Own Your Own

Resources for starting up your own business

Four Steps to Starting Up a Business in Texas
A reference guide for new and expanding businesses in Texas, providing permitting and regulatory information.
www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/ecodev/sba/guide

Small Business Administration (SBA) Startup Basics
Starting your own business can be a thrilling adventure offering many rewards. Here's what you need to know to be prepared.
www.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html

Small Business Administration (SBA) Texas Local Offices
Find counseling, training and business development specialists providing free and low-cost services in one of Texas� six SBA district offices.
- Dallas/Fort Worth: www.sba.gov/tx/dallas/index.html
- El Paso: www.sba.gov/tx/elpaso/index.html
- Harlingen: www.sba.gov/tx/harlingen/index.html
- Houston: www.sba.gov/tx/houston/index.html
- Lubbock: www.sba.gov/tx/lubbock/index.html
- San Antonio: www.sba.gov/tx/sanantonio/index.html

BiG Austin Women's Business Center
BiG – Business Investment Growth – Austin is Central Texas' single–source solution for entrepreneurial education, customized business counseling and flexible loans. The Women's Business Center section specializes in meeting the needs of women entrepreneurs.
www.bigaustin.org/womens_business_center.htm
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center
Extensive resources, including a small business toolkit, financial planning toolkit and tax center.
www.uschamber.com/sb/default

Small Business Administration Financing Basics
If you want to generate capital for your business, it pays to do your homework. Here's what you need to know to raise money for your company.
www.sba.gov/financing/index.html

BusinessFinance.com
America's business funding directory offers a free business capital search engine, especially for start-up companies.
www.businessfinance.com

Count-Me-In
Count-Me-In champions the cause for women's economic independence by providing access to business loans, education and consultation.
www.count-me-in.org

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
The Service Corps of Retired Executives are "Counselors to America's Small Business," offering entrepreneurs free, confidential, face-to-face and online business counseling.
www.score.org

To find local SCORE chapters nationwide, including 13 throughout Texas (8 with websites), go to: www.score.org/findscore/localinks.html

Small Business Administration (SBA) Women Entrepreneurs
The SBA is a very strong advocate for women entrepreneurs, and offers many programs and services to help them succeed.
www.sba.gov/services/specialaudiences/women/index.html

SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership
The Office of Women's Business Ownership works to help women start and run successful businesses, regardless of social or financial disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business background.
www.sba.gov/ed/wbo/index.html

SBA Online Women's Business Center
The Online Women's Business Center promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through programs regarding business training and technical assistance, and provides access to credit and capital, federal contracts, and international trade opportunities.
www.onlinewbc.gov

SBA Women's Business Centers
The Women's Business Centers represent a national network of more than 80 educational centers designed to help women start and grow small businesses.
www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wbcs.html

Women-21.gov
A one-stop shop for entrepreneurial resources. The Department of Labor and the SBA, along with other partners, are working to help the women who are the driving force of our economy.
www.women-21.gov

Small Business Administration Working with the Government Basics
Selling goods and services to the government can be interesting and profitable work. Here's what you need to know to get going with government contracting.
www.sba.gov/businessop/index.html

womenbiz.gov
The gateway for women-owned businesses selling to the federal government.
www.womenbiz.gov