|
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."
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?
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.