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August 1-15, 1996
Philip Lader Small Business and the Internet Connection
by Philip Lader, Administrator
U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has worked for the last 43 years to level the playing field for its customers. With the advent of the Internet, the world’s electronic "Main Street," the SBA now can dramatically expand the reach of the nation’s entrepreneurs.

The Internet: Changing the way SBA helps business

"This is not your father’s SBA," we like to say. And while recent changes - such as doubling SBA’s guaranteed loans in the past three years while reducing our budget by 35%; raising more private capital for our venture capital program during this period than in the previous 15 years combined; growing our loan portfolio to $32 billion; and reducing our regulations by 50% - are significant, nothing symbolizes better how different today’s SBA is than our "Internet connection."

Nothing symbolizes better how different today's SBA is than our 'Internet Connection' This expansion of opportunity and information comes at a time when the federal government appreciates more than ever the critical role of the small business community. In each of the last three years, there have been more new small businesses started than in any previous year in American history. Largely as a result of that growth, business investment is the highest it has been in three decades, and the national rates of unemployment and inflation are the lowest they have been over that period.

The connection to fast answers

The SBA’s home page on the Internet is the fastest, most cost-effective way for entrepreneurs to understand the scope of services the agency offers. Whether a business owner is interested in international trade, government contracting, or simply needs help writing a business plan, the starting point is a computer with Internet access and the address is http://www.sba.gov.

The short list of what’s instantly available through SBA Online includes:

  • A list of the most frequently asked small business questions and answers
  • The ability to download loan applications
  • Links to the SBA’s private sector partners, such as lenders
  • Links to our 950 Small Business Development Centers and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
  • Information on U.S. Export Assistance Centers, which offer the full range of federal export programs from the SBA and two other agencies
  • Links to the home page for SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership
Another government-wide online service, the U.S. Business Advisor, goes beyond providing a wealth of information to letting small businesses get involved in decisions that will affect their bottom lines. Through the Advisor, business owners can search through detailed regulatory and compliance data from more than 60 federal agencies and find plain language answers to their questions. Trade associations and individual business owners can search through the proposed rules the government has published and get an early idea of what regulations might have an impact on their industries.

Help shape the tools that will help your business

In fact, the Business Advisor is a true work-in-progress. Right now we are in what’s called the "beta" stage of development. In other words, the Business Advisor is online and available for use, but we’re still testing it to see how it can be made better and more useful, especially to small businesses.

We are looking for comments in two areas: functionality and "look and feel." In other words, does the Business Advisor do what businesses think it should? If not, what would they suggest? Does it work in a way that is clear, cost-effective, and easy to use? If not, what should change?

Online Services...will profoundly change the way businesses interact with their government Right now, we need as many customers as possible to access the Business Advisor, use the database, and test the query capabilities. Users can send their reactions electronically by following instructions on the site or send them via fax, phone, or letter. We want businesses to help design this product so it will be more valuable to them.

We at the SBA are excited about these new online services. They will profoundly change the way businesses interact with their government. By using these tools, we can truly create a government that works better and costs less.