Government Resources
For Small Businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA offers an extensive selection of information on most business management topics, from how to start a business to exporting your products.

SBA has offices throughout the country. SBA offers a number of programs and services, including training and educational programs, counseling services, financial programs and contract assistance.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a national organization sponsored by SBA of over 13,000 volunteer business executives who provide free counseling, workshops and seminars to prospective and existing small business people.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), sponsored by the SBA in partnership with state and local governments, the educational community and the private sector. They provide assistance, counseling and training to prospective and existing business people.

Business Information Centers (BICs), offering state-of-the- art technology, informational resources and on-site counseling for start-up and expanding businesses to create business, marketing and other plans, do research, and receive expert training and assistance.

OTHER GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

Publications on business management and other related topics are available from the Government Printing Office (GPO). GPO bookstores are also located in many major cities and listed in the Yellow Pages under the "bookstore" heading.

Also, many federal agencies offer publications of interest to small businesses. There is a nominal fee for some, but most are free.

Below is a selected list of government agencies that provide publications and other services targeted to small businesses. To get their publications, contact the regional offices listed on the Internet or in the telephone directory.

Consumer Information Center (CIC)
The CIC offers a consumer information catalog of federal publications.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
The CPSC offers guidelines for product safety requirements.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The USDA offers publications on selling to the USDA. Publications and programs on entrepreneurship are also available through county extension offices nationwide.

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
DOC's Business Assistance Center provides listings of business opportunities available in the federal government. This service also will refer businesses to different programs and services in the DOC and other federal agencies.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• Public Health Service
• Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration
• Drug Free Workplace: Provides information on Employee Assistance Programs.
• National Institute for Drug Abuse: Provides information on preventing substance abuse in the workplace.
• The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: Provides pamphlets and resource materials on substance abuse.

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
The DOL offers publications on compliance with labor laws.

U.S. Department of Treasury

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS offers information on tax requirements for small
businesses.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Small Business Ombudsman
The EPA offers more than 100 publications designed to help small businesses understand how they can comply with EPA regulations.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
The FDA offers information on packaging and labeling requirements for food and food-related products.

MORE PLACES TO LOOK

• Most libraries have a variety of directories, indexes and encyclopedias that cover many business topics.
• Trade association information - Associations provide a valuable network of resources to their members through publications and services such as newsletters, conferences and seminars.
• Books - Many guidebooks, textbooks and manuals on small business are published annually.
• Magazine and newspaper articles - Business and professional magazines provide information that is more current than that found in books and textbooks.
• In addition to books and magazines, find free workshops, seminars, and conferences, and buy (or borrow) skill-building tapes and CDs for continuing education opportunities.

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