity Theft and You
- Rebuilding Your Credit
- Life After Bankruptcy
- Circle Lending - How to Borrow Money from People You Know
- TARCOG Revolving Loan Fund
- Five Cs for Loan Applications
- Patriot Express Loan Program for the Military Community
- Seedco Financial Microloan Program
- Business Scores - What They Are; How to Boost Yours
Human Resources
- Health Savings Account Fact Sheet
- HR Resources for Small Businesses
- I Have Employees, Now What?
- Employee Handbook Overview
- Interview Tips
- Questions to Avoid When Interviewing
- A-4 State Withholding Exemption Certificate
- Alabama Child Labor Law Poster
- Employment Laws by Number of Employees
- Alabama New Hire Reporting Requirements
- Workman’s Comp Information Poster
- Job Insurance Poster
- 9 Questions to Ask an Unhappy Employee
- Independent Contractors vs. Employees
Marketing
- Market Research
- Types of Market Research
- Qualitative Marketing Research
- Quantitative Marketing Research
- Focus Groups
- Marketing Plan
- Sample Marketing Plans
Veterans
- SBA Office of Veterans Business Development
- SBA Patriot Express Loan Program
- VA Center for Veterans Enterprise
- Directory of Veterans Service Organzations
- The Veterans Corporation
- National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
- Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
- Still Serving Veterans
- Operation Grateful Heart
- Center for Women Veterans
- DOL e-VETS Resource Advisor
- HUD Veteran Resource Center
