About Business.gov

Small Business Gateway to Your Government

Business.gov is the U.S. Government's official website for small businesses. Business.gov provides access to Federal, state, and local information that helps business owners successfully start and operate while staying compliant with laws and regulations.

In 2003, businesses and citizens spent approximately 8.2 billion hours and $320 billion filling out paperwork and complying with government regulations, according to a report by the Small Business Paperwork Relief Task Force. Small business owners spend considerable time navigating multiple websites to get information they need to comply with regulations and to find government assistance programs.

Business.gov saves small businesses time and money by providing access to Federal, state and local resources from a single website, making government more transparent and accessible. Small business owners no longer need to visit multiple websites to find government programs, forms, contacts, and guidance with laws and regulations.

Business.gov is the only website to provide small business resources from all levels of government. Through its unique, award-winning search tools and features, Business.gov makes it easier for small business owners to get the information they need to successfully start and operate their ventures.

Who Runs Business.gov?

Business.gov is managed as a partnership among 22 Federal government agencies. This partnership, known as Business Gateway, began as an e-government initiative in 2004 to help small businesses comply with government regulations, and discover government programs that help them start and manage their operations.

Awards and Recognition

Business.gov has received several awards for its service to the nation's small businesses, and has been widely recognized by industry groups for its unique services.

Features and Tools

Business.gov offers a set of unique tools, gadgets and resources that help small business owners:

• Discuss how to start and run a small business with the other business owners and experts
• Search for information from Federal, state and local government websites
  
• Find grant, loan and financial assistance programs
  
• Find required business licenses, permits and registrations
• Learn the legal steps to starting and operating a business
• Discover government programs that help small business expand their operations
  

Partnership Program

Business Gateway's Partners Program works with government agencies, trade associations, and industry to provide authoritative information that helps small business interact with the government. This program aims to create a dialogue among business owners and organizations serving them, making the government more transparent and data more accessible to the nation's small business community.   Partners may use Business.gov as platform to

• Create social networks and online communities that help business owners interact with experts and each other
• Publish authoritative resources that help small business start, operate and expand their operations
  
• Disseminate public information and data to industry.  Business.gov can help government agencies comply with the E-Government Act by making public data and information more accessible on the Internet

If your agency, organization or business serves small business, consider becoming a Business Gateway Partner by contributing your expertise or authoritative resource to help the nation's small businesses grow and succeed.

Business Gateway Program Information

• Program Management - Resources for partner agencies.
• Contributing Partners - List of regulatory and other contributing agencies.