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ISED specializes in assisting microenterpreneurs
– (individuals interested in starting a small
business with five or fewer employees and/or
need $50,000 or less in business financing).
Numerous regulations, policies and procedures
are involved in owning a small business that
often are intimating, prohibitive and
restrictive. While many resources are available,
few take the time to assist you to identify the
specific tools you need to meet your business
goals.
ISED prides itself in performing individual
personal and business readiness assessments to
assist you to create a plan of action that helps
move you toward your goals. We help you navigate
through the channels of business ownership to
put you on the right track to start, strengthen
or expand a microenterprise.
Learn about ISED’s
Iowa
Women’s Enterprise Center (IWEC) or join the
Alliance for Business Owners Network (ABO).
Personal and Business Readiness Workshops
Business Readiness Workshops are comprised of
two intensive sessions designed to assist
entrepreneurs to assess their personal readiness
to enter into entrepreneurship. Participants
examine their level of interest, energy,
support, and passion for entrepreneurship.
Participants perform a self-assessment, learn
how to build their business ideas and explore
business feasibility.
Personal and Business Readiness Seminars are
typically offered three times per year. To sign
up for these sessions, please contact the
nearest ISED office.
Business Planning Workshops
Ready for the next step? The Business Planning
Workshops are designed for entrepreneurs ready
to dedicate the time, energy, and effort to
learn the skills needed to become a successful
entrepreneur and how to develop a business plan.
These workshops are 10 weeks, three hours per
session. Entrepreneurs gain knowledge from a
broad variety of business professionals on how
to develop a business plan, access business
financing, prepare financial statements, learn
about organizational structures, and how to
access various loan programs, just to name a
few.
Business Planning Workshops are typically held
three times per year. To sign up for a Business
Planning Workshop, please contact the
nearest ISED office.
Technical Assistance & Consulting
One-on-one technical assistance is tailored
to meet your specific needs. Counseling and
technical assistance is available by seasoned
and experienced business advisors. Areas of
focus include: marketing and organizational
structure and management; financial and business
management, bookkeeping and recordkeeping to
include information regarding taxes, government
procurement, certification and access to
business financing.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA offers a variety of loan products,
including guaranteed loans and other financial
assistance. For more information, visit
www.sba.gov.
State of Iowa Loan Funds
ISED assists eligible individuals to become
certified as a targeted small business. This
certification is the first step in positioning
you to apply for business financing. If you are
a woman, minority, or person with a disability,
please visit
www.iowalifechanging.com/business/tsb.aspx
Iowa Microloan- Iowa Foundation for
Microenterprise and Community Vitality-(IFMCV)
IFMCV is a nonprofit foundation designated
by SBA as a statewide provider of the SBA
Microloan program. ISED assists you to complete
the IFMCV financial application for business
financing. For specific requirements and
guidelines, visit
www.iowamicroloan.org/
Local Business
Financing
There are various economic development programs
available in communities across Iowa. To learn
more about their loan programs, please contact
your local economic development agency for
additional information.
Commercial Lenders
ISED links you to traditional lenders such as
banks and credit unions throughout Iowa to
access business financing. |
