LibGuides: Business: Starting & Financing a Business

Small Business Help

New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Stockton College in Atlantic City
Free, comprehensive start-up and management counseling & affordable training to the small business communities in Atlantic County. Call Carol Waites at (609) 626-3889. Located at Carnegie Library, Atlantic City, 35 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ
Minority Owned Businesses
SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program can help qualifying minority-owned firms develop and grow their businesses with one-to-one counseling, training, and management guidance. The following minority groups are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged and can qualify for the 8(a) program, including: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans.
Women's Center for Entrepreneurship Corporation (WCEC)
The Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship helps women achieve business success through education, consulting and entrepreneurial training. The center serves women across the state by providing over 150 classes, seminars and consulting sessions each year; , including loan packaging and business plan reviews for women business owners at three levels--Start-up, Experienced businesses looking to grow, and Undeserved populations.
SBDCnet
Website for SBDC consultants contains a wealth of great business links.
NJSBDC Counseling
They offer Free one-on-one Business Counseling; Low-cost seminars and workshops; Support, assistance for existing and start up businesses. You must register to receive free counseling.

Starting a Business in NJ

Find information you’ll need to select the proper business type for your circumstances, register your corporation or LLC and register your new business for tax purposes.

Starting a Business

Small Business Administration: Starting a Business
Resources you need to get your business started. Whether you’re sitting down to write your business plan, wondering about your legal obligations, or researching your financing options, you’ll find the information you need here.
Business Owner's Toolkit
Offers resources for small businesses, including a detailed guidebook, business checklists and forms, human resource help, and interactive questions with a consultant.
IRS Starting a business
Links to basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business, as well as information to assist in making basic business decisions. The list should not be construed as all-inclusive. Other steps may be appropriate for your specific type of business.
My Own Business
Free online course geared toward the entrepreneur who wants to start his or her own business, and the individual who has an established small business and would like to see that business grow and expand.

Premium eResources

Small Business Reference Center (JerseyClicks)
The Small Business Reference Center is a comprehensive resource for small business owners and those interested in starting a business, offering full-text periodicals and reports, sample business plans, U.S. tax forms, videos and reference books. It supports small business owners in all relevant areas from planning, financing and managing a business to exit strategies. Users also have the ability to search within specific ‘Business Topics’ and ‘Business Types’ relevant to their needs.
Reference USA (JerseyClicks)
Reference USA is a great source of information on small and local businesses, including both private and public. Good for identifying competitors for your business plan.

Funding for Business

Reality check! : There are very few grants available for starting or expanding a business unless the business involves research and development or high technology. Many grants have caveats, such as:

They are available only for specific groups of people--e.g. Research and Development for high technology, biotechnology,energy related products, and grants for people who will locate their business in a poor area and employ the people living there.
There is stiff competition.
You often have to provide a personal guarantee (i.e. your house) and/or provide 10-30% of the finances from your own resources (e.g. savings, loans from relatives).
You can explore the SBA's list of Federal Grant Resources, but you'll soon realize that most grants are not available for the typical business.

Here's what the Small Business Administration says about the pervasive idea that they give out grants to businesses: "SBA does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses. SBA's grant programs generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments in an effort to expand and enhance small business technical and financial assistance."

ACCION USA Loans for Small Businesses
ACCION USA offers flexible loans (up to $50,000) and provides affordable alternatives to high-cost sources of capital, such as credit cards, factoring, or predatory lenders.
Amber Grants for Women in Business
Our primary focus is helping women who are trying to start small businesses, home-based or online. The grants are small, usually $500 to $1000, and are meant to be used to upgrade equipment, pay for a web site etc - the small but essential expenses that can often make the difference between getting started or being stalled. No repayment is required, although it is hoped that you you will pass on the kindness by mentoring and helping others along the way.
Hands On Banking
Maximize your chances for success and minimize your financial risks.
Idea Cafe's Advice on Getting a Small Business Grant
You've got a great biz idea and everybody says you can get a government grant to launch the biz. However, the reality is that the government doesn't easily give grants. Yes, the federal government gives grants, but not to folks just to follow their dream; they give money to state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations to accomplish the government's goals. Get past the jargon and go direct to sources of government help we help you dig into the SBA, CFDA, SBIR STTR Grant Programs.
Locating and Getting the Money You Need to Start a Business
Practical advice on start-up funding from Womanowned.com
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
The Minority Business Development Agency, a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses. MBDA does not provide loans or grants to start or expand a business. The grants MBDA provides are to organizations that operate MBDA's Minority Business Centers in the United States. These organizations provide business consulting, and financial assistance to minority-owned firms.

more... less...

New York Region Office (covers PA and NJ)

New York National Enterprise Center
26 Federal Plaza Room 3720
New York, NY 10278
Telephone: 212-264-3262 | Fax: 212-264-0725 | nyro-info@mbda.gov

Philadelphia Area Manager
Contact: Alfonso Jackson | 347-498-4832
Small Business Administration (Office of Women's Business Ownership)
The SBA is doing more than ever to help level the playing field for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the world of business. At every stage of developing and expanding a successful business, the Office of Women's Business Ownership is here to counsel, teach, encourage and inspire. Check out their "Hot List" of outside resources.