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Small Business Resources
As your representative, Congressman Lipinski supports efforts to encourage the creation of new small businesses and growth for those already existing. From eliminating unnecessary red tape to finding help obtaining credit, Congressman Lipinski wants to protect small businesses from the hurdles that complicate their progress and provide the tools they need to succeed. In today’s economic climate, it is important to make life easier for business owners to compete on our soil and on the international stage.
"Small businesses form the backbone of the Third District's economy, create nearly two-thirds of new jobs nationally, and remain key to our country's economic recovery," Congressman Lipinski said. "But with the economy still stalled and loans hard to come by even for those with good track records and solid credit, action is needed to remove the barriers to growth.”
Are you interested in starting a small business?
Do you have an idea and don’t know what the next step should be in considering starting your own business? Are you an existing small business owner who would like to find out about more resources available to you?
The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) is available to help with the process, from counseling and training to providing a thorough review funding opportunities and much more. There are many resources available to help existing and future small business owners succeed; however, many people often do not know where to turn. Click here to learn more about how the SBA can help.
10 Steps to Starting a Business
Step 1: Write a Business Plan
Step 2: Get Business Assistance and Training
Step 3: Choose a Business Location
Step 4: Finance Your Business
Step 5: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business
Step 6: Register a Business Name ("Doing Business As")
Step 7: Get a Tax Identification Number
Step 8: Register for State and Local Taxes
Step 9: Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
Step 10: Understand Employer Responsibilities |
Provided below are additional valuable resources for small business owners and potential entrepreneurs. If you have further questions, feel free to call my office for further guidance.
General Small Business Resources
- Internal Revenue Services’ Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center
- Department of Defense’s Office of Small Business Programs
- Department of Treasury’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
- FedBizOpps is the point-of-entry for Federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. Government buyers publicize their business opportunities on this website, and commercial vendors can search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire federal contracting community.
Chicago/District Resources:
- SCORE Chicago (rescoures for small business): http://www.scorechicago.org/
- SBA Illinois District office: http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3161
- ACCION Chicago: http://www.accionchicago.org/home/about-us/mission--history.aspx
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Business Licenses:
City of Chicago http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/provdrs/bus.html
State of Illinois http://www2.illinois.gov/Business/Pages/registration.aspx
Cook County (unincorporated areas of Cook County) http://www.co.cook.il.us/portal/server.pt/community/revenue,_department_of/313/general_business_license - Small Business Improvement Fund: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/small_business_improvementfundsbif.html
Contracting:
- SBA Contracting: http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contracting/
- Federal Business Opportunities: https://www.fbo.gov/
- HUBZone Contracting Opportunities: http://www.sba.gov/hubzone/
- Register in the Central Contracting Registry (CCR): www.ccr.gov. If your business has previously registered please make sure your profile is up to date with correct contact information.
- Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Phoenix Opportunity Matching System: www.mbda.gov
- Stimulus Related Opportunities: www.recovery.gov