Starting a Business

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Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Business

Provides information on how to start a variety of businesses, including everything from a cupcake vendor to a dog treat business, as well as a list of “how to” guides to starting a business in many popular industries.  Visit START-UP/USA for more information about starting a small business.

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Business.gov Community

Discuss, share and get insight from your fellow business owners as well as industry and government experts. Find the information you need to start, grow and run a business.

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Entrepreneurship Frequently Asked Questions

Find information, resources and answers to the most common questions the Job Accommodation Network receives about entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. Includes information about the differences between self-employment, a small business, entrepreneurship and a microenterprise. This link opens a Word document.

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Entrepreneurship: A Flexible Route to Economic Independence for People with Disabilities

Fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy on entrepreneurship and people with disabilities, the benefits of entrepreneurship and links to helpful resources.
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Entrepreneurship: Federal Government Resources

List of federal government resources that provide assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

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GovLoans.gov

Centralized source for federal loan information.
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Help Starting A Small Business

People with disabilities who want to start a business can find assistance and support from a number of different local agencies. This fact sheet lists some of the many resources that are available across the country that can help you become self-employed or start a small business. This information can be downloaded in Word format.

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Home Based Business Resources

Business.gov provides resources for starting up a home based business, including tax, marketing and franchise information.
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Job Accommodations Network (JAN) Entrepreneurship Resources

Information and resources on a variety of topics, including funding, Small Business Administration (SBA) resources, Social Security information, associations, organizations, consumer protection and credit counseling.
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OSU's Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)

Oklahoma State University's (OSU) Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) offers free training in entrepreneurship and small business management to qualified soldiers, sailors, airmen, members of the Coast Guard and Marines who have service-connected disabilities. Application deadline is October 1, 2010. Apply online or by printing a PDF application.

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SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business

A nonprofit association that provides information, counseling and mentoring free of charge to entrepreneurs starting a small business. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

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START-UP/ USA - Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resources & Training

Provides technical assistance, resources and training to individuals throughout the country who are interested in pursuing self-employment. Site offers a Web cast series in which successful entrepreneurs share their secrets for success and online seminars on topics including self-employment for individuals with disabilities.

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Self-Employment Q & A: Small Business Development Centers

SBDCs provide assistance to current and prospective small business owners. The local centers offer information to meet the needs of small businesses, including counseling, technical assistance and training in areas related to business start up, operations and management. Self-Employment Q & A can be downloaded in Word format.

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Self-Employment for Artists with Disabilities

This fact sheet from the Job Accommodations Network provides information about careers in the arts, and how self-employment can be a good, profitable career choice for many people with disabilities. This link opens a Word Document.
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Self-Employment for Individuals with a Disability

Online seminar discusses important factors in considering business feasibility, developing financial resources, basic business plan development and the identification of and access to community small business resources.
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Small Business Administration (SBA) Americans with Disabilities Act Information

Guide for small businesses offers answers to common questions regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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Small Business Administration (SBA) Local Offices

Find your local SBA office here.

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Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Click on your state from the map on the page to find contact information for your local SBDC. SBDCs offer one-stop assistance and resources to help people start and grow small businesses.

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Small Business Training Network

Online training courses from the U.S. Small Business Administration designed to assist entrepreneurs and other students of enterprise.

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Starting Your Business

Information from the U.S. Small Business Administration on starting a business, including how to write a business plan, a checklist for starting a business and financial information.
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University of Montana Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research & Services Self-Employment Page

Information on self-employment as an option for people with disabilities living in rural areas.
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Vocational Rehabilitation & Self-Employment

Information about how state vocational rehabilitation agencies can help people with disabilities become self-employed.
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